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How to Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

We definitely have paranormal activity in our home. Things move without explanation. Pillows that were strategically placed by me to look magazine pretty inevitably end up on the floor after I leave the room. Kid sized chairs levitate on their own and land on top of the couch.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

And don’t even mention this pillow that has systematically lost all its buttons one-at-a-time!

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

When questioned, both boys emphatically shout “It wasn’t me!” Hmmph.

Well, if this continues I might have to call in an exorcist, because it is getting VERY annoying.

But, I know you don’t want to hear about my boring ghost stories. Instead I thought I’d share with you a great source for brand name (to remain un-named) slipcovers at a fraction of the cost! May I introduce to you UglySofa.com.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

And let me tell you, the name is a misnomer, because this family-owned company is actually on a mission to give you a beautiful sofa! When UglySofa.com emailed me and said they wanted to send me a “brand name” slipcover to try out, I was skeptical. I mean – come on – how can you sell slipcovers from the famous PB&J (minus the J) at a fraction of the cost? I really doubted their authenticity. But, low and behold, a few days later my boxpleat slipcover arrived and when I opened it up, it truly was the brand they said it was and the quality was just as good as the slipcover I bought years ago from the store “that shall not be named.”

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

I immediately ran over to pull back the worn red slipcover I’ve been using for as long as my oldest has been alive. WARNING: What you are about to see is a flashback to the 90’s. I admit, I did recover this sofa way back in my college years when hunter green was popular color. (I’m sad just wondering when blue-gray will be the “dated color”.) But, if you saw the granny fabric that lay beneath you’d be even more horrified.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Now don’t even ask me why we still have a sofa that is well over 20 years old. Someday we’ll get around to replacing it…until then I have my new slipcovered sofa! Isn’t she pretty?!

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Have you ever purchased a slipcover because it looked beautiful in the catalog only to get it in the mail and you can’t for the life of you figure out how they got the slipcover to look so good?

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

That used to happen to me too, until I worked as a photo stylist for Plow & Hearth (one of my responsibilities as a graphic designer for their catalog). I learned how to install slipcovers so they look beautiful.

Here are a few easy tricks for installing a slipcover so it look less like a rumpled college frat house slipcover. Please excuse my “butt shots”. I’m still new to this little thing called vlogging!

Start out by getting the ginormous cover on.

Find the “Back” tag on your slipcover. (And don’t look at the famous PB & J (minus the J) tag. Ha, I made you look ;-).

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Throw the “back” of the slipcover over the back of your sofa.

Locate the center of your slipcover and center it between the two arm rests.

Then line up the front skirt of your slipcover. I like to let the skirt puddle on the floor a little instead of kissing it.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Smooth out the fabric with your hands, and neatly tuck and fold under any excess fabric.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

This is especially crucial on the arm rest, you want to disguise any excess fabric so the slipcover looks like it was custom made for your sofa.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Wrap the side panels around the side.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Locate the D- rings on the back of the slipcover.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Feed the straps from the side panels through the D-rings in the back of the slipcover, and loop back between the two rings.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Pull the straps until the slipcover is tight. Be sure to leave enough slack to be able to tighten the other side.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

Tuck any excess fabric into the folds behind the side panels and the d-rings.

Once you have the slipcover positioned, folded and tucked the way you like, then insert several cardboard light-sabers shipping tubes into the crevices between your cushions.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

These will secure and hold your slipcover in place.

And now, another little video on eliminating the wrinkles in your slipcover. I just used my hands and a squirt bottle filled with water. Be prepared as I almost cross the line. I admit it, sometimes I have the mind of a 7th grade boy.

I hope those videos were helpful for you! Do you like my new UglySofa.com slipcover?

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

The boxpleat slipcover has a nice relaxed weave, very similar to a grain cloth.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

And the sides drape nicely over my sofa’s arm. The color I chose was ivory linen.

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

 

Slipcover a Couch Beautifully

 

 

 

160 replies
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  1. Brandi
    Brandi says:

    Ohhh..I have a couch that my kids and I LOVE- so comfy, but not so pretty (ok, very ugly!). I would love, love, love to win the ‘Separate Seat Square Cushion Slipcover Large Sofa’ in cream twill.

    I am now following you on Pinterest (before I even saw the giveaway). 🙂

    Reply
  2. Kym
    Kym says:

    We have a pair of ’70’s lime green velvet armchairs that are crying for slipcovers – really, I can hear them calling to me from the next room! 🙂 I was just on the uglysofa.com website looking for covers and was leaning toward the t-cushion separate seat natural twill covers.

    Reply
  3. Tahnya Marie
    Tahnya Marie says:

    Firstly, Your blog is wonderful and has given me a bunch of ideas. How did I come across you? I found a tutorial of yours for the chair makeover on Pinterest. YAY! I have since been following you on Google Connect.

    This is a great giveaway. I would love to win the Loosefit T Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover Large Sofa in Ivory Linen. 🙂

    Thanks to both you and Ugly Sofa for the chance to win!

    Reply
  4. Rukmini
    Rukmini says:

    Loosefit Square Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover Large Sofa. Oh Brittany, this is what I want. I have a large sofa and I’d soooo love it. My sofa, right now has become really Ugly.

    I follow you in my blog, obviously! I am also following you now 🙂

    All the best to whoever has participated.

    Reply
  5. Stacy Grogg
    Stacy Grogg says:

    I would want the cranberry colored Loosefit T Cushion Boxpleat Slipcover for a Large Sofa. I have always wanted a red couch and the only way it’s gonna happen is if it’s free! Please oh please!

    Reply
  6. Sarah B
    Sarah B says:

    Yep, my living room sports the plaid, you know, the cranberry, hunter green, navy blue and tan PLAID, with tears in the arm rests that I have sewn about 10 times. I have an UGLY couch. I would love to win the Separate Seat Square Cushion Slipcover Large Sofa in Walnut.
    Thank you for the givewaway~ WOO HOO~

    Reply
  7. Gina
    Gina says:

    I’ve been following you for quite some time on google and facebook. Doubling my chances to win a slipcover. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Gina
    Gina says:

    I really need to win one of these slipcovers! Finally got my favorite old sofa from Greensboro to my son’s apartment in Chapel Hill but the upholstery isn’t “his style”. Early ’90s plaid not my style anymore either but the comfy-ness….oh my!! Think the style of your slipcover would be perfect, box pleats and neutral color. Getting a slipcover to him will be much easier too. The sofa stuck out of the back of my SUV, warning beep that the hatch was open for an hour and exhaust fumes did not make for a fun trip! It was comical though!! Keeping my fingers crossed.

    Reply

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