Monday, July 20, 2009

Where Can One Find Affordable Cottage Style Slipcovers?

Those of you that have read my blog for awhile know that I really dislike my living room. It is painted yellow, which I thought would be fabulous at the time we painted it several years ago but I've pretty much not liked it since the moment the paint was dry. We have the couches and furniture that hubby bought when he was a bachelor. Definitely not my style at all. I'm not complaining, in these difficult economic times I'm happy to have a roof over my head and a living room to dislike. I really want to redo our living room but it simply isn't in the budget. I floated the idea of repainting the walls a neutral creamy white (the color we originally painted and I deemed too bland - I've since matured!) as a birthday gift (my b-day is in October) but the look on hubby's face made me think I should reconsider. So I floated the idea of at least slipcovering the God awful green couch and loveseat (I try not to feature this furniture on the blog but you can get a glimpse of it in this recent post.) This idea received a much better response (and maybe I can convince him that we need to paint after he sees how the great the slipcovers will look!).

Now I just need to figure out where I can get cottage style slipcovers similar to the styles I pictured here (I was Web surfing and bad Karla did not catch all the spots she lifted these photos from - I think most are from Country Living). I was cruising the Internet but I couldn't really find anything. I think custom is going to run too expensive. The seamstresses around these parts are not cheap! Maybe I can haggle with a talented sewing friend. Does anyone out there have a good source for slipcovers?








20 comments:

Lori said...

Karla, we are in the same boat my friend...i have crazy colors on my walls that i really am NOT happy with anymore...i hate my furniture...and i have a lot of brown wood cabinets and such...YUCK!! i will be watching the comments to this post...i have been thinking "slipcovers" too...it would be a great start!!!

vintage girl at heart said...

IKEA!!! I think you can purchase simple ones that come in many colors and maybe they will fit your sofa and loveseat. Also sometimes Big Lots has name brand ones pretty inexpensive,ya just have to keep an out for them. Target too sometimes has Rachel Ashwell brand and certain thrift stores get Target returns and overstock. Good luck!!

The Other Side of Me said...

Hi Karla,

I have never had any luck with slip covers. They never seem to fit what I am trying to cover. They look great, but I can't get them to work for me. I wish you luck in your search.
My only advice with a small one that is going to be a toddler in approx. 9 months is get something you can wash a lot and consider a darker color. As much as I have tried to keep up with Shelby those darn sippy cups do leak. I ended up recovering the cushions to extend the life of my sofa.
I hope you get something you like.
Tammy

Alison Gibbs said...

Good luck finding a cheap source. Over here in Australia I have the same problem. The covers are just way to expensive and I really want to cover my 'green sofa' too.
Alison

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

For as much as you will pay for the slipcovers your probably better off buying the slipcovered couches at Ikea, $399.00 for the sofa and that includes the slipcover, the best part is they have so many to choose from if you want to change them for the seasons you can. I priced having slips made and they wanted 800.00 for my sofa!
Hugs~Kelly

Anonymous said...

Ikea!! haha ohh I just saw that someone already did the exact same response as me! I love there slipcovers and pottery barns arent that bad considering you can get them made with your measurements! Good luck on getting hubby to let ya paint! or you could just be like me and be fast and do it while he is at work! hahahaha cant wait to see! big hugs

toodles-
sarah

One Shabby Old House said...

I was just in a discount fabric store and even there the fabric for a slipcover would run about $12 a yard for white denim. A man was there who did upolhstry and he said to me when I asked that it would cost about $300 a slipcover for a sofa.
Adding the fabric I think you would be wise to look at Ikea as Kelly suggested. But keep your eyes open at Big lots because they do have slipcovers from time to time.
Good luck
Becky

Unknown said...

Hi Karla, I love the pictures of the different slipcover styles you are considering. You are right about the custom stuff being expensive, but maybe you could by some and then have some customization done to those? I hope you find what you are looking for and excited to see if you make some changes.

allison
www.mycozyhome.typepad.com

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Good luck with the search Karla.
IKEA sounds like the way to go.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne

Jess said...

Hi Karla! Just wanted to come say hi and say thanks for stopping by my blog :) I like your space here...very fun!

Chelsea is such a doll. I did see lots of little babies at the aquarium, but I think most of them were there b/c there was an older sibling involved. It'll be a fun adventure in a few months though!!

Jeanie said...

I don't have a source, Karla, but when you find some good ones, will you pass them on? (And I'll cruise your comment list, too.) I have a wing chair I love. The late, great Stimpy loved it too. Too much. Needless to say, it needs something and reupholstering is pretty pricey and not a skill I possess myself. The crisp clean white will look fine with your yellow. You might even end up liking the walls!

Merci-Notes said...

Hello Karla,
* Ikea slips sounds good but I am not sure about the sofa holding up from them.

*I noticed over at Posy she places a beautiful quilt on her deck cushions, I wonder if that gives you any ideas? I put a chenille bedspread over our couch once... I did have to keep adjusting it... How about a sheet or quilt or bedspread new or old over the couch and UNDER the cushions, Put the cushions back on and cover with a pretty quilt.. it is heavy enough to stay in place longer.

*two fabric choices for slips: White Duct cloth OR white linen to make slip covers.

*** If I were there I would help you to make your own! So Fun :).

I hope that you find an answer.

Hugs,
Mary
p.s. our walls are a nice shade of yellow but I am now done with yellow (after two different shades over many years!!!)
I would like to go back to one of my white shades especially since the molding is painted now.

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

Those slipcovers are worth searching for!What lovely ones. I found a lady who made some for me locally, but then she retired, so I made my own on a slightly simpler skill. Not easy to do, but not that hard either. And I am not a sewer. I just used to watch Trading Spaces!

Also, I've bought lots of slip covers from Target, and they wash up nicely. The trick to making those look good is to tuck them in well and use wooden spoons or something like that to hold them in place, down inside the sofa where they are tucked into.

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

PS- fabric can be expensive, when I did have some made, I found duvet covers on clearance at Homegoods to cut up and use instead of going to the fabric store. Much less per yard that way.

The Pleasures of Homemaking said...

I have a white IKEA slipcovered sofa and love it! I bought an extra slipcover just in case but I haven't even had to take it out of the box yet. The one on the sofa has washed beautifully so far. They have several colors and patterns that you can get and they are inexpensive. Other than that I would find a love quilt to throw over the sofas.

Manuela

Anonymous said...
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mary Samson said...

So where am I able to buy Shabby Chic furniture that is affordable? I did not see where to get it but it is exactly what I want. Can you help me find some? I live in Southern California.
Mary

carla Johnson said...

Hi Karla! I deliberately painted my liv rm walls yellow...we then added white wainscoating from Lowes(inexpensive) all around the bottom. I bought plain light tan covers from JP Penneys and spiced the sofa and chair with pillows. I'd love to send you pics! I also used tatouage beside the windows,etc of flowers,etc. That can be a little expensive but the tatouage site has lots of sales! I think it turned out awsome. The wainscoating takes that starkness out of the yellow that would hit ya in the eye at first.Anyway...pics would be best. Be glad to send a few along. I found the Penneys covers wash great and I had no trouble putting them on...little practice is all..plastic pipes can be used to hold in place. Have 5 grandchildren and so far everything has washed out nicely! Love to see you new rooms!!

Unknown said...

If anyone lives in the Wilmington, NC area. I make custom fit slipcovers. You can check my blog. I love slipcovers. It is so much fun to change colors and even styles with slipcovers.

Susan Graham said...

Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!

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