Slipcovers are an easy and affordable solution to update furniture. Over time, wear and tear start to show on the fabrics of most chairs and sofas even when the piece is still in good shape overall. Custom slipcovers spruce up any chair, sofa or love seat, but it's important to pick the right fabric for the look you're going for and to take into consideration how much use each piece of furniture gets.
Solid Vs. Patterned - How To Choose
Fabric Ottoman Coffee Table
Walking in a furniture store, you might be attracted to the bold stripes of a sofa or the all-white linen sofa. But an all-white linen sofa is no match for a toddler with grimy hands. And patterned fabric from florals to plaids, can be in style one season and out the next. Solids are a safe bet when choosing fabric for a new furniture cover.
Going with solids doesn't mean boring. Choosing bold patterned accessories and fun accent pieces including pillows and throws allows you to accessorize with current trends, but can be easily changed when it's time for a new style.
Some pieces of furniture need bold patterns, especially when going for a specific overall look or theme. Florals, geometric patterns, plaid, striped or themed fabrics are available in slipcovers, but rather than overwhelming an entire living room set with a pattern, choosing one bold pattern for an accent piece is a good idea. Chair slipcovers in patterns nicely coordinate with a solid sofa without overdoing patterns.
Dining room chair slipcovers allow you to either get a new look completely, or replace dingy stained fabric. A great way to mix solid and patterned fabric is to choose chair slipcovers in solid fabric for the four armless versions and then choose patterned chair covers for the chairs at the head of the table.
Choose A Slipcover Made From Machine Washable Fabric For Ultimate Versatility
Keeping a sofa or chair that sees high traffic clean can be a nightmare. That's where custom slipcovers are a godsend. When the cover looks soiled it can be removed and cleaned without paying a professional furniture steam cleaner. Machine washable fabrics allow you to quickly save fabrics from stains setting in, like when a glass of red wine inadvertently gets spilled on furniture during a party. Reputable manufacturers offer machine washable slipcovers that are made slightly larger to account for shrinking during washing.
Choosing The Right Slipcover Fabric
Figure out how much wear and tear the piece that is being covered gets on a daily basis.
Chair slipcovers that get daily heavy wear should be covered with tough, durable, tightly woven fabrics such as twill, canvas, cotton or denim. Natural fibers such as cotton provide good wear resistance including fading and pilling, but may wrinkle easier than synthetic fibers. Fabrics with a percentage of synthetic and natural fibers offer the best versatility. Microfiber fabrics such as faux suede offer excellent wear resistance. Damask fabrics where the pattern is woven wear better than printed fabrics.
Color also comes into play when determining the wear and tear of a furniture cover. An accent chair in a formal living room won't get as much use as a favorite chair in the family room so a light colored fabric would probably be suitable, whereas a darker fabric might be a better choice for a piece where children play or where food is eaten. Color also comes into play if pets are involved. A dark color wouldn't be a good choice for a sofa that is frequented by a light colored pet that sheds.
Texture is another consideration. Linen is not the best option for chair covers that get daily use as it wrinkles easily and requires more care to keep clean. The fibers in linen can also have a tendency to stretch, which means repeated sittings will make it lose its shape faster. Silk fabrics are beautiful, but are delicate so they are best used as chair covers on accent pieces in formal areas of the house that do not receive a lot of wear.
Before choosing a fabric, order swatches to test out the fabric. By seeing and touching the fabric, you'll be able to determine if the color fits the scheme of the room and if it's sturdy enough for the furniture.