Slipcovers: Our Textile Guide

Slipcovers, or loose covers, a create a relaxed, casual look compared to fixed upholstery, often with natural creasing around areas like the skirt. This softer finish is part of the appeal and worth considering when choosing this style.

Tailored covers differ from slipcovers in that they’re custom-made to fit a specific frame. Secured with zips and Velcro, they offer a neater, more structured look – sitting somewhere between a relaxed slipcover and upholstered furniture.

To get the right mix of stretch and structure, a blend of 50% polyester and 50% natural fibre (like linen or cotton) is ideal because it moves with you when you sit and holds its shape when you stand. The natural fibres make it easy to pull the fabric over the arms and back, while the synthetic fibres help it hold its shape over time.

In blended fabrics, synthetic yarns are woven into the structure – often in the warp or inner layers – so they don’t sit on the surface. This keeps the feel natural, with only soft fibres touching the skin.

Natural fibres absorb moisture in humid conditions, making covers look loose or oversized in warmer months. To maintain structure, furniture with a relaxed look is often designed with clean lines and upholstered in synthetic blends that hold their shape.

We recommend pre-washing slipcover fabrics as they can shrink by 3–5%. Skipping this step will make it difficult to refit the cover after washing.

One of the main benefits of a slipcover is that it can be washed. While a three-seater cover may be too large for a home machine, commercial laundrettes offer an easy solution.

Stain-resistant fabrics like FibreGuard are a great option for slipcovers. You can wash the covers when needed, but most spills can be cleaned on the spot with just soap and water, so dry cleaning is never necessary.

Learn more about FibreGuard.

With slipcovers you can get more life out of a well-made sofa or chair. By investing in a quality frame and choosing an affordable fabric upfront, you can update the cover later when your budget allows.

Slipcovers can also be swapped out as your style changes or with the seasons – think a linen blend for summer and a cosy velvet for winter.

Reupholstery can be costly, mostly due to the labour involved in removing old fabric and staples. Slipcovers secured with zips or Velcro avoid this – so you’re only paying for the fabric and making.

Buying locally made furniture often means the manufacturer keeps the pattern for your piece, so there’s no need to recut it from an old cover. Simply send your chosen fabric and receive a perfectly tailored cover made to fit your piece with precision.

Learn more in our previous article A Guide to Selecting your Perfect Couch and explore our entire FibreGuard range here.