Move the sofa away from the wall or obstacles so you can move freely around it. Remove any throw pillows, but leave the seat cushions in place.
Unfold the new cover and locate the front center. There may be a sticker on the wrong side of the fabric to designate this point.
Hold onto the center front of the cover while draping the fabric over the sofa. Holding this point helps get the cover on straight with the first attempt.
Smooth the fabric over the seat and back of the sofa with your hands. Adjust the cover so the bottom edges rest at floor level.
Push and tuck excess fabric into the side and back edges of the seat cushions. Use a wooden spoon to tuck the fabric if your hands are not creating smooth lines.
Tie the side straps together under the arms, if applicable for your cover.