Hi everyone! This is my first post to Glitter.

My situation is this: I own a loveseat that's seen better days. The color has faded, it's stained, and i decided i'd like a new look for the living room. I want to keep this couch b/c it is THE most comfortable couch i've ever sat in and i'm really quite attached to it.

I'd like to cover it because it's getting worn and the color isn't so hot. I've looked at pre-made covers and they're way too pricey and, to be honest, quite boring looking.

Does anyone have any suggestions for fixing up my couch? Particular fabrics? Advice? Thanks!!

If you were looking at premade covers, you probably aren't up to ripping off the old one and recovering with new material. Right?

So, first and easiest: try thrift stores for blankets, quilts, or bedspreads that look good to you. These will hold their shape fairly well. I have a Navaho blanket on a long sofa now. A little damage here or there isn't a problem, since you are just going to loosely drape it over the seat and back. You might want to anchor it with some big funky buttons, or some glittery costume jewelry that you sew on with carpet thread at key points, like the "shoulders" or just underneath a rolled arm. If they are flat buttons, they could actually stud the back two or three times just like on some upholstered chairs.

If you want it really loose and flowing, add some fringe or ruffles that will show.

Depending on how hard you are on furniture, rough and messy like my animal filled house, or clean and neat like my Mom, you could use a length of fabric. I could use synthetic sheepskin (if one dog wouldn't see the whole thing as a giant chew toy!) or mattress ticking, denim, canvas or duck, fake fur.... My Mom could use nice floral sheets, or a chambray or madras cotton. They wouldn't survive in my house.

If it has wooden legs that you want to keep exposed, sometimes cording or heavyweight ribbon can be tied over the covering at the legs to hold it up some. If you do that, you might want to consider where else you could use the ribbon or cord so it doesn't look like an afterthought. Maybe on a coordinating pillow?

Good luck.

Beth

I have a love seat that I recovered myself, but I'm not sure how well this idea would work for you...
Anyway, i got mine at a flea market for ten bucks. It's vintage, stamp on bottom reads "1958." It has a metal frame with cushy seat, back and arms - kinda mid century modern/IKEA-esque. When I bought it, the metal frame was a coral color, and the couch was covered with this hideous blue-gray vinyl. But the shape was so cool, I couldn't pass it up as I knew I could do somethying with it to make it look nice. So I took it apart and painted the metal frame a flat black, and then very carefully removed the covering and took that apart with a seam ripper. I used the old cover to make a pattern for a new one. I bought three yards of leopard print velvet and sewed it all together, then put it back on the couch, using an industrial strength staple gun to secure the fabric all around, underneath where you can't see it. It looks lovely, I get tons of complements on it, and all told I only spent $40, whereas if I had bought something like this new it would've cost at least around $300 or so.

Hi Mab,

I started to write out a primer on reupholstering but there isn't enough room here! I will talk to Jean about posting it in longer form.

Kathryn

this may be a little late, but for others in the same boat, the November 2000 issue of threads has some awesome slipcovering ideas...pretty easy too.