Buying Slipcovers On-Line - What You Should Consider
Slipcovers are incredibly versatile. They can restore, update and protect your furniture. They are an affordable alternative to expensive new furniture.
As you may have discovered, there are several types and ways to slipcover your furniture, which can get confusing. Here’s a short explanation of the options available.
Ready-Made Slipcover vs. Custom-Made Slipcover
Ready-Made Slipcovers - There are two types of furniture slipcovers – ready-made and custom-made. Ready-made slipcovers are very affordable and can be purchased at your local bed and bath store or online. These loose-fit or elasticized covers are designed to accommodate generic furniture types in various sizes. They are usually described to fit one-seat or two-seat, or three-seat furniture. They cover the entire furniture, including the seat and back cushions. This may be your best solution if you want a quick and affordable way to cover up an eye-sore piece of furniture.
Custom-Made Slipcovers - If you want a more form-fit cover, with covers for each seat and back cushion, you need a custom-tailored slipcover. This type of slipcover can also include designer touches like pleats and covered cord accents. Your local upholstery shop or slipcover professional can make this type of slipcover. And now you can also order them online.
For more information about all of these options, see below.
Ready-Made and Semi-Custom Fitted
Fit
Made to fit a range of sizes - one cushion, two cushion, etc. and a basic furniture shape. Often made from stretchy fabric with ties, Velcro tabs or elastic to take up the slack. Requires tucking to conform to the shape of the furniture. .Semi-custom fit slipcovers are made from generic patterns used for ready-made covers but are sized to custom length, width and height dimensions. They use also use ties and velcro tabs to take up slack.
Style
One style only, no style options available, limited fabric selection.
Quality
Mass-market construction. Budget fabrics to keep cost and sale price low.
Price
Prices start at under $100.
Where to Buy
Available at discount stores and on-line.
When to Use
This type of cover-up is good when you need fast and inexpensive protection for your furniture.
Designer Workshop - Pin-To-Fit Construction
Method & Fit
To make the slipcover the service provider will either come to your home and or pick up your furniture. They will make your slipcover using the pin-to-fit method - Fabric is draped over the furniture and cut on the furniture. This results in the slipcover is not being symmetrical - the right side does not match the left side. Fabric is pulled out of shape and the seams are not uniform which could result in the fabric twisting and seams fraying after washing. This method also requires more fabric and increases your cost.
Style
Wide range of design options: skirt styles, covered welt accents, mix & match fabrics. Offerings depend on the skills and talents of the workshop.
Quality
Fabric is dependent on the shops inventory. Or you may need to provide your own fabric. Construction quality is dependent on the skills and experience of the shop.
Price
Prices is based on labor and fabric. Pricing can start at $200 for labor only. Fabric pricing can range $25 to $70+ per yard an average arm chair requires 5 - 7 yards or more depending on the fabric.
Where to Buy
Local workshops in your area
When to Use
Use this type of slipcover when you want a well fitted slipcover to restore or change the look of your furniture.
NEEDLE & SHEARS vs. DESIGNER WORKSHOP
Needle & Shears – Select your fabric from our large collection of curated designer fabrics in the latest colors. Our collection includes fine linens to durable, high-performance fabrics that are washable. Customize your slipcover with various designer style options, like inverted pleats and covered cord accents.
Ordering is easy. You take pictures of your furniture and complete an easy-to-follow measurement form. and we do the rest. Same quality, fit, and style but a lot less money. You measure and save.
Needle and Shears
Method & Fit
Our slipcovers are made from custom patterns created from your photos and measurements. The result is a well fitted slipcover that follows the form of your furniture. Using a pattern rather than the traditional pin-to-fit method (see above) insures that the slipcover is symmetrical - the left side matches the right side. the seams are a uniform width throughout and the fabric is not pulled out of shape. Preventing fraying and twisting after washing.
Style
Pick from a variety of slipcover styles featuring several skirt options - simple, inverted corner pleats or gathered and lengths as well as covered welt accents. And, a large selection of fabrics to choose from.
Quality
Our fabric selection includes a large variety of high quality designer fabrics to meet our customer's needs from 100% linen to durable indoor / outdoor fabrics. Quality constructed by experienced designers and seamstresses with nearly 20 years of experience. Meticulous attention to details, extra wide and overlocked (serged) seams to reduce fraying and zipper closures. Patterns are created using Computer Aided Design software for precise fit.
Price
Price includes fabric and labor for body and cushion covers. Prices is based on the size, slipcover style options and fabric you select. Price starts at $170, fabric and labor, for armchair. slipcover with separate zippered cushion cover.
Where to Buy
Easy on-line ordering
When to Use
If you want designer workshop style and quality at an affordable price.
Questions to Ask & Things to Consider When Buying Custom Made Slipcovers On-Line
Custom tailored slipcovers may not always be the best choice for your decorating needs. If you are simply looking for an inexpensive cover up to hide that bargain furniture that you plan to replace next year, then custom tailored slipcovers are not the right choice for you right now. However, if you have invested in or plan to invest in good quality furniture, and want to protect and extend the life of your furniture, or create a great new look at a fraction of the cost of new furniture, then custom tailored slipcovers are the best solution. As with any other purchase, you should learn as much as possible about the product you’re purchasing and then shop and compare. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind and be aware of before you make your purchase.
• Cheap vs. Good Value
Cost is one of the primary considerations of any purchase; however, the lowest cost is not always the best value.
If you’re purchasing a custom slipcover to extend the life of your furniture, you'll want a slipcover that not only looks good and fits well but is well made, from high quality fabric, to make sure it will last. If you have to replace an inexpensive slipcover in less than two years, then the cost of your slipcover has doubled.
• Is it really a custom tailored slipcover?
You find the word “custom” used to describe a wide range of slipcovers. But what does custom fit really mean?
A real custom tailored slipcover is made not only to the width of your furniture but made to follow the curves and contours of your furniture on every side. The slipcover should follow the curve of the arms and back and should not require ties or Velcro tabs to take up excess fabric in the front or back.
Watch out for retailers who advertise their products as “custom slipcovers” who are simply re-sizing ready-made style slipcovers to the dimensions you give them. These types of covers can be produced quickly and cheaply. The result is just an ill fitting cover with less slack, not a slipcover with a tailored fit that follows the curves of your furniture that you expected.
• What measurements do they ask for and how do you submit them?
There is a saying that goes “Garbage in, garbage out.” This saying can easily be applied to some on-line slipcover retailers. The measurements required to make a well tailored slipcover are numerous and they need to be precise.
Therefore, the method used to collect these measurements is very important. The customer needs to clearly understand what measurements need to be taken and how to take them correctly. The possibility of making a measurement error, and getting a slipcover that doesn’t fit well, is greatly increased when you’re trying to take measurements based on crude drawings on your monitor that may not necessarily match your furniture while also trying to place your order. In addition, the pattern maker also needs photos of your furniture to have a clear understanding of your furniture’s design features.
• Are the slipcovers custom crafted for your furniture or do you have to pick a slipcover style that comes close to your type of furniture?
Furniture styles vary greatly. Furniture is designed with a wide range of design features – countless arm shapes and sizes as well as back and cushion styles making each piece unique. A good custom slipcover maker looks at your furniture and styles a slipcover that not only fits correctly but also takes the furniture’s features into consideration. Are the back cushions attached? Does it have a camel back? Do the arms slant out or are they scoop arms or English arms? These are just a few of the considerations that a good slipcover maker addresses when custom styling a slipcover for your furniture. This type of craftsmanship may take longer, but the end result is a slipcover that not only covers your furniture but enhances your décor.
• And finally, can you send them back for corrections if they don’t fit right?
Of course, no matter how careful you might be when you take your measurements, there is always the possibility that the slipcover may not fit correctly. Therefore, you want to make sure that you have the ability to send it back for corrections.
Some retailers don’t warranty their product or allow customers to send product back for corrections and simply use the “custom made” label as a way to prevent customers from sending back slipcovers that don’t fit well.
We hope that the information we have provided has given you a greater insight into what goes into creating a custom slipcover and some of the important aspects to consider when selecting a vendor to make your custom slipcover.
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