Slipcovers (also called slip covers or furniture covers) are protective fabric coverings for your couch, sofa, loveseat or chair. They come in a variety of fabrics and a multitude of styles to suit any design scheme. Furniture stores prefer to sell you new items rather than help you dress up your current stuff, but knowing a few important facts can allow you to make a good choice and save money with these valuable accessories.
Traditional slipcovers can be made from cotton, wool, polyester, linen, canvas, denim, almost any fabric or blend. Regardless of how much you expect to use your furniture, you should pick a sturdy fabric--something that will look good for many years. Like insurance, furniture covers are an investment in protecting your furniture. Contemporary slipcovers come in plenty of colors to suit every taste and d?cor. Their price depends on three things: quality of the fabric, size and configuration.
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.
Of course, at Overstock.com, more expensive still means less expensive when compared to retail outlets. Our fabrics are thoroughly tested and meet the strictest standards for home use and comfort.
Start by simply draping the slipcover over your furniture. Tuck material into crevices to give the slipcover a tailored appearance. If you purchased a two-piece slipcover, you should then put the cushions into the cushion covers.
If arm rests and foot rests are worn out, cover them with quilt batting before setting your slipcover. Use a long wooden spoon to tuck excess fabric deep into crevices (snug fabric is less likely to come undone). Roll a magazine and wrap it with rubber bands. Once your slipcover is tucked on, slide the magazine between the seat cushion and arm rest or back rest; the added bulk will help keep the slipcover from coming untucked.
Slipcovers generally stay in place quite well once properly installed, but you should re-tuck and smooth the material once a week or so. Stretch fabric slipcovers can minimize retucking.
Like all fabrics, slipcovers need to be cleaned regularly. Dust or vacuum at least weekly, spot clean while spills are fresh. Slipcovers have one great advantage, they are removable for laundering at home or by a professional. You've seen the tag that says, ''Do not remove under penalty of law.''? That is for the seller, the buyer can pull it off anytime, but this is not recommended--this tag contains useful materials and cleaning instructions. If it says 'Dry Clean Only,' do it!
If you do machine wash, don't overload the machine. Line dry or put in a dryer at a low heat setting. While it's off the sofa, check the seams for tangles and unweaving. Then close the zippers and hook-n-loop tabs as you re-install; you are good to go.
Why buy a slipcover?
Slipcovers can update the look of your den, living room, kitchen, patio or any place you have furniture at a very affordable price. Furniture slipcovers are today's best value in home decorating. Instead of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars replacing your comfortable furniture, you can change the appearance with a small investment in slipcovers from Overstock.com.
What size do I need?
Slipcovers fit best on round-arm furniture with rectangular seat cushions. All slipcovers measure 114 inches from front edge to back edge. Slipcovers for chairs are designed for anything 32 to 40 inches wide. Loveseat slipcovers are made for anything 58 to 73 inches wide. Sofa slipcovers are made for anything 74 to 96 inches wide. To find the correct measurement of your furniture, measure from the outside edge of one arm to the outside edge of the other arm. Check out our Slipcover Sizing Chart below for additional details.
| Slipcover Sizing Chart | ||
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All slipcovers are 114 inches from bottom front to the bottom back. Measure your furniture at the highest point to insure proper fit. How to measure: Starting at the bottom front, measure up to the top of the seat cushion, across the seat to the back, and up and over the back to the bottom. This measurement should total 114 inches or less for a proper fit. |
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| Furniture style: | People Size: | Use this size |
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Chair |
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Chair |
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Loveseat |
Loveseat | |
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Sofa |
Sofa | |
What are the real benefits of slipcovers?
The biggest benefit is protection. A sofa cover puts a layer of fabric between the sofa and children, pets, dirt and spills, prolonging the life and good looks of your furniture. Furniture slipcovers also keeps germs, spots and odors at bay because many slipcovers are machine washable. Buying discount slipcovers at Overstock.com is far less expensive than buying new or even quality used furniture.
Slipcovers keep old or unattractive fabric, worn spots and tears out of sight. They are also easy to use; illustrated instructions are included with every slipcover. Follow these directions and you'll get a perfect fit.
Coordinate
As long as you're redecorating, consider a few other items. Overstock.com carries a range of window treatments that will compliment our slipcovers. You are probably buying slipcovers, in part, to protect your furniture, why not do the same for your floors with great area rugs? Rugs are available in sizes and sets in almost every color of the rainbow. You're sure to find something to fit every room in your home. Be sure to browse through our entire home decor department for additional great ideas and great prices. You will be amazed how a few little things can change the whole feel and look of a room at a very reasonable cost.
Start a collection
Furniture covers are so low-priced at Overstock.com, that you can afford to purchase several. You don't need to buy them all at once; you can pick up a set every few months over the course of a year. This gives you options, like redecorating rooms for each season, holiday or for a special occasion. You can also get one distinctive set to be used only on the most formal occasions or when VIPs come to call.
If your furniture is getting a little worn or you simply want to redecorate, slipcovers are definitely far more economical than buying a complete new living room or home office set. Although, if you insist, we will happily sell you one of those instead!
