How to Make Couch Cover

Couch covers can help you change your decor cheaply.

Making a couch cover is something any homemaker with some time on her hands can do. A new couch cover serves a number of purposes. It can give your worn-out couch a brand new look, make your old couch blend with the new decor and shield the couch from dirt and dust. What's nice about making a couch cover is that you can use a bedsheet or blanket to do so and save money on expensive fabric, not to mention the big money you'll save on buying a new couch.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Sewing machine
• Measuring tape
• Upholstery pins

Instructions

Getting started

1. Decide what look you wish to give your couch. To do so, you'll first need to consider what pattern, color and fabric (self-colored or printed) will be ideal for the cover, keeping in mind the overall decor of the room where your couch is placed.

2. Take measurements of your couch. Start by measuring the height of the rear area of the couch, that is from floor level to the top of the back rest. Allow a few extra inches for hemming of the bottom edge of the fabric.

   Then, measure the height, depth and width of the front of the couch. Start from floor level, move across the depth of the cushion platform and then up to the top of the backrest, for height and depth measurements.

   Lastly, measure the width of the couch, that is, from one armrest to the other. Allow as many extra inches as you wish for draping the fabric over the armrests, for tucking the fabric behind the cushion and between the cushion and inner (left and right) sides of the couch, and for hemming of all edges of the fabric.

3. Buy couch cover fabric. Go to a good fabric or upholstery/furnishing material store and purchase the fabric you've selected for your new couch cover.

4. Hem all sides of the fabric. Use a sewing machine to do this for neater, wrinkle-free stitching and look. If you do not have one, either get the hemming done elsewhere or do it yourself by hand.

5. Drape the couch with the fabric. Start by draping the hemmed fabric over the backrest of the couch down to its read end. Turn up (or in) the hemmed bottom of the fabric to keep it just above floor level. Then use upholstery pins along the edge of the fabric to keep it in place across the bottom of the couch.

6. Tuck in the fabric. Start by tucking the couch cover fabric behind the rear of the cushion, and allow the other end to drape to floor level. Then tuck the fabric between the inner sides of the armrests and the cushion, allowing the left and right ends of the fabric to drape well over the armrests. Your couch cover and new-look couch are now ready.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're couch is placed permanently against a wall, you may buy fabric to cover only the front and sides of the couch.

• Do not choose fabric that isn't durable, wrinkle- and fade-free, as the cover will not last too long.

References

• Iloveindia.com: How to Make a Couch Cover