Revamp a Sofa on a Budget
A comfortable sofa is an essential item in any home. Unfortunately, a sofa may become shabby on the outside before it is it truly worn out. New sofas are quite expensive, and professional reupholstering costs almost just as much. Instead, you can revamp your sofa on a budget by purchasing a slipcover, creating a slipcover from a bed sheet, and/or giving your sofa a deep cleaning. With a little work and only a little money, you can improve the look and feel of your home.
Contents
Steps
Purchasing a Slipcover
- Measure your sofa. A “slipcover” is a commercially made cover for your sofa. In order to purchase the right one, you will need to measure your sofa. Using a tape measure, record the width and length of your couch, as well as the length of the arms. Additionally, you should look for any labels on your sofa. If you can determine the manufacturer and/or specific style of your sofa, you may be able to find a slipcover made especially for it.
- It can also be helpful to take a photo on your cell phone.
- You can show this image to a retail employee, and they may be able to help you select the right product.
- Look for a slipcover. Look for your new slipcover at big box, home supply, fabric, or upholstery stores. Additionally, if you know the manufacturer of your sofa (such as Ikea), you can visit that manufacturer directly (in person or online). Search for a slipcover that fits the size and style of your sofa, as well as the look and feel of your home.
- Slipcovers vary widely in terms of cost.
- You may find them for as little as $60 (from some big box stores), or as much as $600 (from some furniture retailers).
- Affix your slipcover. Slipcovers are extremely appealing because they are easy to use. Simply open your new slipcover, remove any pillows or loose items from your sofa, and drape your slipcover over. Often times, there will be ties, Velcro, or other fasteners that will help you to tighten and secure your slipcover. Be sure to read any instructions that come included with your new slipcover.
- Add throw pillows and a throw blanket. You can use throw pillows and/or a throw blanket to finish the look. You can find these items at big box or furniture stores, or look at thrift stores or resale shops to stick to your budget.
Using a Bed Sheet as a Slipcover
- Drape a sheet over your sofa. When covering your sofa with a bed sheet, you basically have two options. First, if you have a large enough flat sheet, you can drape it over your entire sofa and tuck it in all over. You second option is to use an entire set of sheets to cover different parts of your couch.
- Remove all of the cushions and lay your flat sheet over the base of the sofa. Tuck it in as best as you can.
- Take your fitted bed sheet and secure it over the cushions of your sofa.
- Use pillowcases to cover the arms of your sofa.
- You may need to experiment with different sheet sizes to get the right fit.
- Add a few stitches (optional). If you are comfortable with a little hand sewing, adding a few stitches on either side of your sofa can help secure the bed sheets and keep them in place. Using a needle and thread, add a few basic stitches wherever the bed sheets end (on the arms and on the edges of cushions). If you would like to remove this bed sheet later, these stitches can easily be removed.
- Add throw pillows and a throw blanket. Pick up a nice throw blanket and a few colorful throw pillows that fit with the theme of your living room. (Look at thrift stores and resale stores for budget options!) Add these cute items to your newly re-covered couch to complete the look.
Cleaning Your Sofa
- Gather materials. Sometimes your sofa may simply need a good cleaning! Additionally, you should always clean your sofa before covering it. You can purchase commercial upholstery cleaning products at most stores, however, you may already have some great products at home. You will also need a vacuum cleaner, and a steam-cleaning vacuum is optional.
- Baby wipes are ideal for both spot cleaning and wiping down hard surfaces.
- White vinegar can help to lift out stains.
- Laundry detergent can be mixed with warm water to make an effective cleansing solution. If you don’t have laundry detergent, you can substitute a mild dish soap.
- Vacuum your sofa. Use a vacuum to remove dirt, large particles, pet fur, and lint from your sofa. Be sure to remove all pillows and cushions and vacuum underneath. You may want to do several passes to get the couch as clean as possible.
- You may want to use a bristle brush to help loosen any stuck on particles.
- Spot clean your sofa and wipe down any hard surfaces. Using a baby wipe, try to remove any surface stains or dried on substances. Also, be sure to wipe down any hard surfaces, such as legs or wooden frames.
- Execute a deep, overall clean. Mix 4-6 cups of warm water with ¼ cup laundry detergent and a splash (approximately 1-2 Tbs.) of white vinegar. Then, using a course washcloth or soft-bristle brush, apply small amounts of this detergent mix and scrub your sofa clean. Use the detergent as sparingly as you can, as not to over-saturate the sofa.
- If you have a steam cleaner, you can use it to suck up dirt and water to create an even deeper clean.
- It is always a good idea to do a small “spot test” before applying detergent to your sofa.
- If your sofa is leather, avoid using water. Instead, opt for a commercial leather cleaner.
- Allow your sofa to dry. The final step in cleaning your sofa is simply to allow it to dry. You can use a hair-dryer to accelerate this process, but the best method is really just to leave your sofa alone for 4-6 hours until it is completely dry.
- If you have a steam cleaner, this will help remove excess moisture and speed up the drying process.
Tips
- If your sofa has lost some of its thickness over the years, you can stuff 2-3 bed pillows into the bottom of your sofa (under the sofa cushions).
