Cover Me!

Slipcovers make dramatic, easy change

By Gail McCauley

Besides a can of paint, nothing can make more of an eye-popping, decorative splash in your home than slipcovering your furniture.

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 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. And they're not just for sofas. Companies produce ready-made slipcovers for several forms of popular seating. Loveseats, club chairs, ottomans, wing chairs, recliners and dining chairs all can benefit from the addition of a fashionable slipcover. Compared to buying new seating or reupholstering your old furniture, ready-made slipcovers offer an affordable solution for a quick, stylish cover-up.

Slipcovers and Children: a Natural

Slipcovers protect favored furnishings from soiling and everyday wear and tear, making them ideal for households with children and pets. With an increasing number of families owning vacation homes, slipcovers offer the option of shopping consignment stores, flea markets and yard sales. Then slipcover these second-hand furnishings and coordinate with existing dcor, regardless of established fabrics, patterns and colors.

Seasonal decorating is a snap with slipcovers. Spring 2001 sports an abundance of subdued and muted neutrals such as soft khakis, faint terracottas and pale taupes. Crisp whites with navy trim offer the essence of the nautical theme for coastal homes as well as for the upcoming summer months. Or, pay homage to a particular style of dcor, such as southwestern, country, traditional, shabby chic or Victorian with appropriate design motifs.

Slipcovers featuring lush fuchsia and pink hues are wonderfully romantic in a Victorian-styled home. Soft, faded florals on pale backgrounds are 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.

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 mismatched 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.

Gail McCauley is a home furnishings writer whose clients include home and garden Web sites and publications. She is a media member of the International Interior Design Association and the International Association of Lighting Designers.

Sure Fit Slipcovers - Redecorate in an instant!