Comments on: Reader Feedback Request – Alternative To New Couches http://www.ncnblog.com/2010/01/12/reader-feedback-request-alternative-to-new-couches/ Debt Reduction Rocks - We Are Living Debt Free! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:09:10 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jo http://www.ncnblog.com/2010/01/12/reader-feedback-request-alternative-to-new-couches/comment-page-1/#comment-214540 Jo Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:33:45 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/?p=2693#comment-214540 I have made my own slipcovers (OK, but not professional looking), used Surefit and other brands (messy looking), and, eventually, got to a professional. Bought the fabric myself from a mill-end shop (JoAnn's Fabric is also a great source, as is Fabric.com on the internet.) My sofa slipcover is white, looks like upholstery, and has held up well without slipping/sliding for over 10 years now. Everyone who sees it compliments it, even today. At present, I'm having a chair slipcover made in a Microsuede fabric that cost me ~$8./yd and it will be very nice. The big question is whether it's worth it. I have some furniture that cost big bucks, is very sturdy, and will outlive me and these pieces are worth it. So if the original chair/sofa is very well made, w/ good springs and cushions, it deserves a good cover. Generally, if the original upholstery lasted a long time it's worth it; if it was a cheaper piece and the original fabric was thin and wore or faded quickly, I would use a purchased pre-made cover or just save for a new chair. If you can sew, you can make a slipcover, not difficult, but a somewhat tedious process for a novice. Pretty much the same thing goes for reupholstery, which actually isn't much more expensive than professional slipcovers, but much more difficult to keep clean. I have made my own slipcovers (OK, but not professional looking), used Surefit and other brands (messy looking), and, eventually, got to a professional. Bought the
fabric myself from a mill-end shop (JoAnn’s Fabric is also a great source, as is
Fabric.com on the internet.) My sofa slipcover is white, looks like upholstery, and
has held up well without slipping/sliding for over 10 years now. Everyone who sees it compliments it, even today. At present, I’m having a chair slipcover
made in a Microsuede fabric that cost me ~$8./yd and it will be very nice.
The big question is whether it’s worth it. I have some furniture that cost big bucks, is very sturdy, and will outlive me and these pieces are worth it. So if the original chair/sofa is very well made, w/ good springs and cushions, it deserves a good cover. Generally, if the original upholstery lasted a long time it’s worth it; if it was a cheaper piece and the original fabric was thin and wore or faded quickly, I would use a purchased pre-made cover or just save for a new chair. If you can sew, you can make a slipcover, not difficult, but a somewhat tedious process for a novice. Pretty much
the same thing goes for reupholstery, which actually isn’t much more expensive than
professional slipcovers, but much more difficult to keep clean.

]]> By: Pat M http://www.ncnblog.com/2010/01/12/reader-feedback-request-alternative-to-new-couches/comment-page-1/#comment-214445 Pat M Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:41:32 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/?p=2693#comment-214445 I have tried the Target brand slipcovers at about $50.00, the one piece kind and the more expensive sure-fit two piece. The Target one fit better and stayed put better, though I was forever tucking it back in, The material was much better than the Sure-fit suede like material. I though I the sure fit would fit better and be better thicker material, since it cost almost twice as much. This was not true. The material is very thin and cheap looking and now I need to tuck in the the cushions and the frame cover. It never looks good. I went back to my Target one. I recently tried to reupholster my husbands' recliner with fair success. I am going to attempt the couch, it has to be better than the look of the messy looking slip covers. I know why they are called slip covers, they always slip out of place. I have tried the Target brand slipcovers at about $50.00, the one piece kind and the more expensive sure-fit two piece. The Target one fit better and stayed put better, though I was forever tucking it back in, The material was much better than the Sure-fit suede like material. I though I the sure fit would fit better and be better thicker material, since it cost almost twice as much. This was not true. The material is very thin and cheap looking and now I need to tuck in the the cushions and the frame cover. It never looks good. I went back to my Target one. I recently tried to reupholster my husbands’ recliner with fair success. I am going to attempt the couch, it has to be better than the look of the messy looking slip covers. I know why they are called slip covers, they always slip out of place.

]]> By: Don J http://www.ncnblog.com/2010/01/12/reader-feedback-request-alternative-to-new-couches/comment-page-1/#comment-187366 Don J Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:06:51 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/?p=2693#comment-187366 Another vote for having them custom-made. I grew up with a sofa that was covered with a hand-made slip cover, with zippered slip covers for the seat cushions. We also had three or four throw cushions covered with the same fabric. I spent most of my childhood not knowing that the slip covers existed. The best part about this approach, I think, is that you can choose a fabric that you really like (we had a velvet texture and a very nice pattern). Another vote for having them custom-made. I grew up with a sofa that was covered with a hand-made slip cover, with zippered slip covers for the seat cushions. We also had three or four throw cushions covered with the same fabric. I spent most of my childhood not knowing that the slip covers existed. The best part about this approach, I think, is that you can choose a fabric that you really like (we had a velvet texture and a very nice pattern).

]]> By: Erica http://www.ncnblog.com/2010/01/12/reader-feedback-request-alternative-to-new-couches/comment-page-1/#comment-186160 Erica Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:21:13 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/?p=2693#comment-186160 I have a gorgeous and structurally sound couch that my dog slimed up. I couldn't afford to reupholster it, and figured the dog would just have at it again. I got a slipcover at Ikea; it cost around $40 and is not a perfect fit. It doesn't come down all the way in the back, but the back is up against something, so no one sees that. The cover is made of heavy duty white canvas and is machine washable. My dog is black, though, so it was always noticeably covered with dog hair; so I threw a patterned full-size sheet over the slipcover, and it looks great. I can take everything off and wash as needed, and it was much less than reupholstery or paying for a seamstress to make slipcovers. I have a gorgeous and structurally sound couch that my dog slimed up. I couldn’t afford to reupholster it, and figured the dog would just have at it again. I got a slipcover at Ikea; it cost around $40 and is not a perfect fit. It doesn’t come down all the way in the back, but the back is up against something, so no one sees that. The cover is made of heavy duty white canvas and is machine washable. My dog is black, though, so it was always noticeably covered with dog hair; so I threw a patterned full-size sheet over the slipcover, and it looks great. I can take everything off and wash as needed, and it was much less than reupholstery or paying for a seamstress to make slipcovers.

]]> By: Lizz http://www.ncnblog.com/2010/01/12/reader-feedback-request-alternative-to-new-couches/comment-page-1/#comment-186098 Lizz Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:59:36 +0000 http://www.ncnblog.com/?p=2693#comment-186098 We bought one of the nicer $50 ones from Target when I found it on clearance. My husband constantly had to adjust it and got exceptionally upset with it. One time he didn't adjust it and sat down and in the very back left corner the fabric pulled apart when he sat on it. Was it better than getting dog hair on the couch? (The couch fabric caught it and it took hours to pluck out.) Yes. Was it washable? Yes. Did it look great? It looked like a slip cover. We ended up buying a new set of couches from the Habitat for Humanity Resale shop on a 50% off day for $250. They're very nice. We bought one of the nicer $50 ones from Target when I found it on clearance. My husband constantly had to adjust it and got exceptionally upset with it. One time he didn’t adjust it and sat down and in the very back left corner the fabric pulled apart when he sat on it.

Was it better than getting dog hair on the couch? (The couch fabric caught it and it took hours to pluck out.) Yes. Was it washable? Yes. Did it look great? It looked like a slip cover.

We ended up buying a new set of couches from the Habitat for Humanity Resale shop on a 50% off day for $250. They’re very nice.

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