apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have boring, boxy couches, with slipcovers on them. When freshly washed and tucked, they look ok, but even more shapeless than they actually are. After so much as looking at them, though, they pull loose, and sag and generally look terrible. Unless you do something custom, the slipcover is going to constantly look weird, and it will DEFINITELY not keep the neat swoop to the back of the couch or the arms.

Personally, I would just suck it up for a while; you got a fantastic couch off CL, and it will be even MORE fantastic when you re-cover it, but it will just look kind of shabby if you put a slipcover over it.

Or, if you have any ambitious seamstress friends, you might ask them to do a custom cover for you. Or you could try re-covering it yourself.

Okay, I've not tried to do this, but I don't think you'll really be able show off the shape of the couch under a shapeless mass-produced slipcover intended for a very different shape of couch. My guess is that the Penney's cover will be baggy in some places and pull in others and will just look messy.

I would either make or find someone who can make a custom fitted slipcover that curves where the couch does. If you can't do that, can you maybe cover just the pillows to an accent color that ties the couch in with the colors of your apartment?

Either way, major score you got there. I love that couch. Looks like it's in really great shape, too.

No manufacturer sells a slipcover for this form of sofa. It is a tailored look will not look good with a traditional slipcover anyway. I would suggest saving up to get the sofa reupholstered. Having a custom slip cover made for this sofa will be comparable in price to simply getting it reupholstered.

what about one of those stretchy ones? or are they icky, i haven't felt one before.

One-Size-Fits-All Slipcovers are like One-Size-Fits-All clothing.

They don't, and nothing looks good in them.

If you're feeling crafty, you can purchase one of those generic slip covers, put it on inside out, pin it to fit, and sew it yourself.

Try purchasing a length of fabric that blends your decor with the couch's. Drape it over the back. Wait until you can afford upholstery.

Inexpensive fabric, a staple gun, duct tape and a glass of wine.

One idea is to use menswear inspired sheet set from Target...the fitted could be stretched and pulled and stapled onto the body, the flat sheet, cut and wrap the main cushion like a present with excess on the underside held with duct tape. Loose the throw pillows and buy matching menswear pillows, I just saw some at Target for $15.00 in the seasonal sectional of decor and frames, a different section than the bedding.

I bet you could achieve something grand with a little tenacity.

What do you have to loose? Have fun!

Maybe you could try asking a design student from a local interior design school to help you out as a project?