Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
Recovering the Console Lid Armrest in my 2008 Honda Element SC
-First of all, I am not suggesting that anyone else do this. My console lid/armrest was looking so bad, I felt like anything would be an improvement.
-Upholstery fabric may not be appropriate in every situation. You could also do this with a lightweight vinyl.
-My seam allowance is between a quarter and half an inch. You do not want to make the seam too bulky or use too bulky of a fabric because the lid has to fit in place again and line up so that you can replace the screws.
-Fabric is sewn with “right” sides together or facing each other, so when you turn the finished cover the seams are inside.
-I kept the screws to the face plate in a separate bag from the hinge screws so that I made sure to put everything back in the right place. This required a Phillips screwdriver.
-Use care when removing the plate. I removed all the screws and had to gently tug to remove the plate. Underneath the plate there were more screws attaching the lid to a hinge.
-Be patient putting things back together. I used a flashlight and a bit of adjusting with gentle pushes to line up the hinge screws and plate screws again.
Do this at your own risk or joy or peril.
I love the way this turned out! I wish I had paid more attention to where I was placing the seam, but it still looks great. 
Recovering the Console Lid Armrest in my 2008 Honda Element SC
-First of all, I am not suggesting that anyone else do this. My console lid/armrest was looking so bad, I felt like anything would be an improvement.
-Upholstery fabric may not be appropriate in every situation. You could also do this with a lightweight vinyl.
-My seam allowance is between a quarter and half an inch. You do not want to make the seam too bulky or use too bulky of a fabric because the lid has to fit in place again and line up so that you can replace the screws.
-Fabric is sewn with “right” sides together or facing each other, so when you turn the finished cover the seams are inside.
-I kept the screws to the face plate in a separate bag from the hinge screws so that I made sure to put everything back in the right place. This required a Phillips screwdriver.
-Use care when removing the plate. I removed all the screws and had to gently tug to remove the plate. Underneath the plate there were more screws attaching the lid to a hinge.
-Be patient putting things back together. I used a flashlight and a bit of adjusting with gentle pushes to line up the hinge screws and plate screws again.
Do this at your own risk or joy or peril.
I love the way this turned out! I wish I had paid more attention to where I was placing the seam, but it still looks great. 
