Slipcover Buying Guide

If your sofa or loveseat appears to be a bit worn out and you still like the way it feels or if do not have the funds to purchase new furniture or have it reupholstered, you may want to consider covering your furniture with a new slipcover. Slipcovers can truly be fashion for your furniture and for less than $100 you can impress your friends and relatives with furniture that looks like you spent thousands on.

Slipcovers also provide protection for your furniture, prolonging the life and good looks of your furniture. Because many slipcovers are machine washable, they also keep germs, spots and odors at bay.

But a poorly chosen slipcover can actually make your out-of-style old couch look worse.  So how do you choose a slipcover that is right for your furniture, your budget and overall style?  

When you’ re looking for a slipcover, what it really boils down to is fit, style and fabric – with fit being the key ingredient.  Our buying guide is designed to address basic questions you may have when you are considering purchasing a slipcover (e.g. which type, style, or color is right for your home).


Slipcover Fit: Size Does Matter— Measure Your Furniture

Probably the most important part of getting a good looking slipcover is how it fits your furniture.  In the slipcover world there are two general options – purchase a ready-made slipcover or have your slipcover custom made.  Ready made slipcovers are available in stretch, fitted and non-fitted. Non-fitted or adjustable slipcovers (sometimes called furniture throws) tend to be made for irregular shaped sofas or for a casual room. Non-fitted slipcovers may simply be a piece of fabric or fabric plus elasticized ruffle around the bottom of the sofa. For a tailored, sleek look, a stretch or fitted slipcover is your best bet.

To buy a fitted slipcover for a piece of furniture, you will need its measurements. Most sofas fall within the 83” to 96” width range. Most loveseats measure between 60” to 70” wide and most chairs between 30” to 40” inches
 
Also determine if your furniture is a tight back (single attached cushion on the back), attached pillow back (two or more attached cushions on the back) or a loose pillow back. Count the number of seat cushions your furniture has to buy the correct slipcover.

Most reputable firms that carry ready-made slipcovers will provide measurement guides for you to measure your furniture and therefore you can choose the right size slipcover to fit your sofa, loveseat, chair or ottoman.

Key measurements to know are the height and width of your furniture.  Others may work with the circumference of your furniture. Either way, follow the guidelines and take careful measurements to make sure you’ re selecting the right size. Here are more detailed and helpful tips in measuring your furniture.

• Measure the length of the furniture from the outer most point to the outer most point.

• Measure the height of the furniture from the spring to the top of the back.

• Measure the seat area whether single or multiple cushions.

• Measure the side of the furniture for depth.

• Measure from floor to the top of the seating area (minus cushions).

•   Count the number of back and seat pillows for individual cushion covering.

If purchasing a stretch slipcover, make sure the fabric you choose is washable and follow the care instructions carefully. Shrinkage may render your slipcover useless after a wash.

Slipcover Style

The style of your slipcover is very important to your overall decorating scheme. Like any furniture purchase, there are no real rules when it comes to color and pattern.  Nonetheless, most people go with neutrals or solid colors as they are easier to work with and allow for more choices when it comes to accessorizing your room. Make sure you’ re selecting color, pattern and actual sewing style that will accurately reflect the look you’ re going for or will complement your current style. Is your home traditional, contemporary, casual, or eclectic?  
 
At HomeDecorExpress, the strength of our EasyFit collection includes a variety of natural, beige, taupe, and chocolate color neutrals.  Neutral or basic colors are brought in to provide a level of easy sophistication. The philosophy behind this approach is that accessories such as throw pillows, artwork, rugs and knickknacks are the means to showcase your own distinctive touch.

Neutrals also tend to allow for a more relaxed sophisticated comfort, while patterned fabric hides stains better and run the gamut from formal damasks to geometric contemporary to traditional yet casual florals and then some to allow you for your own spin on expressing your unique tastes and personal style.

As slipcovers are really fashion for your furniture HomeDecorExpress does offer patterns as well.  Sometimes you want a little “ pop” in the room or want to experiment or express more of an independent style.  Our patterns include floral, plaid, checks, solid, stripe and abstract patterns so whether your style leans toward classic, casual or contemporary you can still find a pattern that can work with the rest of your room for a full decorator look.


Slipcover Fabrics

The type of fabric you select should be something that works best for you, your family and your lifestyle. Most slipcovers on the market include twill, cotton, stretch, microfiber, denim and tapestry, as well as microsuede. We recommend that you purchase slipcovers that are made with upholstery grade fabric – these are better quality and tend to be durable through repeated use and washings.  If you want a low fuss slipcover that you can launder at home, look for a cotton-polyester blend.

Heavy fabrics or special treatments add value (and price) to the slipcover. A sofa slipcover needs more fabric than chair covers, so they will cost more. Multi-piece slipcovers, those that come with separate cushion covers, will also be a bit more expensive as they use more fabric and require more labor to construct.


The Home Dé cor Express Collection

The core of the collection is the armchair, loveseat and sofa. We also offer dining room chairs, recliners and ottomans in selected fabrics. These items are available in both skirts with pleated fronts or tight fit stretch fabrics.  You can also order custom covers including T-cushions, recliners and seat cushion covers through our partner www.slipcovershop.com      All our covers are made to be super easy to fit over your existing upholstered furniture, therefore giving an old and tired looking sofa, loveseat or chair an instant face lift.  Measurement guides are located in the slipcover section of the website, more specifically within the product specification descriptions and will allow you to choose the slipcover size that will best fit your furniture.

If you have a little extra money to spend, consider getting several slipcovers to give your furniture a seasonal facelift. Slipcovers are fun to accessorize and within a very short time you can transform the look of the entire room at a fraction of the cost it would take to either reupholster or purchase new furniture.