Today’s post is all about DIY slipcovers and why I love making them. I’ve had lots of interest in my slipcovers lately, so I thought it would be fun to do a round up of the slipcovers currently in residence. If you are new to the blog, you may not realize the DIYs of these pieces were in some of my super old posts.
DIY Slipcovers
If you are new to the blog, you may not realize the DIYs of these pieces were in some of my super old posts. Yep that was when I had the brilliant idea of creative titles such as, “To Slip Cover Or Not To Slip Cover”. Hopefully, I know a wee bit more about SEO now, than when I first started blogging. ;
Keep reading for the for my top 5 reasons of why I love slipcovers, and see if you agree.
Updating old Furniture
Deciding on what to do with my grandmother’s love seat is where the DIY slipcovering started for me five years ago. The ornate carved wood and pink taffeta love seat didn’t go anywhere in our casual home, but I couldn’t part it.
A casual drop cloth slipcover has the desired effect bring the formality down a few notches. It was my first slip cover project that I pretty much jumped in with both feet.
Highlight Features
When designing DIY slipcovers think about any features to highlight such as carved arms, legs or backs. Exposing carving details on the back of the love seat was tricky, but well worth the effort. The straps are like a sundress exposing a little shoulder.
The curvy chair in my studio has a form fitting slipcover like a tight dress, with a zipper up the back. Instead of using a drop cloth I used white denim fabric for the front and a geometric print for the back.
I’ve use this cute chair at my studio table, as an extra dinning room chair and sometimes in the bedroom for guests.
Slipcover Almost Anything
Don’t forget tables, cushions and headboards can be slip covered too. The matching coffee table has a slipcover with a pleat in the front and back. I can’t help but compare slipcovers to clothes. Do you think of them that way? It’s a like a short dress showing a little leg.
Wash and Wear
Drop cloths come in handy for slipcovers especially if you’re on a budget, plus they hold up well in the wash. It’s the most inexpensive way I can think of to extend the life of outdated upholstered furniture.
Ticking and denim hold up well too and have the same timeless appeal of the canvas drop cloths.
To me, it doesn’t matter if slipcovers are freshly ironed or wrinkled and comfortable, I just love the casual look they bring to a room.
Unique Details
Little details make all the difference such as the frog closure on the love seat. It hides a little hook that secures the the back panel in place.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite details that I like incorporating into slipcover designs.
- Zippers
- Ties
- Frog closures
- Pleats
- Straps
- Buttons
The painted wicker chair was updated with a slipcovered cushion made from a Potterybarn Euro sham. The buttons are just for looks since the envelope opening is secured with a strip of velcro.
Did you notice the cushion has two striped patterns? Reversible cushions are something to think about if your making a slipcover and want to change up the look.
Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest. The boards are up to date with seasonal inspiration that you can use right now!
To see some more recent projects click on How To Make A Bench Slipcover and How To Make A Headboard Slipcover & Euro Sham.
Thanks so much for letting me share my DIY slipcovers old and new. Have a great week!
Cheers!
©2019 DIY Slipcover And Why I Love Them post first appeared on Thistle Key Lane.
I love the decorative frog closure! I bought fabric to recover my dining room chair seats but had second thoughts when I realized the cream background on the fabric wouldn’t hold up well to messy grandchildren. I decided to make slipcovers instead! The covers are tailored to fit closely to the chair seat and attached to the chair back with color-matched wide grosgrain ribbon and hidden velcro. Big plus is that I can take them off and throw them in the washer!
Hi Nancy, sounds like you made the right decision on slipcovering your chairs. I love the tailored look and the grosgrain ribbon is so smart! Have a great week!
I really love how you leave the gorgeous wood exposed on some of your slipcovered pieces!! So well done Michelle💗😊
Thanks Cindy, the wood is just too pretty to cover up! Have a great week. Hugs!
I love slipcovers and all the details that can go into them! These are some beautiful examples!
Thank you Janet! Slipcovers for the dining room chairs are next. Just waiting for the right inspiration.
Michelle you are so talented. That slipcover on the chair with the different pattern and zipper down the back looks positively sexy! They are all beautiful and each one fits the furniture perfectly!
Thank you Mary, you made my day! Hugs!
Michelle your ideas are wonderful – whatever you called them in the past! 😉 I guess I never thought about all the different things you could slip cover. And I love how you kept the beautiful details of the furniture in view! Brilliant! 💗
Thank you Barbara for your sweet comments! These older pieces are much more functional now with slip covers, plus we still get to enjoy them.
Do you have tutorials for all of these? Would love to see them! You are so talented!
Thank you my friend. I cringe when I look back at my old posts and photos I took with my phone. LOL
These slipcovers are so great, Michelle! I had no idea you had done so many. I love using drop cloth for projects. You almost have to do several projects due to the quantity of the fabric. Pinning!
I didn’t realize how many I’ve made until I started adding them up. LOL! Thanks for pinning Crissy!
Oh my gosh, Michelle – You do gorgeous work! I can’t be trusted with a sewing machine LOL, but I do love the look of slipcovers. If I had any talent for it I would love to make them for my dining chairs.
Thanks Janet, funny you should mention dining chairs, because that is on my list of DIY projects for this year!
Oh my goodness, these are all gorgeous! I just love how you transformed all these pieces so they fit your decor. My first student flat came with a horrible sofa which try as I might, I just could not stand the sight of. Because I wasn’t allowed to change the furniture, I bought some fabric and made a slip cover for it. It definitely didn’t look as good as yours but I think that’s where I learned that anything can be transformed no matter how bad it looks!
I agree with you Jayne, slipcovers can work like magic!