For anyone facing the daunting task of sprucing up the house,
slipcovers can be a saving grace. A slipcover is a fabric
overlay that easily slides over any used piece of furniture
covering the original upholstery. Throw out the sheet draped
over your couch because these covers can be used for almost
any project. Use them to reinvent thrifty finds, saving
the antiquity of the original structure; help repair (or
prevent) the ware and tear of children and pets; or just
allow you to be creative and add your own flare to your
home without compromising the style of the furniture.
Slipcovers
are sold in many stores and often times you can order
them with specific measurements to fit your furniture
seamlessly. In most cases, if you are just looking to
change the color or pattern of a relatively new item,
the manufacturer can tell you where to find a slipcover
for that specific type of furniture. However, buying a
slipcover for antique or used furniture can be costly.
Depending on the shape and size, a custom slipcover can
range from anywhere from $80 to a couple hundred dollars.
If the furniture you’re trying to redesign is valuable
to you, then the investment is worth it to save that piece.
Some discount slipcovers are sold at home décor
stores and on the internet for great values and can be
customized to fit your own furniture without much altering.
For anyone on a small budget, there are more crafty and
affordable ways to make your own slipcovers.
One
cost effective way to make your own slipcover is with
painter’s canvas cloth. This material is perfect
to use for coverings because it is tough and durable yet
supple to work with. The best type of canvas to use is
heavy-duty, unbleached cotton and can be found at most
arts and crafts supply stores for under $10 a yard. To
make the slip cover drape the canvas over your furniture,
pin around the arm rests, then with a sewing machine make
a hem along the pins, and then replace cover on furniture
to finish. With this material also come many opportunities
to be creative because it is literally a blank canvas
for you to stencil, embroider, stitch, dye, or even paint
on.
If
you are looking for more resourceful ways to make a slipcover,
look to old or slightly used materials around your home
for fun, creative, and interesting way to decorate your
furniture. Old tablecloths, blankets, and curtains are
just a few ideas and these items can be found lying around
a closet or in the attic and would normally be given away.
This adds both originality and sentimental value to your
project. If you don’t have any extra tablecloths
or curtains, look in a consignment shop or thrift store
for great deals and funky patterns. Old clothes are another
fun idea to use. Using items and materials from around
the home and thrift stores give your furniture a unique
touch with endless possibilities to customize the slipcovers
to your liking.