About - Slipcovers

History of Slipcovers 

In the beginning, slipcovers were made out of thin, inexpensive materials that were designed to cover furniture in summer houses of the upper classes.  It has been documented that slipcovers have been around since the 17th century.  However, during the 1960s, slipcovers started to be used as a type of clothing for furniture rather than a dust protector.  Many homes in the 60s did not have air conditioning so slipcovers served the purpose of protecting chairs and sofas from sweat and dirt.  As time went on, slipcovers evolved into a fashion staple in home décor.  They begun to be tailored to individual pieces of furniture; custom-made slipcovers are now in high demand.  Today, people oftentimes buy furniture that has slipcovers already made on it.  Pottery Barn is an example of this.  They are used to cover dining chairs, pillows, wing chairs, office furniture, dog beds, sofas, loveseats, recliners, ottomans and even beds.  Slipcovers create a unique, contemporary look and are inexpensive.  In recent years, they have become available in a variety of colors, styles, sizes and fabrics.  Slipcovers are predominately made of cotton or linen but can also be made with leather and soft vinyl.  

Uses of Slipcovers 

Slipcovers are used to not only protect expensive furniture but they are also used to create a new, fresh look in a room.  These covers are economically and environmentally smart.  For any home that has kids or pets, slip covers are ideal.  Because slipcovers are inexpensive, it is possible to change the décor of your home with each season.  Also, slipcovers can create the look of brand new furniture, even if the furniture underneath them is old!  Overall, slipcovers are much more practical and more affordable than new upholstery or new furniture.  Also, they protect furniture from sun damage, kids, food and pets while making a room beautiful and classy! 

What Fabric is Best for Slipcovers? 

To start, examine the environment of the room in which the slipcover will be placed.  Are children or pets going to be in room often?  Is this a room where people will be eating?  Will the furniture be placed in direct sunlight?  If the fabric will have to be cleaned often, it is recommended to choose durable, tightly woven fabrics such as canvas, twills, hopsacks or jacquards.  Even if the environment of the room is highly active, do not shy away from whites and natural colors; they can be bleached.  It is important to note that not all fabrics are suitable for slipcovers.  The fabric should not be stiff, it should be able to drape over the curves of the furniture.  At the same time, the fabric on slipcovers should not be too loose; it should have a tight weave.  Picking a color for fabric is also something to consider.  It is best to choose a print or color that complements preexisting colors in the room.  The nice thing about slipcovers is that whenever you change your mind, you can change the color of the slipcover! 

Caring for Slipcovers 

Slipcovers are relatively low-maintenance.  It is best to vacuum any upholstery and slipcovers at least twice a month.  If your furniture is in a high-traffic area, it should be cared for a little more frequently.  Like other furniture, when slipcovers are left unattended, dirt build-up will make it almost impossible to wash out and keep clean.  With regular maintenance, the life of the slipcover will be prolonged.  If possible, keep your slipcover out of direct sunlight; sun and heat will fade fabric colors and deteriorate textile fibers.  Although lighter colors fare better in the sun, dark colors are more susceptible to the effects of sun and heat.  When furniture must be kept in the sun, choose heavyweight, neutral colors.  Most slipcover fabrics are great with stains.  However, it is important to use a white cloth to dab (not rub) the stain.  If a stain does occur, place the slipcover in the washer immediately as to avoid having the stain settle in the fibers of the fabric.  Again, if the slipcover is placed in a busy part of the home, it may be smart to apply a fabric guard after each washing.  Do not wash portions of your slipcover at different times.  If you wash the pillows more often than the body, the pillows will most likely fade at a different rate.  This also applies to rooms in which every piece of furniture has a slipcover; if one couch is being washed more frequently than the other couches, a color difference may be apparent. 

Slipcover Cost 

For the most part, slipcovers are inexpensive.  The size of the furniture is largely dependent on the price of the slipcover.  If a slipcover is priced too low, be aware of the quality of the fabric.  Well-made slipcovers with durable fabrics should last for years.  Although the price range can vary, most expensive slipcovers are custom-made.  High-quality, moderately-priced, already made slipcovers can be found at stores such as IKEA and Pottery Barn.  Most ready-made slipcovers can be purchased for under a hundred dollars whereas custom-made slipcovers can be anywhere from $150 to thousands of dollars.   

Versatility of Slipcovers 

The new trend with slipcovers is to create a new atmosphere in the home each season or each year!  In fact, slipcovers are available in fabric colors that have the season in mind.  One woman changed her family room during Christmastime by buying green and red plaid slipcovers and solid green and red pillows to match.  For springtime, she changed her slipcovers to yellow and green pastels with pastel accent pillows to match.  During summertime, her slipcovers were bold and bright colors: hot pink, bright yellow, lime green and electric blue.  She changed the slipcovers on her pillows to bright orange.  For fall, the slipcovers on the couches were rusty-orange; the pillows were cocoa brown with mustard-colored specks.  For the winter, her family room looked like a white winter land; the couches were white and the pillows were icy-blue.  Her family room looked like she had bought new furniture for each season but she just bought new slipcovers!