Fabrics for slipcovers

Slipcovers, also known as loose covers, are fabric coverings for a chair or sofa. Slipcovered furniture evokes a casual, laid-back aesthetic as the cover generally doesn’t fit as snugly as a that of an upholstered piece. This can result in wrinkles in areas such as the skirt (around the base of the sofa) and should be considered when selecting this style of upholstery.

Unlike slipcovers, tailored covers are made to fit specific frames and are often secured with a zip at the back and Velcro on the underside of the base. This ensures a closer fit and a less relaxed, more ‘tailored’ appearance – although not to the extent of an upholstered piece of furniture.

To ensure the fabric has the required balance of stretch (moving with you as you sit down) and structure (returning to its original form when you stand up) a blended construction of 50% polyester and 50% natural fibre, such as linen or cotton, is the ideal textile choice.

The natural fibre content enables you to easily pull the fabric taunt over the arms and back of the sofa, whilst the synthetic content ensures that the piece holds its shape without stretching and continues to look its best overtime.

The synthetic yarns of blended fabrics are cleverly woven inside the weave or in the warp, rather than on the face of the fabric, ensuring the fabric feels natural as these fibres do not touch the skin.

As natural fibres absorb moisture in humid environments, they will appear very relaxed at certain times of the year, appearing slumped and oversized during the summer. To combat this – and despite its appearance – furniture with a loose, relaxed aesthetic is generally made with straight arms and cushions and upholstered in synthetic textiles.

We always recommend pre-washing slipcover textiles before construction as the fabric can shrink 3-5%, making it near-impossible to redress the furniture after washing the cover.

Learn more about natural and synthetic fabrics in our previous article: Textile fibres and their characteristics

One of the key advantages of a slipcover is washability and although a three-seater cover doesn’t fit in a residential washing machine, there is always the launderette.

Stain resistant fabrics such as FibreGuard are an ideal choice when creating slipcovers because while you can wash the back and cushions, you can also spot clean any spills in the moment with only soap and water. Thus, commercial dry cleaning is never required.

Learn more about stain-resistant fabrics in our previous article: FibreGuard | Inspired by life

The beauty of a slipcover is your ability to extend the lifetime of a quality sofa or chair, with reduced investment. The cost of a high-quality frame can be offset by specifying a more accessible fabric, which can be updated when finances allow.

Alternatively, slipcovers can be updated as your interior style evolves, or even seasonally – opting for a linen blend for a relaxed, summer aesthetic and a velvet to warm you during the winter months.

Much of the cost of reupholstery is in the labour of stripping the existing fabric and heavy-duty staples from a piece of furniture. As a slipcover is secured with a zip or Velcro, costs are limited to those of the fabric and making.

Investing in locally made furniture has the further advantage of a manufacturer holding the pattern to your piece rather than having to cut a new one from the previous cover. You send your fabric and voila – it returns as a tailored cover.

Learn more about sofa styles and discover the ideal choice for your space in our previous article: How to choose a couch