Above: Design consultant Jo-Anne Lucas demonstrates slipcover furnishings at Boston Interiors in Stoughton. Below: A Pottery Barn dropcloth slipcover.
(Debee Tlumacki for The Boston Globe (Above))
Slip into something more comfortable
Covers offer furnishings a quick change
Above: Design consultant Jo-Anne Lucas demonstrates slipcover furnishings at Boston Interiors in Stoughton. Below: A Pottery Barn dropcloth slipcover.
(Debee Tlumacki for The Boston Globe (Above))
A friend once said something about furniture that made a lot of sense: If it's going to last forever, I don't want it. Even the thriftiest shopper can get tired of looking at the same old couch year after year after year. The truth is, sometimes not investing in forever can save you money - and allow you to switch up your home's look more often.
Slipcovers are genius for this. Rather than replace a beat-up or dated couch, you can buy a new cover for a fraction of the cost and instantly liven up the living room. It's like that new coat that reinvents your whole wardrobe.
Slipcovers are, in essence, removable, washable changes of clothes for your couch or chair or chaise. The look is more relaxed and comfortable than an upholstered piece, but it's a far cry from just throwing a sheet over the furniture. A good slipcover should snugly fit a couch's measurements. Since they're changeable, slipcovers make the same old piece of furniture look new again and again, the hallmark of green, eco-friendly design. Even the materials are more eco-friendly these days since designers have started shying away from synthetics and turned to natural fibers.
"Slipcovers are going back to cotton and breathable fabrics that wear nicely, like they were originally," says Jo-Anne Lucas, a design consultant for Boston
The key is finding out which covers will fit your sofa frame. We've scouted out a few styles and retailers to get you started.
Traditional
Most major furniture retailers sell at least one style of sofa with various slipcovers. Unfortunately, they're not made to mix and match with sofas from other retailers and usually you have to go back to your original retailer for replacement covers. Places like Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Circle Furniture, and Boston Interiors keep templates on file (even older styles) so you can go back years later and order a cover to fit your frame. Prices vary, but typically start around $600. Visit www.mitchellgoldboston.com, www.circlefurniture.com, and www.bostoninteriors.comReady-made
If you have a "no name" couch, often the cheapest, easiest route for slipcovering is a one-size-fits-all approach. Surefit.com is a reputable website with very basic one-piece slipcovers that stretch to fit nearly any size sofa, love seat, or chair and an online video that shows you how to tuck it snugly into place. If you want a more tailored look, Pottery Barn has a few good options in neutral colors that will work with many standard sofa sizes and styles. Some have D-rings and ties in the back to adjust for a "custom" fit. They also stock a dropcloth style that has a loose, draped look. Most ready-made slipcovers only set you back about $100. Visit www.surefit.com, www.potterybarn.comCustom covers
When you have a unique piece, be it an extra-long sofa or an antique chair, custom slipcovers are usually the best bet and they're often a lot cheaper than reupholstering. Independent tailors such as Weissbach Slipcovers in Lowell, a family business that has been doing slipcovers since 1949, will come to your home to take specific measurements and then come back a few weeks later to fit your new slipcover. You are responsible for picking out the fabric. Prices vary, but expect to spend at least $200 per piece on labor, plus the cost of fabric. Weissbach Slipcovers, 978-441-1366, www.weissbachslipcovers.comIkea and co.
The slipcover options are getting better and brighter for Ikea's sleek sofas, chairs, and chaises. But if you want an even bolder look, try Bemz.com, a Stockholm-based company that sells removable, machine washable slipcovers to fit Ikea's most popular models. We loved the vivid stripes, bright damasks, and baroque patterns. Check out their new line of classic Marimekko fabrics, too. Most Ikea and Bemz covers run from $60 to $300. Visit www.bemz.com, www.ikea.com
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