What are sofa covers and how to choose them?

Upholstered furniture is a decoration of any room, it is appreciated for its elegant appearance and high degree of comfort. But the material from which the furniture upholstery is made tends to lose its original qualities over time and wear out. The sofa wears out especially quickly. It is usually quite costly to restore damaged upholstery, so a removable cover is the most cost-effective solution to the problem.

To date, choosing a cover for a sofa or armchair is quite a feasible task. Covers can be purchased ready-made, or you can order individual tailoring of a product made in a particular style solution. The most basic reasons for using covers are their versatility, practicality and ease of use.

However, besides these components, covers for upholstered furniture have other indisputable advantages.

• With the help of covers for upholstered furniture, you can quickly and cost-effectively update the interior of the room, by choosing new color covers for the sofa and armchairs, as well as adding several stylized accessories to them.
• Changing the style of furniture. You don't have to redesign your sofa or buy new furniture. The style of this piece of furniture can be updated with a textile cover made in specific colors and shapes. There can be several covers and then they can be changed depending on the seasons or your mood.
• A way to keep your new sofa or chair in good condition for a long time. Covers that can be matched to the sofa or made in a color that is in harmony with the general style of the room will be able to protect the upholstery and decoration of upholstered furniture.
• If the upholstered furniture has already lost its fresh look, but you do not plan to invest in the hauling; a removable furniture cover will help to solve the issue of hiding the worn-out upholstery. With it, you can hide any stains, scuffs, gaps in the old upholstery and continue to use the furniture further.
• Ease of maintenance. A removable furniture cover is good because it can be removed and tidied up at any time - washed or dry-cleaned. Washing requires much less time and money than restoring upholstery by re-tightening.

The universal removable cover is a variety of shapes and materials, colors and textures. Among the variety of models, separate groups can be distinguished:

• stretch covers for straight sofa models, for corner forms, as well as for options with a U-shaped protrusion;
• covers in size can be suitable for three- or four-seater sofas, a folding type of furniture, as well as for armchairs;
• covers are intended for models of armchairs and sofas with armrests, as well as for options with pillows instead of a back;
• the cover can be sewn strictly to the size of the furniture, or it can be a stretchable version that takes shape when it is put on a sofa or armchair;
• the lower edge of the cover can be made with an elastic band, trimmed with a skirt made of the main material or sewn without a skirt, have frills that go over the back and armrests;
• the furniture cover can be sewn from fabric, knitted from threads, made up of rags or made in another way;
• covers are waterproof, anti-vandal, providing protection from cats;
• in color, the covers are monochrome, colored or with a different print.

The choice of ready-made options for covers in standard sizes is quite diverse today. You can buy such products in textile or furniture stores, and you can also order tailoring according to an individual sketch.

The appearance of furniture protective coatings depends not only on the style, but also on the fabric that was chosen for sewing. Model options can be made of one kind of fabric, a combination of two contrasting options, or it can be patchwork. Various fabrics can be used for the manufacture of covers.

Genuine leather as an upholstery of furniture looks expensive and elegant. This material has a high degree of wear resistance - the leather is resistant to abrasion, mechanical stress, moisture. Leather is very slow in absorbing water compared to other materials. To maintain the leather cover, it is sufficient to regularly wipe the furniture with a damp cloth and polish with a little wax or oil.

Modern synthetic material that replaces expensive natural leather. The elastic layer of eco-leather ensures a snug fit to the surface of the furniture frame, the material is resistant to damage, it is not afraid of moisture and ultraviolet rays from the sun. It has no chemical odor, is easy to clean and retains its appearance in a presentable state for a long time.

Fabrics with a large expressive pattern are called jacquard. In texture, they can have a complex and voluminous weave of threads, and the fabric can have many color shades. Jacquard fabrics are highly durable and wear resistant.For several decades, such a material can retain its original properties without losing brightness and density. Jacquard lends itself well to cleaning and has an attractive appearance.

This material is a budget replacement for expensive velvet. Velor has a small pile, due to which it has good thermal conductivity and a pleasant texture to the touch. This synthetic material does not tend to wrinkle. But since synthetics are highly electrostatic, the surface of the velor attracts dust and hair.

This delicate fabric does not resist abrasion well, and creases can form on the pile of the material with prolonged exposure. The reasons why velor is used for sewing covers are its attractive appearance and low cost.

Fabric that is pleasant to the touch and has soft fibers on the front side. Plush covers create a feeling of warmth, coziness and comfort. This material has the property of keeping warm; it is another budget analogue of velvet. Plush is highly resistant to wear and tear, attractive appearance and easy care. Among the disadvantages can be noted the ability to collect dust in your pile.

Natural silk fabric, on the surface of the front side of which there is a dense and short pile. The velvet is pleasantly silky, soft and dense to the touch. This material is durable and is able to keep the given shape well. The material is resistant to washing and cleaning, does not shrink and deform.

Among the shortcomings, one can single out the high cost of the material, the ability to attract dust to itself, the material dries for a long time after washing and can quickly fade in the sun. Velvet furniture covers are not meant for everyday life - they are a symbol of wealth and celebration.

Natural linen fabrics have a matte smooth surface. Linen is an environmentally friendly material with good air permeability, it absorbs moisture well, is resistant to wear and tear, and is hypoallergenic. Linen fabrics have a pleasant texture, they do not attract dust particles, hair and are resistant to mildew.

The downside of linen covers is that they are prone to creasing, and the material can shrink significantly after washing. Linen fabrics also do not hold well in preset shapes.

This synthetic material is made as follows: polymer glue is applied to the synthetic base fabric along the contours of the pattern, and then crushed villi are poured over the glue, which are firmly glued to the adhesive composition. The finished material is resistant to washing and long-term use. The material is pleasant to the touch, it can be compared to velor fabrics.

Flock is produced in a variety of colors, the material is widely used and affordable. The material can be used to protect furniture from cat claws. When the animal begins to scratch the upholstery, the flock reaches for the claw and creates unpleasant sensations for the animal, which discourages him from continuing his actions.

Among the negative properties of the flock, its ability to emit harmful chemical vapors into the external environment is noted. In addition, synthetic material is capable of electrifying and attracting dust to itself. With prolonged skin contact with flock, an allergic reaction may occur.

A modern synthetic material made by weaving threads consisting of the finest microfibers of polyester and polyamide. A feature of microfiber is that it is able to keep dust particles inside itself. The fabric is resistant to abrasion, deformation, it does not wrinkle, it absorbs moisture well and allows air to pass through.

A negative property of microfiber is that it attracts dust. It is difficult to wash off dirt from this material, and it is impossible to wash microfiber at high temperatures, since there is a danger of deformation and melting of the fibers.

Furniture covers can be made from natural sheepskin. Such an environmentally friendly coating provides a person with comfort and coziness. Natural fur is able to pass air well, so at any time of the year it will be pleasant to sit on a sofa or in an armchair with a fur cape for a long time. Sheepskin is distinguished by long-term operation, it is resistant to abrasion and other mechanical stress. Fur fibers do not roll, absorb moisture and can dry quickly.

Fur furniture covers do not heat up in the sun, but there is a risk that home moths can take a fancy to these products. The material absorbs odors, and when stains form, cleaning them at home can be problematic.

An alternative to natural fur can be an artificial material with a thick and high pile. It does not absorb moisture and it can be uncomfortable to sit on such a surface in the summer.

To choose the right cover for a small or large sofa, you need to determine the size of the furniture. The following options are available to make the selection easier:

• if, when measuring the width of the back of upholstered furniture (sofa or armchair), its parameters do not exceed 1.2 m, then it is necessary to purchase a cover for a single piece of furniture;
• if the width of the back is in the range from 1.3 m to 1.85 m, then the cover is chosen for a two-seater sofa;
• with a back width from 1.85 m to 2.5 m, choose a cover for a 3-seater sofa.

In some cases, there are non-standard sizes of the back of the sofa, therefore, in order to choose a cover for four-seater products, experts recommend paying attention to dimensionless models of removable covers.

When choosing covers for corner sofas, you need to determine on which side the ledge is mounted. The correct selection of the cover can be done if you have the results of measurements not only of the back, but also of other parameters:

• back size in width;
• armrest size in length;
• the level of clearance between the floor and the sofa;
• the size from the edge of the seat to the back.

Most often, furniture products - sofas and armchairs - are made of standard dimensions, so choosing a suitable cover for them is not so difficult. For non-standard dimensions, the cover can be tailored to an individual order.

Beautiful colored covers are striking in their variety, the choice of a removable furniture cover model is the result of personal preference. Covers are sewn from various types of fabric, but its main feature should be good elasticity. Modern technologies have made it possible to create covers that can be stretched to any surface of armchairs, chairs, sofas. The appearance of such products is neutral, the case does not attract attention either by pretentious forms or variegated colors - these products are created in standard shapes and neutral shades.

The design of the cover depends on the interior in which it will be placed. For example, classic models with natural natural shades are suitable for living rooms. And in the children's room, you can use bright covers with various patterns or ornaments. Covers for a kitchen sofa can be bright and unusual in form of execution. It is permissible to use frills, ruffles, tassels, fringes here.

To choose a good set of covers for a modular sofa or armchairs, it is best not to skimp on the quality of the fabric from which the product is sewn.The higher the quality of the material, the longer the furniture cover will serve, enduring multiple cycles of washing and cleaning.

When choosing a removable furniture cover, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

• carefully measure the furniture, if you have doubts about how freely it will be possible to put on the cover, give preference to models with slightly larger sizes;
• in order to eliminate the smell from old furniture, choose covers from thick and dense fabrics of natural origin;
• it is advisable to purchase two replacement kits in order to periodically send one of the kits for washing or cleaning, or one cover can be designed for everyday use, and the other for holidays;
• it is better to buy covers from well-known and trusted manufacturers who value their reputation and use high-quality modern materials for their models;
• when choosing the color and texture of protective furniture coatings, it is necessary to pay attention to their combination with the general design concept of the interior of the room;
• in order for the cover to serve for a long time and not lose its original appearance, it is necessary to choose products from durable and solid fabrics.

These products bring significant changes to the appearance of the room, and in order for them to be positive, it is important to correctly correlate the general situation in the room with the color and pattern of furniture covers so that they do not look like a foreign body in the design.

Modern sofa coverings are fairly easy to use. First you need to cover the sofa with a cover so that the edges of the cover hang freely on all sides. Then the armrests are covered. After that, the excess material is tucked under the seat, and then under the armrests. It is necessary to carefully smooth out all the folds and irregularities, and the edges of the fabric should be tightened with the help of elastic bands.

After the cover is placed on the sofa, you need to secure it so that it does not slide out during use. To do this, use clamps, which are placed between the seat and backrest over the cover. When installing the fixing elements, it is necessary to tuck them in as deep as possible so that they do not pop out while sitting. Provided that the material is well tensioned, the sofa takes on a fresh and aesthetic appearance.

With regular use, the sofa cover accumulates dust, bacteria, and household dirt. Therefore, the coatings need regular cleaning or washing. You can do your laundry at home.

• Before this, they check whether the product can be cleaned in a washing machine and in what mode it can be done. For example, wool, corduroy, leather, fur or beaded embroidery are dry-cleaned.
• Before sending the cover to the washing machine, the stained areas are treated with an aerosol stain remover.
• The treated cover is turned inside out to prevent damage to the outer side of the product during washing.
• The cover is washed on a delicate cycle using a mild detergent that does not contain any bleaching ingredients.

After washing and rinsing, the cover should be placed flat on the dryer and allowed to dry completely.

A large selection of covers for upholstered furniture is presented on the Russian market today. According to customer reviews, the easiest way to solve the issue of protecting a soft coating is to purchase ready-made covers that are suitable in size to the dimensions of the furniture, or stretch universal options.

Experts believe that the purchase of custom-made covers is a kind of lottery. It is impossible to predict in advance how the finished product will sit on the furniture surface, how well the size of the product will be selected, whether there will be distortions and folds. At the cost of labor, ordering a cover can be compared to a furniture hauling service. When ordering a cover, the choice of material is usually limited to what is in stock at the sewing workshop.

In addition, you will have to think over the style of the product yourself or rely entirely on the manufacturer's honesty and imagination. Sometimes it happens that a custom-made cover does not fit in shape or does not fit on furniture due to erroneous calculations regarding the dimensions of the product. In this case, the customer will have to pay extra for reworking the product or ordering the sewing of a new cover.

It is much more convenient, according to buyers, ready-made tensioning options for covers. You can choose them in any color and not be afraid that the product will be the wrong size. Studying consumer reviews, we can conclude that good quality furniture covers are produced in Russia, Europe and America. Asian manufacturers are less responsible in the choice of fabrics and the quality of tailoring, but the cost of their goods is half the price of European or Russian counterparts.

For how to sew a sofa cover with your own hands, see the next video.