4-7--sofa-ikea.jpgHello AT,

I have a bright orange Ikea Allumerum sofa, whose cover has seen better days (picture of a fresh and clean sofa at left.) I bought it 3 years ago, and it's now covered in seemingly unremovable cat hair and spotted with paint stains.

After washing the cover, the fabric warped and shrunk so that the cover not longer closes in the back. Any opinions on whether it's worth reupholstering a $300 sofa with $200 in fabric and a few hours of sweat? Any recommended premade covers?

Thanks! Amy

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Dear Amy,

Tough one. Ikea makes their stuff so affordably that what you don't get is a long lasting life. that said, we would support reupholstering with a better fabric, but not spending too much money on the fabric. You can great great fabric at discount prices at these places.

Also, because the cover is removable, that means it is super easy to recover. All you have to do is take the cover off and have a tailor or yourself copy the pattern exactly by tracing the existing cover.

We would go for it and send us pics afterwards.

Anyone else?