Design Ideas,Furniture,Soft Home | July 29, 20092 Comments

Instant Room Makeovers: 3 Ways To Do Slipcovers

We’re well into summer, but it’s never too late to bring the feel of summer into your home. Paint is one way to accomplish a new look. But you have to live with that all year round. A better way to makeover a room instantly, and one that can change with the seasons, is to throw a slipcover over the sofa and/or arm chairs. Even the dining room will brighten up with a set of relaxed slipcovers.

In a few months, when winter rears its ugly head and you’re longing for something more cozy, simply remove the slipcovers and you’ve got yet another instant room makeover. Plus, the original upholstery will seem new again after living in seclusion for several months. Here are some slipcover ideas and resources to guide you.

1. Custom Slipcovers

Here’s one of my own projects. The fabric on this wing chair (from Cowtan & Tout) was beautiful and in great shape. But the room was undergoing a total makeover, which meant a new color palette. A slipcover was a great solution. We have our new look without having to sacrifice the original fabric.

A custom slipcover was the way to go here. We wanted to choose just the right fabric and the unusual shape of the chair eliminated any ready-mades. Also, we could style the slipcover any way we liked. Here are some tips to custom slipcovers.

• Find a workroom by searching on Angie’s List or your local fabric shop. Ask to see their portfolio before you hire them.
• Create a work order for the seamstress or workroom. This lists all the details of the work to be done, such as the style you want. Include a photo, if you can find one, and any details such as welting, etc…
• Labor for a slipcover, like the one shown above, will cost about $300 and use about 9 – 10¬† yards of fabric.
• Save on fabric by selecting a solid. You won’t have to match repeats. I found this white twill at JoAnn Fabrics and took advantage of their frequent 40% off sales to get a great price – about $11.00 per yard. That’s better than any designer discount.
• You can dress up a solid fabric by adding a toss pillow.

2. Semi-Custom Slipcovers

If you love IKEA furniture, but want a new look, Bemz is the way to go. Based in Stockholm, this creative company offers a wide variety of excellent fabrics, including Marimekko. The slipcover, above, sells for $279, including shipping.

3. Readymade Slipcovers

There are a few companies that sell ready-made slipcovers. Of them. Surefit has the best selection. The wing chair (above) is the best of what I saw. It sells for only $49.99. Definitely a look for less.

Dining chairs ($14.99) from Surefit seem like a good option. I like the bow. Make sure you measure your chair before purchasing. Surefit has a guide as well.

Another resource is Pottery Barn. These slipcovers ($24.99 – $39.99) seem more skimpy than Surefit’s – the tie in the back especially so.

Of course, you don’t have to remove the slipcover. You might find that you want to enjoy summer all year long.

Have you bought slipcovers? As always, I’m looking for before-and-after photos of your projects. Do you have a resource to add? Do you have a slipcover tip? Share it with us here.

Tags: before and after, diy, interior design, redecorating tips, slipcovers, slipcovers ready made