Released on = April 26, 2006, 2:57 pm

Press Release Author = LT Home

Industry = Retail

Press Release Summary = Let's say you've just brought home a new loveseat and a new
baby..or you've finally gotten around to painting your living room that beautiful
sage green and your blue plaid wing chair now needs a makeover. Maybe you recently
agreed to adopt a kitten. These are just a few of the many reasons you may be
considering slipcovers.

Press Release Body = Let\'s say you\'ve just brought home a new loveseat and a new
baby....or you\'ve finally gotten around to painting your living room that beautiful
sage green and your blue plaid wing chair now needs a makeover. Maybe you recently
agreed to adopt a kitten. These are just a few of the many reasons you may be
considering slipcovers.

In order to choose the right slipcover, you\'ll have to take into consideration the
type of furniture you own, your lifestyle and your budget. Read on for more
information about your options including readymade slipcovers, custom slipcovers and
slipcovered furniture.

Assess your furniture

If your furniture is expensive and well made, it\'s probably still in good condition
even after years of use. Really good furniture deserves a custom slipcover, if for
no other reason than in would cost an arm and a leg to replace that furniture.
Custom slipcovers are practical since they\'re made specifically for your furniture,
fit like a glove, and cost less than new upholstery. Added benefits include
washability (a must for people with pets and kids) and the freedom to change those
covers whenever the need arises - with the seasons, with the holidays, with new
décor. If your fine furniture needs some structural work or if you have antique
furniture with lots of carved wood, then you\'ll want to see the upholsterer instead.


If your furniture is nothing special and you don\'t plan to keep it forever, you
should consider readymade slipcovers. Readymades have seen some recent design
improvements including separate seat cushion covers and stretch slipcovers which fit
well on almost any type of furniture. The cost for a readymade sofa cover will
range from $59 up to $159 depending on the style and type of fabric you choose. If
your furniture gets a lot of use, go for the heavier fabrics and the separate seat
cushion covers that eliminate the need to retuck. If you\'re covering a loveseat in
your bedroom that rarely gets sat on, feel free to choose any fabric or style. One
thing to keep in mind...there are no readymade covers for chaise lounges or small
chairs such as barrel chairs, slipper chairs and swivel rockers. These pieces will
have to be custom covered. Thankfully, there are readymade slipcovers for classic
recliners, wing chairs and ottomans.

Consider your lifestyle

If your furniture gets a lot of wear and tear, you\'ll need to cover it with a
durable, heavyweight fabric, preferably one that is stain resistant and washable.
Pets can and do destroy furniture on a regular basis but husbands who come in from
the shop all full of grease and flop on the couch can do their fair share of damage
as well. Luckily, most readymade slipcovers are washable and come in
high-performance fabrics like microfiber suede, stain-resistant twills, and olefin
chenilles. Denim is always hardwearing and a safe choice for a house full of teens.
Many furniture collections offer additional slipcovers in these same durable
fabrics - something to consider if the pets and kids are going to be around for a
while.

The one nice thing about custom covers is that you get to pick the fabric. If your
furniture isn\'t going to be abused on a daily basis, you can choose more elegant
fabrics of moderate weight. There are plenty of fashionable readymade covers that
can withstand normal use, from cotton prints to jacquard wovens to faux silks.

Cost comparisons

Typically, the labor for a custom sofa slipcover with six separate cushions runs
from $500-$700. Add the cost of 12-18 yards of reasonably priced fabric for an
additional $200-$300 and you\'re looking at a total cost of $700-$1000. A custom
chair cover would cost closer to $300 plus about 7 yards of fabric.

Readymade covers are now manufactured in China and prices have come down steadily
over the past few years. A sofa cover with separate seat cushion covers in a
heavyweight fabric will run from about $85 to $139. If you\'re on a budget, you can
get a simple cotton sofa slipcover for about $69. Recliner covers run about $69
while wing chair covers can run from $50 -$100 depending on the fabric. Sure Fit,
the largest readymade slipcover manufacturer, has a web site with all the latest
styles and sizes, www.surefit.com. Another company called Stretch and Cover excels
in quality stretch fabrics and odd sizes, www.stretchandcover.com.

A third option is to buy furniture with slipcovers. A new company offers
well-priced, factory-direct furniture with extra slipcovers costing as little as
$125. A sofa with slipcover is under $1000. www.thesofacollection.com.

Tips

Readymade covers look best on overstuffed furniture, however, the new stretch covers
adapt themselves nicely to both chubby, round furniture and skinny, square
furniture. If you hate the look of slipcovers, but still need something to cover
your couch, try the stretch covers which have no skirt, kick-pleats or ties and
offer a tailored look that most closely follows the line of the furniture. Cotton
may be the fabric of our lives, but it wrinkles and cannot be spot cleaned. Choose
cotton only in heavy weights like denim which will resist wrinkling. Microfiber
suedes are great for people with pets because pet hair brushes off easily and the
fabric can be spot cleaned without leaving a water ring.

Remember that readymade slipcovers cannot fix structural problems like cushions
sliding out from under you. However, you can put a piece of rug grip under the
cushions and that should help.

About the author

Liana Toscanini is the owner of LT HOME in Great Barrington. A former executive at
Sure Fit Slipcovers, she has fourteen years of experience in the readymade slipcover
industry. At LT HOME, you can find readymade covers, custom slipcover service and
slipcovered furniture as well as linens, rugs and gifts. For more information,
visit http://www.lthomegb.com





Web Site = http://www.lthomegb.com

Contact Details = Liana Toscanini
340 Stockbridge Rd.
Great Barrington , 01230
$$country

413-528-9737
liana@lthomegb.com
http://www.lthomegb.com