When furniture starts to look tired, it may be time to give it a makeover. Some people may simply decide to ditch the old and bring in new furniture but that will often come with a hefty price tag. An easier and more cost effective way is to transform the look of your furniture by using slipcovers.

Slipcovers give you the option to redecorate your home in any way you like. You may want to change a room’s look in response to new trends or changing seasons, may wish to conceal shabby, stained fabrics, or unify the look of a room containing mismatched furniture. Whatever your reasons may be, slipcovers can do the job of updating an outmoded room.

How to Get Started?

When working with slip covers, selecting the right fit for your furniture is the first step. And while there are standard sizes for sofas, love seats and chairs, one size does not fit all. Instead, it is important to measure the pieces that you want to cover.

Once you have the measurements in place, you can get on with the fun part of the project of choosing colors, patterns and fabric. This aspect of selecting the perfect slipcover allows for a lot of creative freedom and the covers do not even have to be permanent.

Design profile

Slipcovers can easily be grouped into two style categories, namely stretch and non-stretch. To differentiate, non-stretch 

features covers that have been designed with a straight front panel which falls smoothly from seat to floor yielding a more 

relaxed, casual look. Typically all relaxed fit furniture covers are non-stretch. They are woven for a slightly loose and casual look with adjustability features that may be tucked or tied for a more tailored profile. Take a look at the Micro-Suede Slipcovers available at Linen Store.

The other way to go is to opt for the stretch look that features elastic in the cover near the base of the seat cushion and fits better providing a more finished look. As a result all form fit furniture covers have stretch and will follow the contours of the furniture. The smart seam details and elastic bottoms help create a costumed, re upholstered look for these styles. Take your pick from the many varieties of Stretch Jersey Slip Covers available at Linen Store.

Fabric Selection

Contemporary slipcovers come in a range of fabric choices designed for utility and easy maintenance. While cotton may be a popular choice, fabrics may show wrinkling more than a cotton/synthetic blend or a 100% synthetic fabric.

In addition, fabric strength also matters greatly with slipcovers, since they will be undergoing multiple washings. At the same time, it is important to remember that slipcover fabrics should not be too heavy or stiff for an unwieldy slipcover will make for an unsightly and droopy fit especially after a few washes. Instead it is better to opt for a fabric which offers a natural drape.

As such stretch jersey slipcovers exhibit a natural stretch that clings successfully to the natural curves of the furniture while Lucerne slip covers and micro-suede slipcovers drape softly along the sides and back of the furniture. Remember that fabric needs to exhibit a little bit of give to successfully curve around furniture corners.

Printed Slipcovers

Since the wear and tear a piece of furniture receives can really be the deciding factor in selecting its slipcover fabric, 

printed furniture may also be a more suitable choice for rooms with heavy traffic or young kids.

Apart from offering the perfect camouflage for everyday spills and messes, printed slipcovers can quickly become the focal point of the rooms and serve as the central style element on the premises. However, when choosing a printed slipcover, remember that the scale of a print is a very important consideration. What this means is that larger prints have the potential to easily overpower smaller pieces of furniture while smaller prints can just as easily get lost on a large sofa or love seat.

To get an idea of what creatively crafted printed slip covers look like take a look at the selection of Print Jersey Slipcovers available at Linen Store.