How to Slipcover a Couch Beautifully
We definitely have paranormal activity in our home. Things move without explanation. Pillows that were strategically placed by me to look magazine pretty inevitably end up on the floor after I leave the room. Kid sized chairs levitate on their own and land on top of the couch.
And don’t even mention this pillow that has systematically lost all its buttons one-at-a-time!
When questioned, both boys emphatically shout “It wasn’t me!” Hmmph.
Well, if this continues I might have to call in an exorcist, because it is getting VERY annoying.
But, I know you don’t want to hear about my boring ghost stories. Instead I thought I’d share with you a great source for brand name (to remain un-named) slipcovers at a fraction of the cost! May I introduce to you UglySofa.com.
And let me tell you, the name is a misnomer, because this family-owned company is actually on a mission to give you a beautiful sofa! When UglySofa.com emailed me and said they wanted to send me a “brand name” slipcover to try out, I was skeptical. I mean – come on – how can you sell slipcovers from the famous PB&J (minus the J) at a fraction of the cost? I really doubted their authenticity. But, low and behold, a few days later my boxpleat slipcover arrived and when I opened it up, it truly was the brand they said it was and the quality was just as good as the slipcover I bought years ago from the store “that shall not be named.”
Slipcover a Couch Beautifully
I immediately ran over to pull back the worn red slipcover I’ve been using for as long as my oldest has been alive. WARNING: What you are about to see is a flashback to the 90’s. I admit, I did recover this sofa way back in my college years when hunter green was popular color. (I’m sad just wondering when blue-gray will be the “dated color”.) But, if you saw the granny fabric that lay beneath you’d be even more horrified.
Now don’t even ask me why we still have a sofa that is well over 20 years old. Someday we’ll get around to replacing it…until then I have my new slipcovered sofa! Isn’t she pretty?!
Have you ever purchased a slipcover because it looked beautiful in the catalog only to get it in the mail and you can’t for the life of you figure out how they got the slipcover to look so good?
That used to happen to me too, until I worked as a photo stylist for Plow & Hearth (one of my responsibilities as a graphic designer for their catalog). I learned how to install slipcovers so they look beautiful.
Here are a few easy tricks for installing a slipcover so it look less like a rumpled college frat house slipcover. Please excuse my “butt shots”. I’m still new to this little thing called vlogging!
Start out by getting the ginormous cover on.
Find the “Back” tag on your slipcover. (And don’t look at the famous PB & J (minus the J) tag. Ha, I made you look ;-).
Throw the “back” of the slipcover over the back of your sofa.
Locate the center of your slipcover and center it between the two arm rests.
Then line up the front skirt of your slipcover. I like to let the skirt puddle on the floor a little instead of kissing it.
Smooth out the fabric with your hands, and neatly tuck and fold under any excess fabric.
This is especially crucial on the arm rest, you want to disguise any excess fabric so the slipcover looks like it was custom made for your sofa.
Wrap the side panels around the side.
Locate the D- rings on the back of the slipcover.
Feed the straps from the side panels through the D-rings in the back of the slipcover, and loop back between the two rings.
Pull the straps until the slipcover is tight. Be sure to leave enough slack to be able to tighten the other side.
Tuck any excess fabric into the folds behind the side panels and the d-rings.
Once you have the slipcover positioned, folded and tucked the way you like, then insert several cardboard light-sabers shipping tubes into the crevices between your cushions.
These will secure and hold your slipcover in place.
And now, another little video on eliminating the wrinkles in your slipcover. I just used my hands and a squirt bottle filled with water. Be prepared as I almost cross the line. I admit it, sometimes I have the mind of a 7th grade boy.
I hope those videos were helpful for you! Do you like my new UglySofa.com slipcover?
The boxpleat slipcover has a nice relaxed weave, very similar to a grain cloth.
And the sides drape nicely over my sofa’s arm. The color I chose was ivory linen.
The separate seat square cushion cover for a small sofa in the lovely Honey color is begging to come to my house. I do, however really like those pleats on the one in your post. I bought a set of furniture used that the rest of the family despises. Maybe they’ll forgive me if I use slipcovers;-}
I would choose the exact one you have! 🙂
I followed you on FB 🙂 Wow, those are great prices! I agree, I’d pick the Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover for a Small Sofa.
I follow you on just about all of those places….is that a bit stalker-ish? No it can’t be bc we’re friends 🙂 xo
I want the box pleat t-cushion arm chair slipcover in Honey Twill 🙂 A free slipcover for my $15 facebook barter group chair? Yes please! 🙂 Great video btw!
Hey Brittany! Your blog is number 1 on my daily reading list and today’s post is such a blessing! I have a daily battle w/ the slip cover on my family room sofa “slipping” and your tutorial just gave me the win!! And to be in the running for a NEW slipcover – it’s going to be a great day!!
You seriously could not have posted this at a better time. I was one day away from heading to HD to buy a couple drop cloths to make a slip cover for my 1970’s teal, aqua, and grass green sofa. Don’t let the first colors fool you it is a sight for sure! Not to mention the ‘beautiful’ floral cushy arm chair my mother is giving me. I seriously squeeled when I saw the prices of these!
I love the Boxpleat one but will have to opt for the Separate Seat Square Cushion Slipcover Large Sofa but seriously cannot decide between _ Natural, Cream or white … (facebook, pinterest)
I like the boxpleat coach slipcover in Stone Twill. perfect for our living room!
I follow you on FB [and I would at Home Depot too if I lived in your city] 🙂
Also a follower!
Love it! I have a few very bold plaid colored hand-me-downs I would love to cover! I like the loo of the loose fit tie covers. Thanks for the great tutorial too! So going to come in handy in the near future.
I also love the boxpleat cover in ivory twill.
I’d love to slipcover my old ugly sofa! Unfortunately it has arms that are as high as the back, so I’m not sure if the slipcovers would fit it. I sent an email through their Contact form so they can let me know.
I already follow you!
I’ve been “following” your blog for a while, but never realized I wasn’t a “follower”. LOL! You make it all look so easy!
With 5 kiddos under the age of 12, I need a slip cover worse than a seagull wants a french fry! At the risk of being a copy cat, I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover for a large sofa in Ivory. Perfect to cover up that ugly camel-colored sofa and motivate my planned redecorating of my living room!