Reupholster or a Slipcover?

Not a good slipcover candidate

I'm sure you've asked yourself which is the better option at some point. Each option has it's benefits, and it depends on what you are trying to achieve with your furniture.

When a piece of furniture is reupholstered it will be stripped back inspected and any parts will be replaced (such as springs). Then new fabric is sewn to create the cover and cushions. The end result is a tailored, professional 'new' piece of furniture. We can also even make a few changes to the style of cushions and padding on the arms to make it look like a new piece.

Slipcovers are less expensive due to less time and resources involved. A slipcover is cut and sewn to fit your piece of furniture Similar to a tailored coat that sits on top of your clothes. It should have a snug fit, to be as tailored as possible, but you can create a more "shabby chic" look by having it sit a little looser on the furniture. 

The advantage to a slipcover is that you can easily remove it for laundering.You can also use it as an alternative to the original fabric, to give you choices. For example you may have a dark heavy fabric on the original, which you may prefer in winter and a light and 'breezy' slipcover that works better in summer. This may encourage you to keep your furniture for longer, as you don't tire of it as quickly.

Creating a slipcover for this could mean you like it for longer.

The downside to slipcovers is that they don't work on all furniture. They really don't work on leather, as the slipcover will slide around. Furniture with tufting will look a little odd with a slipcover, as well as furniture with a lot of curves and channels.

If your furniture needs some springs repaired or there is anything wobbly or loose, a slipcover won't help at all.

Keep in mind if you want to machine wash your slipcover, make sure the fabric has been properly prepared beforehand - it has been washed, dried and pressed. This will ensure that when you wash the slipcover it won't shrink and become misshapen.

So slipcovers have their place, but they won't fix everything. If you have good bones on your furniture and you want a cover up a bit of wear and tear or you want to create a 'new look' then a slipcover could be just the ticket. But if your furniture needs repairs then a slipcover won't fix the underlying problem.

If you have questions about slipcovers vs reupholstery, give us a call 0800 698 746, we are happy to help