A well-made couch can last a very long time, but there aren't many fabrics that can withstand years and years of family living. Re-upholstering the couches is an expensive proposition. It's sometimes cheaper just to buy a new (albeit lower quality) set of living room couches. If your sofa is in good condition, other than the ugly or outdated upholstery, consider investing in a sofa transformation, by making or buying couch slipcovers. You can use a slipcovered couch in a guest room, or bedroom suite, and a slipcover can make it match the rest of the room or protect it.

Making Couch Slipcovers

The first step to making a proper set of sofa slipcovers is to measure how much fabric you'll need. It's a little more difficult than it sounds. It might be easiest to measure all of the sofa dimensions, and bring them, along with a sketch of your couch, to your fabric store. Reputable fabric stores employ people who are trained and experienced. They can help you choose a fabric, work to make sure the print you choose is easy to work with, and help you learn how to secure your slipcover the right way. When you make slipcovers for your couch or sofa, you have full control over the fabric selection and can even add embellishments, or make matching curtains, too.

Buying Sofa Slipcovers

You'll still need the dimensions of your couches when you choose to buy sofa slipcovers. They come in varying degrees of quality, both in the design and in the fabrics. Some look like one giant showercap, with one gathered end, and users are instructed to tuck the excess fabric into the corners of the couch. others have individual pieces of fabric with gathered elastic edges designed to cover each cushion. You can also order custom-made slipcovers from professional seamstresses. These are often pricey in comparison to off-the-shelf slipcovers, though.

Slipcovered Sofa

In addition to slipcovers, there are several other ways to transform your sofa, like adding cushions, using fabric paint, or putting a blanket on the back.

Use your imagination, experiment with different color swatches and prints, contact an expert if necessary, and breathe new life into your living room, without spending a fortune on new furniture. Whether you're looking into slipcovers to extend the life of your upholstery, protecting it while your kids are small, or to cover up the destruction of the years, you might find that slip covering is easier than you thought. Who knows, you might end up changing them out every season, or just for fun.