Everything You Need To Know About My Custom Slipcovers

The Sew Nice Approach to Custom Slipcovers

Does this sound familiar? You’ve spent day after day in your makeshift home office and realize the ugly chair Aunt Mary gave you might actually look good with different fabric. Or you avoid looking in one corner of your living room because the damage the cat did when she used the loveseat as a scratching post makes you cringe. Or you repainted your family room during a bout of cabin fever and now your furniture looks out of place; it's all in good condition but you don't know what to do with it.
I understand! I've been there and I can help. I’m going to share a solution to this problem that you will find easy and enjoyable.

Custom Slipcovers to the Rescue

Custom slipcovers can help your furniture be useful again and coordinate with your decorating style and have the power to transform the look of a room for less than the cost of new furniture. These are NOT your grandma's plastic slipcovers, and definitely not the one-size-fits-most with elastic at the edges.
You loved your Aunt Mary. The chair she gave you brings back happy memories of her, but it just doesn’t fit your style. A custom slipcover can update the fabric and possibly change the style to fit your taste. Custom slipcovers can also hide set-in stains and damage from pets. Did you recently purchase new furniture? Slipcovers also help protect your investment and can change the look of your room from season to season.
Can you believe it? The sofa in the photo near the top of the page is the same one seen below. A few changes were made in the style, the slipcover fits well and doesn't shift during use. Care was taken during fabrication to be sure the stripes in the fabric are aligned top to bottom.

Fabric is worn out, frame and foam in good condition - ready for a slip cover!

How It Works

Now that you know there is a way to revive (or protect) your furniture, the following steps will help you know the process and where to begin.

Step 1

Assess your furniture. Is the frame in good shape? The arms, legs/feet, or wings should not wiggle when moved. Are the springs intact? Check the surface under the cushion called the deck. There should be no sagging areas or lumps or bumps from missing or loose springs. If you have any of these issues, the furniture would best be reupholstered.

Step 2

If your furniture has passed the first step you're ready for a slipcover! In the Discovery Call, I can give you a ballpark estimate on amount of fabric needed and fabrication charges and and will ask you about use and colors or patterns you like and don't like. During a consultation, we discuss the style: Do you want to change it from Early American to Contemporary? Do you want to add a skirt? Keep it the same style? I measure the furniture and make note of which fabric swatches to order. Fabric swatches help avoid unpleasant surprises when dye lots vary or colors vary greatly during different times of the day. Consultations can be done virtually as well. We can discuss styles and new fabrics through a video chat.

Custom slipcovers for Parson's chairs are a great way to add detail and coordinate with other accessories in your dining room

Contrast cording and banding from the window treatment fabric and a decorative knot adds detail and coordinates the room.

The linen look gray fabric with tan contrast in the pleats coordinate well with the end chairs in the chevron pattern.

Step 3

After deciding on the fabric and style, you get a quote describing the slipcover, the fabric to be used, and detailing any other work to be done. Maybe the cushions "bottom out" when you sit on them. I can replace the foam in the cushions as needed.

Sofa before slipcover. Great condition, client wanted an updated look.

Fabric is pin fit directly onto the frame. Cushions are covered separately.

Finished slipcover. The fabric is a linen look polyester, beautiful, durable and easy to clean.

Step 4

When I receive the fabric, the furniture is scheduled for pick up or dropped off to be worked on in my studio. I pin fit the fabric directly on the piece to ensure a good fit of the slipcover. On average this could take 1-2 weeks depending on the furniture and how many pieces will be covered.

Step 5

Delivery day. This is my favorite part! Until you've seen how a slipcover can change the look of furniture, you'd be surprised at what a transformation it could be! I show you how to remove and replace the slipcover and go over care and cleaning instructions.

These two slipcovers are a couple of my all time favorites. They were challenging to make and the clients were very pleased with them. Both won awards in slipcover design competitions; left in 2004, right in 2008.

This slipcover was made from an antique chenille bedspread with a coordinating cotton fabric. Careful planning before cutting allowed for best use of fabric.

Box pleated ruffles and swagged skirts held up with bows made a perfect slipcover for a little girl's room. She was speechless when she saw it!

Step 6

You enjoy your "new" furniture.

With a custom slipcover, you can now enjoy Aunt Mary's chair in any room in your house and no more cringing when looking at the "scratching post" loveseat. The repainted room with the out of place furniture? Is perfectly coordinated and now is your favorite room in the house.
Custom slipcovers are probably my favorite thing to make. I love seeing the transformation from once-old to now-new that takes place and the joy they bring. The best part about making custom slipcovers is helping fellow parents with growing families, professionals, and empty nesters enjoy their furniture. I've been there, done that, and in the case of empty nesting - doing it now.

Have a question about custom slipcovers? Ready to begin? Contact me here and let's get the party started!

Until next time,

Laura