Slipcover Fabrics

Here are a few things to bear in mind when choosing the fabric for your slipcovers.

Fabrics made from natural fibers such as cotton and linen are good choices for slipcovers, as they are durable and stand up to being washed many times over.  Another advantage of natural fiber fabrics is that they “breathe”, which means they allow air to circulate and moisture to evaporate.  This makes them comfortable to sit on, particularly in hot and humid climates where man-made fabrics can feel uncomfortably close and sticky.

A small disadvantage of a 100% cotton or linen slipcover is that this type of natural fabric has a tendency to become creased.  However, this is easily solved by ironing any wrinkles out after you wash your slipcover, and once it’s fitted over your furniture it should keep its shape.  An example of a quality slipcover made from 100% cotton is the Cotton Duck T-Cushion Slipcover from Sure Fit ™.

Often, natural fibers are blended with synthetics, such as in Sure Fit’s Normandy Wing Chair Covers, which are made from 60% cotton and 40% polyester.  This blend has the best of both worlds, with the durable qualities of cotton and the increased wrinkle-resistance from the polyester.

Fabrics made from synthetic fibers are generally cheaper than those made from entirely natural fibers, and they’re not just good for budget decorating.  Man-made fiber fabrics such as polyester have the benefit of being wrinkle-resistant as well as cheap.  Polyester is a very popular slipcover fabric because it’s durable and keeps its color – it shouldn’t fade in sunlight like some other fabrics do.

Velvet is another common slipcover fabric.  The name “velvet” actually describes the weave of the fabric rather than what it’s made from and velvets can be made from various combinations of fibers.  The Stretch Velvet Loveseat Slipcover from Sure Fit consists of 94% polyester and 6% spandex, so it has the soft touch of a velvet as well as the snug fit the stretchy spandex gives it.