1 of 5
Slip It On
If your favorite chair or sofa is outlasting its upholstery, treat it to a stylish new slipcover. Adding a handsome fabric is a convenient way to give your upholstered piece a brand new look, that’s right in step with your current decorating preferences.
Slipcovers effectively change a room’s look with the seasons, and they’re valuable for preserving and protecting the original upholstery fabric. If you need a chair or two to complete a room, purchase secondhand yet still serviceable furniture at a junk store, yard sale, or thrift shop. You can always refresh tired pieces by having them re-covered with inexpensive white or off-white muslin before adding the slipcovers. Just a few yards of pretty fabric will enable you to establish harmony among mismatched pieces, such as a small armchair and an old wooden stool.
Choosing medium weight fabrics that have body, such as chintz, linen, poplin, and duck are ideal. Fabrics made of natural fibers, such as cotton and linens, also work well. Drapery fabric is a good choice because it is not as stiff and heavy as upholstery weight fabric, but still has the appropriate body. Remember that slipcovers tend to acquire a looser, more relaxed fit over time.
Adding special details and touches will individualize your creations. Choose a pleated, gathered, or straight skirt, or trim the edges with fringe or bands of solid color fabric that coordinates with the main fabric choice. Using matching or contrasting ties to anchor corner pleats. Finish seams with a self-welt or cover the welting with contrasting fabric. Ready-made fringes and woven braid and trims are readily available and are perfect choices for that special trim.
There are many wonderful sources for ready-made slipcovers, some featured on our “Best of the Web.” They can also be found at retail department and home/bath stores. To have them totally customized and the widest variety of choices, they can be made by a local workroom. You will want to collect pictures of styles and looks you like, so you can illustrate your ideas. The workroom then can give you an accurate estimate and yardage requirements. The labor charge for making a slipcover will vary in proportion to the estimated time required to cut and sew it as well as the fabric and trim choices. Get a clear estimate from the workroom with a sketch and details clearly described. The end results can be fabulous!!
|
|
|
