Slipcover Decorating TipsBy Simon Phillips
Whether you’re renting a furnished flat with worn-looking or unfashionable sofas and chairs, or you’ve furnished your home yourself using an assortment of comfortable but outdated secondhand seats, then using slipcovers is an affordable and simple way to give your furniture a stylish new image. Chair and sofa slipcovers are designed to fit over the top of existing upholstery and are held in place with elastic, ties or zippers for a tidy appearance. Most furniture covers can be machine washed so there’s no need to worry about the occasional food or drink spill. Slipcovers are also useful for protecting good quality upholstery fabric from wear and tear, which is worth remembering, especially if you’ve got children or pets.
Here are some helpful hints if you’re thinking of using slipcovers to give your home a makeover:
Give some thought to what colors or patterns will best match your existing décor. Look at colors in your carpets, rugs, walls, curtains and pictures for inspiration. If you’ve already got a lot of pattern or color in your furnishings, then opting for a slipcover of just one solid color is a versatile option. Alternatively, to bring a touch of color and life to bland or neutral décor, patterned slipcovers could be ideal. Choices include floral prints, stripes, plaid and much more.
If your furniture is likely to get a lot of use, look for a slipcover made from a hardwearing fabric such as cotton or twill, which is machine washable and able to stand up to wear and tear. If you are looking for a light colored slipcover to cover dark colored upholstery, make sure the fabric you choose is thick enough or lined to ensure the original upholstery doesn’t show through.
Good quality slipcovers are designed for a snug fit, but if after lots of use your slipcover is looking a bit creased, a good way to smooth it out is to gently spray any wrinkles with water using a plant mister and then smoothing it out by hand. Another tip for a smart, tailored finish is to make sure any excess fabric is hidden from sight by using a wooden spoon to push it into the cracks around the edges.
If you want to cover a seat with wooden arms, it’s easy to tie polyester padding round the arms before fitting with a slipcover, for an instant new look. Foam batting can also be used to cover leather furniture before covering with a slipcover, to stop slippage. In the same way, wooden backed dining chairs can be covered with batting or an old blanket before being transformed with elegant new chair covers.
These are just some tips for decorating with slipcovers. Using slipcovers is an inexpensive and versatile method of giving tatty or unattractive seats a fresh new look and is a great way for a renter on a budget to add their personal touch to their décor.
Monday, October 1, 2007
The New Trend in Slipcover Furniture
The New Trend in Slipcover Furniture
(ARA) – Originally designed to protect heirloom furniture and expensive upholstery from everyday wear and tear , slipcovers have reached new heights to meet the needs of contemporary modern living. Now you can buy furniture that comes with its own tailor-made slipcovers, blending the look and fit of custom upholstery with the quick cleaning and redesign ease of slipcovers. Given their practicality, versatility, durability, easy-care and inexpensive, fashionable good looks, it’s no wonder that more designers are putting their names on these home furnishing fashions, and more slipcovers grace the homes of families everywhere. The trend towards furniture that comes with its own slipcovers means moderately-priced furniture with designer details and custom features can fit in a multitude of settings without the usual concern we might have over more custom pieces.
Designer Details Savvy consumers are demanding coordinated design details, like those provided by The Sofa Collection. Internationally recognized textile designer Liora Manne has created stylized details, finishing touches and a custom-coordinated line of fabrics exclusively for the Sofa Collection. These design details distinguish the line. Manne has also provided her own line of coordinating rugs, pillows, lamps and decorative accents to complete the designer look. Versatility Innovative zipper construction in the back of each piece and velcro closures on the underside of the sofa ensure a tight fit that provides the look of custom upholstery. These same features allow you to easily remove covers for cleaning or a change of décor. The low-cost of additional slipcovers make a change of décor from formal to casual or winter to summer as easy as changing your own clothing fashions. Additional slipcovers also extend the life of your furniture, and may be purchased for less than $200. Choose your style Offering three popular styles that meet varying consumer lifestyles, The Sofa Collection simplifies the selection process and ensures each style is superbly executed. Consumers may choose from a Cottage Style featuring a traditional round arm, Milan, which possesses an elegant, contemporary curved arm and Metro, an edgy approach to modern design in a square arm construction. Each collection comes in a sofa, loveseat, chair and ottoman, all bearing the same quality designer detailing and all wearing slipcovers that fit like fashions. Choose Your Fabric and Color Next comes a modest selection of upholstery-weight fabrics in a variety of popular colors to suit most consumer tastes and provide exciting alternatives. Fabrics are all tested for shrinkage, strength, color fastness, stain resistance and other factors. Consumers may choose from heavyweight twills, washable micro-suedes, chenilles, tweeds or jacquards. Quality The Sofa Collection was created to provide a commitment to quality at every stage of the process. Using kiln-dried hardwood, or thick engineered wood as appropriate, sinuous springs, foam and Dacron wrapped cushions, detached cushions, padding on all wood pieces, and notched, doweled or blocked joints for strength, The Sofa Collection offers the quality seen in higher-end products at a great value to its customer. Value By selling directly to the consumer on the Internet, engineering an efficient process, focusing on producing the most popular styles and fabrics in significant quantities, and eliminating expensive overhead and furniture sales commissions, The Sofa Collection provides its customer with quick delivery and exceptional value. Today’s consumer has the benefit of being their own designer and coordinating their own decorating schemes, thanks to the innovative approaches of today’s furniture manufacturers. Given a selection of popular styles, fabrics, colors, and decorative accessories, today’s consumer can coordinate an individual look that suits the design sensibilities and lifestyles of even the most active families, while providing the quality of more expensive furniture at a value most can appreciate. Given all the benefits that slipcover furniture provides, including practicality, durability, easy-care and inexpensive, fashionable good looks, this seems to be one trend that will be with us for years to come.
(ARA) – Originally designed to protect heirloom furniture and expensive upholstery from everyday wear and tear , slipcovers have reached new heights to meet the needs of contemporary modern living. Now you can buy furniture that comes with its own tailor-made slipcovers, blending the look and fit of custom upholstery with the quick cleaning and redesign ease of slipcovers. Given their practicality, versatility, durability, easy-care and inexpensive, fashionable good looks, it’s no wonder that more designers are putting their names on these home furnishing fashions, and more slipcovers grace the homes of families everywhere. The trend towards furniture that comes with its own slipcovers means moderately-priced furniture with designer details and custom features can fit in a multitude of settings without the usual concern we might have over more custom pieces.
Designer Details Savvy consumers are demanding coordinated design details, like those provided by The Sofa Collection. Internationally recognized textile designer Liora Manne has created stylized details, finishing touches and a custom-coordinated line of fabrics exclusively for the Sofa Collection. These design details distinguish the line. Manne has also provided her own line of coordinating rugs, pillows, lamps and decorative accents to complete the designer look. Versatility Innovative zipper construction in the back of each piece and velcro closures on the underside of the sofa ensure a tight fit that provides the look of custom upholstery. These same features allow you to easily remove covers for cleaning or a change of décor. The low-cost of additional slipcovers make a change of décor from formal to casual or winter to summer as easy as changing your own clothing fashions. Additional slipcovers also extend the life of your furniture, and may be purchased for less than $200. Choose your style Offering three popular styles that meet varying consumer lifestyles, The Sofa Collection simplifies the selection process and ensures each style is superbly executed. Consumers may choose from a Cottage Style featuring a traditional round arm, Milan, which possesses an elegant, contemporary curved arm and Metro, an edgy approach to modern design in a square arm construction. Each collection comes in a sofa, loveseat, chair and ottoman, all bearing the same quality designer detailing and all wearing slipcovers that fit like fashions. Choose Your Fabric and Color Next comes a modest selection of upholstery-weight fabrics in a variety of popular colors to suit most consumer tastes and provide exciting alternatives. Fabrics are all tested for shrinkage, strength, color fastness, stain resistance and other factors. Consumers may choose from heavyweight twills, washable micro-suedes, chenilles, tweeds or jacquards. Quality The Sofa Collection was created to provide a commitment to quality at every stage of the process. Using kiln-dried hardwood, or thick engineered wood as appropriate, sinuous springs, foam and Dacron wrapped cushions, detached cushions, padding on all wood pieces, and notched, doweled or blocked joints for strength, The Sofa Collection offers the quality seen in higher-end products at a great value to its customer. Value By selling directly to the consumer on the Internet, engineering an efficient process, focusing on producing the most popular styles and fabrics in significant quantities, and eliminating expensive overhead and furniture sales commissions, The Sofa Collection provides its customer with quick delivery and exceptional value. Today’s consumer has the benefit of being their own designer and coordinating their own decorating schemes, thanks to the innovative approaches of today’s furniture manufacturers. Given a selection of popular styles, fabrics, colors, and decorative accessories, today’s consumer can coordinate an individual look that suits the design sensibilities and lifestyles of even the most active families, while providing the quality of more expensive furniture at a value most can appreciate. Given all the benefits that slipcover furniture provides, including practicality, durability, easy-care and inexpensive, fashionable good looks, this seems to be one trend that will be with us for years to come.
What is an Auction and How Does It Works?
Webster's defines an auction as simply "A sale of property to the highest bidder. "The word stems from the Latin verb "auctio" which means "to increase."
Auctions are used to sell many things in addition to antiques and art. All around the world there are auctions of commodities such as tobacco, fish, cattle, racehorses, and just about anything else where there's a market of multiple people interested in buying the same thing. That's the key to an auction - a bunch of people who are interested in buying the same object, and taking turns offering bids on the object. The right to buy that object will go to the highest bidder.This is not the way many goods are bought and sold. If you go into the store to buy a soda, you're the only customer at the moment and there's a set price, a list price if you will. Shopping for a piece of jewelry? Chances are you're the only person interested in a given item in the jeweler's case, and while you may be able to bargain a bit, it's just you and the jeweler. Now imagine you're at an auction and there's a great oak Mission-style rocker that you actually think was made by one of the masters. Somebody else in the audience thinks it's a pretty rocker that would look good in their living room, but they don't know anything about Mission furniture and its history. There's also a dealer in the crowd who knows the same thing about the chair that you do, and a collector of Mission furniture who's determined to add this rocker to her collection.You are all willing buyers. There's only one chair. Who gets it? The highest bidder. What is the chair worth? Well that's up to you potential buyers to work out among yourselves, with the help of an auctioneer. You will determine the value, or "market value" of that rocker at this auction, in this part of the country at this time.Now, I have an amateur's interest in real estate, and in that field you frequently run up against the term "fair market value. "Well, what is fair market value? The most common legal definition is that fair market value is the "price at which an item is exchanged between a willing seller and a willing buyer in an arms-length transaction when neither party is under duress to sell or to buy."What better way to determine fair market value than an auction with an object offered by a willing seller and a bunch of willing buyers?Now, people who are cynical about auctions will suggest that sometimes a buyer pays more than fair market value because the auctioneer is in cahoots with people who appear to be buyers but who are actually working for the auctioneer to push prices up above what they should be.Is this possible? Sure it is. Can you avoid this trap? Yes you can. We'll discuss how you can protect yourself in the second installment. First we must cover some basics.How Auctions Work.Where does the stuff come from? For weeks or more before an auction, the auction house assembles merchandise, that is, items that will be sold at the next auction. These items, sometimes called "merch," come from a variety of sources.Some items may have been purchased outright by the auctioneer, with the intent to resell them at auction. It is common in some parts of the country for an auctioneer to buy "a house. "This usually happens when the inhabitants of a home have died, and the surviving family and heirs select a few cherished items for each to keep. Then they seek to reduce the rest of the furniture, furnishing and possessions into cash to put into the estate of the deceased.The auctioneer inspects the home, makes a few mental calculations based on what he/she thinks is the value of the major furniture items, and then offers one flat price for the entire contents. If a deal is struck (willing buyer/willing seller) the auction house clears out everything and takes it to the auction house or to some storage facility.From there, the material may be sold "as is." Or items may be cleaned, polished, and repaired. Lesser items, such as old magazines, inexpensive glass and china ware, may just sit in boxes. Sometimes these boxes are sold as a single item, not surprisingly called a "box lot."Other items that will go into the auction find their way to the auction house via a variety of routes. Sometimes collectors put specific pieces up for auction. Often the auction house will sell these "on consignment," meaning that the owner agrees to allow the auction house to sell one or more items with an agreement that the auction house will keep a percentage of the sale price of each item. Sometimes consigners will set a minimum "reserve" price. If the bidding does not reach that minimum price, the lot will not be sold. As items come into the auction house, there's a lot of work to be done. Items must be assigned numbers, called "lot numbers. " Lists, and perhaps a catalog, must be prepared recording the items that will be sold, giving brief descriptions of each item (hopefully these descriptions are accurate) by lot number. Generally this list will also indicate the order in which the lots will be sold.In very informal "country" auctions, there may be no list whatsoever. Instead the auctioneer will just point to an item or hold it in his hand and auction it on the spot.As merchandise is prepared for the auction, it is often put into an area near the stage or podium from which it will actually be sold when auction time rolls around. Most auction houses have viewing times before the actual start of the auction. This is when you can inspect the items that will be sold. It is very important that you do this.In fact, inspecting items that are offered for sale is the first step in protecting yourself against bidding too much for an item.
Auctions are used to sell many things in addition to antiques and art. All around the world there are auctions of commodities such as tobacco, fish, cattle, racehorses, and just about anything else where there's a market of multiple people interested in buying the same thing. That's the key to an auction - a bunch of people who are interested in buying the same object, and taking turns offering bids on the object. The right to buy that object will go to the highest bidder.This is not the way many goods are bought and sold. If you go into the store to buy a soda, you're the only customer at the moment and there's a set price, a list price if you will. Shopping for a piece of jewelry? Chances are you're the only person interested in a given item in the jeweler's case, and while you may be able to bargain a bit, it's just you and the jeweler. Now imagine you're at an auction and there's a great oak Mission-style rocker that you actually think was made by one of the masters. Somebody else in the audience thinks it's a pretty rocker that would look good in their living room, but they don't know anything about Mission furniture and its history. There's also a dealer in the crowd who knows the same thing about the chair that you do, and a collector of Mission furniture who's determined to add this rocker to her collection.You are all willing buyers. There's only one chair. Who gets it? The highest bidder. What is the chair worth? Well that's up to you potential buyers to work out among yourselves, with the help of an auctioneer. You will determine the value, or "market value" of that rocker at this auction, in this part of the country at this time.Now, I have an amateur's interest in real estate, and in that field you frequently run up against the term "fair market value. "Well, what is fair market value? The most common legal definition is that fair market value is the "price at which an item is exchanged between a willing seller and a willing buyer in an arms-length transaction when neither party is under duress to sell or to buy."What better way to determine fair market value than an auction with an object offered by a willing seller and a bunch of willing buyers?Now, people who are cynical about auctions will suggest that sometimes a buyer pays more than fair market value because the auctioneer is in cahoots with people who appear to be buyers but who are actually working for the auctioneer to push prices up above what they should be.Is this possible? Sure it is. Can you avoid this trap? Yes you can. We'll discuss how you can protect yourself in the second installment. First we must cover some basics.How Auctions Work.Where does the stuff come from? For weeks or more before an auction, the auction house assembles merchandise, that is, items that will be sold at the next auction. These items, sometimes called "merch," come from a variety of sources.Some items may have been purchased outright by the auctioneer, with the intent to resell them at auction. It is common in some parts of the country for an auctioneer to buy "a house. "This usually happens when the inhabitants of a home have died, and the surviving family and heirs select a few cherished items for each to keep. Then they seek to reduce the rest of the furniture, furnishing and possessions into cash to put into the estate of the deceased.The auctioneer inspects the home, makes a few mental calculations based on what he/she thinks is the value of the major furniture items, and then offers one flat price for the entire contents. If a deal is struck (willing buyer/willing seller) the auction house clears out everything and takes it to the auction house or to some storage facility.From there, the material may be sold "as is." Or items may be cleaned, polished, and repaired. Lesser items, such as old magazines, inexpensive glass and china ware, may just sit in boxes. Sometimes these boxes are sold as a single item, not surprisingly called a "box lot."Other items that will go into the auction find their way to the auction house via a variety of routes. Sometimes collectors put specific pieces up for auction. Often the auction house will sell these "on consignment," meaning that the owner agrees to allow the auction house to sell one or more items with an agreement that the auction house will keep a percentage of the sale price of each item. Sometimes consigners will set a minimum "reserve" price. If the bidding does not reach that minimum price, the lot will not be sold. As items come into the auction house, there's a lot of work to be done. Items must be assigned numbers, called "lot numbers. " Lists, and perhaps a catalog, must be prepared recording the items that will be sold, giving brief descriptions of each item (hopefully these descriptions are accurate) by lot number. Generally this list will also indicate the order in which the lots will be sold.In very informal "country" auctions, there may be no list whatsoever. Instead the auctioneer will just point to an item or hold it in his hand and auction it on the spot.As merchandise is prepared for the auction, it is often put into an area near the stage or podium from which it will actually be sold when auction time rolls around. Most auction houses have viewing times before the actual start of the auction. This is when you can inspect the items that will be sold. It is very important that you do this.In fact, inspecting items that are offered for sale is the first step in protecting yourself against bidding too much for an item.
Big Decorating Ideas for Small Rooms on a Tight Budget!
Big Decorating Ideas for Small Rooms on a Tight Budget!
Decorating a small room is one of the biggest challenges many families have in their homes today. Making a small room work for your loved ones can be frustrating and confusing.
Here are some great low budget ways to simply transform your small rooms no matter what your budget!
1. First of all, determine if making your room look larger is really the way to go. After all, what's so great about large rooms? Maybe you want your living room to be comforting, and to wrap people with warmth when they enter.
Or your bath to be charming, filled with personality everywhere you look! So don't be so quick to assume bigger is always better...you might just be creating a problem where there is none!
2.Make the most of a small room you wish to make cozy by using warm rich colors. Drape the windows with fabric, and add throw blankets and pillows to cozy up with. You can buy inexpensive muslin and twist and swag it over a curtain rod for a casual but stunning frame to your windows. Buy flat sheets and sew up pillow covers, and make throws from fleece fabric from the craft store. Make your room cozy deliberately, and its special style will show through, not the size of the room.
3. Reduce the clutter in a small room! This is the #1 problem within small spaces, and also the fastest to fix.
Take a box and remove all clutter from the room. Move out accessories, pillows, everything! Now bring things back one at a time, and stop when it's perfect. The key here is restraint!
4.Use large scale items in a small room. Now traditional rules about scale in a room would lead you to believe a small room needs small scale furniture, but the opposite is true. Using just a few larger scale pieces reduces clutter and gives the eye a smoother trip across the room. The same goes for artwork! If you are trying to make a room look larger, go for one large print on the wall, or hang a decorative rug, instead of small collections.
5.A simple tip to make rooms look larger? Keep your windows and slick surfaces sparkling clean! Believe it or not, the reflection of clean will make a room look brighter, fresher and larger. Try it!
6.Paint just one focal wall a rich deep color to add depth to your room. Leave the other walls either white, or a much paler version of your accent wall and those walls will appear to fall away. Also keep in mind that cooler colors such as greens and blues tend to recede from the eye, while warmer colors such as reds and yellows seem to close in a room.
7.Finally, remember to use as many double duty items in the room as possible to reduce clutter. A chest of drawers can hold a tv, and store all your magazines and games, a futon sofa can double as a guest room, and a pine chest makes a great coffee table, while storing extra linens!
Remember, it’s not the size of the room, it’s the size of the heart who creates the room. Let yours show through with personality and creativity, not cash!
Decorating a small room is one of the biggest challenges many families have in their homes today. Making a small room work for your loved ones can be frustrating and confusing.
Here are some great low budget ways to simply transform your small rooms no matter what your budget!
1. First of all, determine if making your room look larger is really the way to go. After all, what's so great about large rooms? Maybe you want your living room to be comforting, and to wrap people with warmth when they enter.
Or your bath to be charming, filled with personality everywhere you look! So don't be so quick to assume bigger is always better...you might just be creating a problem where there is none!
2.Make the most of a small room you wish to make cozy by using warm rich colors. Drape the windows with fabric, and add throw blankets and pillows to cozy up with. You can buy inexpensive muslin and twist and swag it over a curtain rod for a casual but stunning frame to your windows. Buy flat sheets and sew up pillow covers, and make throws from fleece fabric from the craft store. Make your room cozy deliberately, and its special style will show through, not the size of the room.
3. Reduce the clutter in a small room! This is the #1 problem within small spaces, and also the fastest to fix.
Take a box and remove all clutter from the room. Move out accessories, pillows, everything! Now bring things back one at a time, and stop when it's perfect. The key here is restraint!
4.Use large scale items in a small room. Now traditional rules about scale in a room would lead you to believe a small room needs small scale furniture, but the opposite is true. Using just a few larger scale pieces reduces clutter and gives the eye a smoother trip across the room. The same goes for artwork! If you are trying to make a room look larger, go for one large print on the wall, or hang a decorative rug, instead of small collections.
5.A simple tip to make rooms look larger? Keep your windows and slick surfaces sparkling clean! Believe it or not, the reflection of clean will make a room look brighter, fresher and larger. Try it!
6.Paint just one focal wall a rich deep color to add depth to your room. Leave the other walls either white, or a much paler version of your accent wall and those walls will appear to fall away. Also keep in mind that cooler colors such as greens and blues tend to recede from the eye, while warmer colors such as reds and yellows seem to close in a room.
7.Finally, remember to use as many double duty items in the room as possible to reduce clutter. A chest of drawers can hold a tv, and store all your magazines and games, a futon sofa can double as a guest room, and a pine chest makes a great coffee table, while storing extra linens!
Remember, it’s not the size of the room, it’s the size of the heart who creates the room. Let yours show through with personality and creativity, not cash!
Creative Slipcover Fabrics
Creative Slipcover FabricsFinding budget fabric for making do-it-yourself slipcovers Kelley R. Taylor
The trend in recovering flea market finds has soared over the past few years and slipcover manufacturers, pattern makers, and retail stores have taken the market by storm. Loose slipcovers, tailored slipcovers, pillow covers and duvets are all the rage…even chic! It’s wonderful to know that one can refresh and old outdated chair, footstool or couch with just a few yards of fabric.
But when I recently embarked on recovering a tag sale sofa with simple, regular cotton duck canvas, I found that it cost almost as much as the sofa itself!I had barstools, cushions, ottomans and dining chairs to go, too. I knew that I had to come up with a solution to my decorating dilemma.
Here are just a few ideas I came up with that might help you save a few dollars so that you can take up making slipcovers by storm without hurting your pocket book.Painters CanvasWhen I wanted a simple cotton duck canvas – sturdy enough for the family room wear and tear, simple enough to please everyone – I discovered that the fabric ranged in price from $5.99 a yard up to 10.99 depending on manufacturer and fabric width.I visited my local hardware store and found the same heavy duty, unbleached, cotton duck canvas (quite a mouthful) in a painter’s canvas for approximately one quarter of the price I would’ve paid had I tried to buy it by the yard! And the best part: it was already big enough to completely cover the couch without having to seam anything together.With a few tucks, hidden safety pins and ribbon ties to gather everything up under the arms of the couch, I have my loose slipcover that can be washed and dried easily and without hardly any effort or cash.If you just don’t care for plain canvas, try stamping or stenciling the canvas with fabric paints to customize your own look. Or paint straight lines, flowers, or transfer photos to the canvas to make your own custom fabric. You’ll have a one of a kind slipcover that’s also a conversational piece.TableclothsFor smaller slipcover projects like chairs, seat covers, footstools or ottomans, try using tablecloths.Tablecloths come in all shapes and sizes, colors and textiles, and can be found at tag sales, flea markets, thrift stores and such. I used a new tablecloth, bought on sale at a bed and bath store, to “gift-wrap” chair cushions. I didn’t even have to sew. I simply wrapped the cloth around the cushions and pinned the edges in back with safety pins so that I may remove it easily for washing. And, I can change it on a whim, or perhaps use the tablecloth for a spring picnic. It’s my choice.And don’t forget the lace tablecloths! With just the right pattern of lace, you can use it as an overlay for solid cushions or fabric that you just want to tone down.
ClothingI had an old white linen dress that was so out of style, I doubt that thrift stores would want it. I couldn’t bear to part with it either – the fabric was so perfectly crisp and clean and I could vividly recall every special occasion for which it had been worn. It now resides as a wicker rocker chair cushion and bolster pillow.If you have cotton, linen, velvets, silks, organza’s, or other expensive fabric lurking in your closet that will never be worn again, consider turning them into unique slipcovers, pillow cases, or chair covers. Also, comb thrift stores for these kinds of finds. I once used a gray taffeta skirt to slip over a small round occasional table for displaying gifts at a shower. Now that was really a table skirt!
Old Curtains, Draperies and SheersI needed a duvet cover for my new French Country guest bedroom and guess where I found one? At a Goodwill Store.Of course it didn’t come packaged that way. It came as silk damask pinch pleated draperies. The once bright gold drapes gently sun-bleached to the perfect mellow yellow I had longed for. Once the pinch pleats had been removed and ironed out, the naturally bleached streaks gave it more character and charm than I had originally hoped for. And the best part? The draperies were lined so I didn’t even have to buy fabric for the duvet cover backing. I simply seamed up the bottom and added coordinating fabric covered buttons to the top.Quilts and BedspreadsChenille and matelasse bedspreads are the best finds when it comes to slipcovering furniture. But handmade quilts can be some of the most unique treasures you’ll find.Consider using these items for larger pieces of furniture as furniture throws if they are in perfect condition or if you don’t want to alter them in any way. If you have insect, mildew, or other fabric damage, just work around it. I have salvaged as little as ten pieced squares from one of my grandmothers quilts. She used it as a furniture moving quilt, much to my dismay, and later told me it was actually made from her own clothing during the depression. I used those precious ten pieces to recover an old throw pillow on my window seat. It is, and will always be, cherished.Don’t forget to re-purpose baby receiving blankets, bedspreads and comforters too. Whether they come from your own cherished memories or are found at tag sales, you can always add a sweet yellow checked pillow to a silk damask duvet!With a little imagination, you’ll find the perfect slipcover fabric in all sorts of places and things…and each one will have a story to tell.
The trend in recovering flea market finds has soared over the past few years and slipcover manufacturers, pattern makers, and retail stores have taken the market by storm. Loose slipcovers, tailored slipcovers, pillow covers and duvets are all the rage…even chic! It’s wonderful to know that one can refresh and old outdated chair, footstool or couch with just a few yards of fabric.
But when I recently embarked on recovering a tag sale sofa with simple, regular cotton duck canvas, I found that it cost almost as much as the sofa itself!I had barstools, cushions, ottomans and dining chairs to go, too. I knew that I had to come up with a solution to my decorating dilemma.
Here are just a few ideas I came up with that might help you save a few dollars so that you can take up making slipcovers by storm without hurting your pocket book.Painters CanvasWhen I wanted a simple cotton duck canvas – sturdy enough for the family room wear and tear, simple enough to please everyone – I discovered that the fabric ranged in price from $5.99 a yard up to 10.99 depending on manufacturer and fabric width.I visited my local hardware store and found the same heavy duty, unbleached, cotton duck canvas (quite a mouthful) in a painter’s canvas for approximately one quarter of the price I would’ve paid had I tried to buy it by the yard! And the best part: it was already big enough to completely cover the couch without having to seam anything together.With a few tucks, hidden safety pins and ribbon ties to gather everything up under the arms of the couch, I have my loose slipcover that can be washed and dried easily and without hardly any effort or cash.If you just don’t care for plain canvas, try stamping or stenciling the canvas with fabric paints to customize your own look. Or paint straight lines, flowers, or transfer photos to the canvas to make your own custom fabric. You’ll have a one of a kind slipcover that’s also a conversational piece.TableclothsFor smaller slipcover projects like chairs, seat covers, footstools or ottomans, try using tablecloths.Tablecloths come in all shapes and sizes, colors and textiles, and can be found at tag sales, flea markets, thrift stores and such. I used a new tablecloth, bought on sale at a bed and bath store, to “gift-wrap” chair cushions. I didn’t even have to sew. I simply wrapped the cloth around the cushions and pinned the edges in back with safety pins so that I may remove it easily for washing. And, I can change it on a whim, or perhaps use the tablecloth for a spring picnic. It’s my choice.And don’t forget the lace tablecloths! With just the right pattern of lace, you can use it as an overlay for solid cushions or fabric that you just want to tone down.
ClothingI had an old white linen dress that was so out of style, I doubt that thrift stores would want it. I couldn’t bear to part with it either – the fabric was so perfectly crisp and clean and I could vividly recall every special occasion for which it had been worn. It now resides as a wicker rocker chair cushion and bolster pillow.If you have cotton, linen, velvets, silks, organza’s, or other expensive fabric lurking in your closet that will never be worn again, consider turning them into unique slipcovers, pillow cases, or chair covers. Also, comb thrift stores for these kinds of finds. I once used a gray taffeta skirt to slip over a small round occasional table for displaying gifts at a shower. Now that was really a table skirt!
Old Curtains, Draperies and SheersI needed a duvet cover for my new French Country guest bedroom and guess where I found one? At a Goodwill Store.Of course it didn’t come packaged that way. It came as silk damask pinch pleated draperies. The once bright gold drapes gently sun-bleached to the perfect mellow yellow I had longed for. Once the pinch pleats had been removed and ironed out, the naturally bleached streaks gave it more character and charm than I had originally hoped for. And the best part? The draperies were lined so I didn’t even have to buy fabric for the duvet cover backing. I simply seamed up the bottom and added coordinating fabric covered buttons to the top.Quilts and BedspreadsChenille and matelasse bedspreads are the best finds when it comes to slipcovering furniture. But handmade quilts can be some of the most unique treasures you’ll find.Consider using these items for larger pieces of furniture as furniture throws if they are in perfect condition or if you don’t want to alter them in any way. If you have insect, mildew, or other fabric damage, just work around it. I have salvaged as little as ten pieced squares from one of my grandmothers quilts. She used it as a furniture moving quilt, much to my dismay, and later told me it was actually made from her own clothing during the depression. I used those precious ten pieces to recover an old throw pillow on my window seat. It is, and will always be, cherished.Don’t forget to re-purpose baby receiving blankets, bedspreads and comforters too. Whether they come from your own cherished memories or are found at tag sales, you can always add a sweet yellow checked pillow to a silk damask duvet!With a little imagination, you’ll find the perfect slipcover fabric in all sorts of places and things…and each one will have a story to tell.
Slipcovers101
Budget Decorating - Slipcovers101 By Gail McCauley -
Slipcovers 101 - Although furnishing “covers” have been a common household item for more than a century, today's slipcovers possess the ability to make a dramatic fashion statement. The antithesis of “Grandma’s slipcovers” which were most often uncomfortable and unattractive, contemporary slipcovers offer a wealth of innovative patterns and colors. Slipcovers are designed in the most sought after, easy care fabrics to accommodate a wide range of seating styles. To understand how “you”, the consumer can benefit from the advantages of slipcovers in your home today, it is necessary to examine the “where”, “what” and “whys” of this very versatile product.
Slipcovers are not just for sofas! Companies exist today that produce ready made slipcovers for several forms of popular seating. Loveseats, club chairs and ottomans, wing chairs, recliners and dining chairs all can benefit from the addition of a fashionable slipcover. Rather than spending a substantial financial investment for new seating, reupholstering or custom slipcovers; ready made slipcovers offer consumers an affordable solution for a quick and stylish furnishing cover up.
Consider a fashionable slipcover for any number of reasons. Ideal for growing families with young children and pets, slipcovers protect favored furnishings from soiling and everyday wear and tear. With an increasing number of families owning vacation homes, slipcovers offer the option of shopping consignment stores, flea markets and yard sales with the assurance that it is possible to slipcover second hand furnishings and coordinate with existing décor, regardless of established fabrics, patterns and colors. A rainbow of today's most preferred colors makes seasonal decorating throughout your home a snap with slipcovers!
Or, contribute to a particular style of décor such as Southwestern, Country, Traditional, Shabby Chic, or Victorian with appropriate slipcover fabrications and design motifs. Slipcovers featuring lush fuchsia and pink hues are wonderfully romantic in a Victorian styled home. Florals consisting of washed colorations on pale backgrounds feature a lovely choice for a Shabby Chic styled space. Look for slipcovers in the most sought after fabrications such as sturdy denims, soft faux suedes, warm chenilles, and classic cottons.
Consider incorporating the advantages that slipcovers offer throughout your home. Do not overlook practical opportunities to incorporate the durability, comfort and character that slipcovers provide in unexpected spaces! For instance, explore the possibility of slipcovering a “hand me down” chair for your sunroom, formal chairs in the dining room, a set of mis-matched chairs in the kitchen, a well loved club chair and ottoman in the family room, a soiled recliner in the basement or a treasured chaise in the master bedroom suite.
Search for ready made slipcovers via catalogs, online and in retail establishments. Then transform your homes interior into livable and unique spaces with today's stylish slipcovers!
Slipcovers 101 - Although furnishing “covers” have been a common household item for more than a century, today's slipcovers possess the ability to make a dramatic fashion statement. The antithesis of “Grandma’s slipcovers” which were most often uncomfortable and unattractive, contemporary slipcovers offer a wealth of innovative patterns and colors. Slipcovers are designed in the most sought after, easy care fabrics to accommodate a wide range of seating styles. To understand how “you”, the consumer can benefit from the advantages of slipcovers in your home today, it is necessary to examine the “where”, “what” and “whys” of this very versatile product.
Slipcovers are not just for sofas! Companies exist today that produce ready made slipcovers for several forms of popular seating. Loveseats, club chairs and ottomans, wing chairs, recliners and dining chairs all can benefit from the addition of a fashionable slipcover. Rather than spending a substantial financial investment for new seating, reupholstering or custom slipcovers; ready made slipcovers offer consumers an affordable solution for a quick and stylish furnishing cover up.
Consider a fashionable slipcover for any number of reasons. Ideal for growing families with young children and pets, slipcovers protect favored furnishings from soiling and everyday wear and tear. With an increasing number of families owning vacation homes, slipcovers offer the option of shopping consignment stores, flea markets and yard sales with the assurance that it is possible to slipcover second hand furnishings and coordinate with existing décor, regardless of established fabrics, patterns and colors. A rainbow of today's most preferred colors makes seasonal decorating throughout your home a snap with slipcovers!
Or, contribute to a particular style of décor such as Southwestern, Country, Traditional, Shabby Chic, or Victorian with appropriate slipcover fabrications and design motifs. Slipcovers featuring lush fuchsia and pink hues are wonderfully romantic in a Victorian styled home. Florals consisting of washed colorations on pale backgrounds feature a lovely choice for a Shabby Chic styled space. Look for slipcovers in the most sought after fabrications such as sturdy denims, soft faux suedes, warm chenilles, and classic cottons.
Consider incorporating the advantages that slipcovers offer throughout your home. Do not overlook practical opportunities to incorporate the durability, comfort and character that slipcovers provide in unexpected spaces! For instance, explore the possibility of slipcovering a “hand me down” chair for your sunroom, formal chairs in the dining room, a set of mis-matched chairs in the kitchen, a well loved club chair and ottoman in the family room, a soiled recliner in the basement or a treasured chaise in the master bedroom suite.
Search for ready made slipcovers via catalogs, online and in retail establishments. Then transform your homes interior into livable and unique spaces with today's stylish slipcovers!
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