Slipcover basics: Consider Furniture Style
and Use Before Shopping for Slipcovers

Before shopping for slipcovers, it’s important to consider how your furniture is styled and how it is used. With ready-made slipcovers particularly, furniture styling and construction play a key role in how the slipcover fits both the piece and your lifestyle. Just as a well-chosen slipcover will add livable style to any room, a poor fit will detract from your décor and require constant upkeep – not good in a busy home!

Most seating furniture falls into one of four basic manufacturing styles and these are generally categorized by the construction of the back cushions. These are: tight-back, attached pillow back, loose pillow back, and multi – or scatter – pillow back.

Your furniture's styling makes all the difference when it comes to fitting slipcovers. Tight-back and Attached-Back styles generally work best with ready-made slipcovers. Loose-Back and Scatter-Back can be challenging to fit with ready-made slipcovers, but you can see how we did it, or consider a more custom slipcover approach that may provide a better fit.	Tight-Back furniture styling gives a smoother cushion base for ready-made slipcovers and generally provide the best fit and finish.	Attached-Back furniture styling gives a tight cushion base for ready-made slipcovers, and valleys between the cushions can be minimized with a layer of quilt batting.
Loose-Back furniture styling can be a bit of a challenge with ready-made slipcovers, but we'll show you how to make them work	Scatter-Back furniture styling can also be a challenge with ready-made slipcovers, but we'll show you how to make them work	Other furniture styles, like those with low arms or in non-traditional sizes, may require a more custom slipcover approach.

Regardless of the back cushion styling, seat cushions are typically constructed as either an integral part of the base or as removable single, two- or three-piece cushions.

After you’ve identified the basic back and seat cushion styling of the furniture you want to slipcover, next consider the detailing. Are the arms generous and round, low and boxy, or thin? Is your piece a tall wingback-style? Does it have shapely feet that you want to show off? Is the back straight across the top or is it a “camelback” with a slight rise in the center?

Now think about the use it receives. Will kids and pets be jumping on and off all day? Will the slipcover need frequent washing? Is a fitted, tailored style or a loose, casual look more appropriate for your décor and lifestyle?

Once you have considered these points, check out our Slipcover Shopping Guide sections on Ready-Made and Semi-Fitted or Custom Slipcovers to determine which options will best work for you!

Sofa pictures courtesy of Rowe Furniture. Online at www.rowe.com
They also have a wonderful line of slipcovered furniture that's worth a look!