I want to put quality slipcovers on two sofas in family room without paying an arm/leg price like Pottery Barn's.

I don't want them to look like a big sheet draping my furniture. Any ideas of websites, catalogs or stores? TIA

By Palmbchprincess on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 12:56 am:

I'm in the same spot, I need slipcovers thanks to the kitty claws on my leather, but I haven't found affordable ones. I'm thinking of making my own, but I'm clueless. I'm sure some of the moms here have some suggestions.

By Bea on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 01:12 am:

I bought a Sure Fit slipcover for our TV room sofa. It's not as nice as tailor made, but not horrible. I priced having them made. First of all, very few people make custom slipcovers around here, and they all charge a mint. I could buy a new sofa for what covering this one with custom covers would cost me.

By Bea on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 01:15 am:

If you sew, you could make your own. I made a slipcover for a boudoir chair in my bedroom. I made a pattern with kraft paper and worked from that. It turned out well. I'm not great with a sewing machine either.

By My2cuties on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 01:21 am:

slip covers

these are pretty affordable. I don't know about the quality because I have never bought a slip cover. Good Luck.

By Reds9298 on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 08:16 am:

I've purchased Sure Fit and store (Target) slipcovers and no matter what they always look like a sheet. It takes 3 hours to stuff them in right and when 2 people sit down you have to start again. I think a sheet actually might look better!!! I have one old couch and I will try covering it myself first, then I'll just buy a new cheaper couch if I have to. I think slipcovers are a HUGE pain. They never look like they do in the catalog (at least for very long!)

By Debbie on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 09:57 am:

I have a slipcover on the couch in my living room and it is a big pain!!!! We don't use the room except when we have company, so it is no big deal. But, I would hate it if it was a room we used often. Anytime anyone sits on the slipcover, it gets messed up. I even bought the things that you stick in between the cushions that are suppose to hold it down.

I got my slipcover from Surefit and it is a good quality, but I would defintiely not want one on a sofa I used all the time.

By Jann on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 10:50 am:

I saw a trick on Trading Spaces one time for slip covers. Take a piece of PVC pipe cut to the length of the couch. Put your slip cover on then take the pipe and push it down the back side and sort of an anchor. (did that make sense??)

By Kaye on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 10:53 am:

LOL jan, i was going to post about TS too! The always make their own and they look nice. It can't be that hard! I think what makes theirs work good is mostly they cover the cushions separately (if they remove) then they cover the back.

By Breann on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 11:26 am:

Lol....I was also going to post about Trading Spaces. They make it look fairly doable.

I would recommend doing the cushions separately also. That makes it look more tailored to your sofa and not just a big sheet.

By Jann on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 12:20 pm:

Great minds! ;)

By Palmbchprincess on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 03:29 pm:

ROFL... I was another one thinking of the TS trick. I can't do my cushions separately, because they are attached to the couch, but I can use the PVC pipe to anchor the cover. My couch is kinda overstuffed, so I worry about how the cover will look, but it's not even 4 years old, and I refuse to buy a new set!

By Reds9298 on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 05:18 pm:

I also saw a trick on one of the hgtv shows about buying cheap material (I think it was like gunny sack kind of stuff) to make the patterns first to cover your couch. Like they traced out the pattern for the cushions, etc. on this cheap stuff before they did it on the real material. I still think it looks like something I would totally mess up!!!!!!

By Tink on Saturday, February 26, 2005 - 06:17 pm:

My mom has slipcovers from Target that are such a hassle but we didn't know anyone else with slipcovers to compare. We tried the PVC pipe trick and it didn't help at all. It always looks sloppy unless it has just been straightened and retucked. Best of luck and let me know how it all works out.

By Andi on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 12:40 am:

I have one from Surefit on the couch in the office and it looks great and works just fine with people sitting on it. I do have to tuck it in every couple days when it gets a lot of use but I do like it.

I think one of the reasons our stays in place is because the material is very thick and sturdy...but it's still very comfortable to sit on.