How Does a Couch Slipcover Work?

Tight Slipcovers

• A tight-fitting slipcover stays in place with the use of hook-and-loop tape, ties and good fit. One side of the tape is sewn on the wrong side of the bottom edge of the cover and attached to the companion side of the tape on the underside of the chair. Or, if the piece has a skirt, ties may be used at each leg to hold the cover in place. The areas where the back and seat -- or inside arm and seat -- meet are places where extra fabric is included in the cover and tucked in to keep the cover in place. A tight cover, with or without skirt, should look like the piece has been reupholstered.

Loose Slipcovers

• Loose slipcovers attach to the couch with ties at the legs and tucks in the "tuck-in areas," but because the cover is not tight to the original piece, slipping and shifting must be expected. This look is best suited to a casual decor.

Fabric Choices

• Fabrics that are thin or shiny accentuate any couch surface flaws and should be avoided. Knit fabrics can stretch out and sag. Upholstery fabrics are not suitable because the backing sprayed on these fabrics will not conform to the couch curves well and it will prevent the slipcover from sliding -- which it must do in order not to rip.

  Fabrics that continue to shrink with laundering -- such as linen -- should be avoided or dry cleaned.

  Medium-weight, natural-fiber fabrics, such as drapery prints, lightweight denim and poplin are well suited to slipcovers.

Cleaning and Care

• If the cover is to be washed, the fabric must be pre-laundered. A couch slipcover may contain 10 or more yards of fabric, and to wash properly, a large-capacity or commercial washing machine is required. Some drapery prints are not dry cleanable; some are not washable. Check with the retailer or manufacturer's instructions to be sure.