Furniture Slipcovers Blog: GetSlipcovers.com

Just wanted to keep you up to date with Sure Fit’s 11th Annual Ugly Couch Contest, where the general public get to vote for the nation’s ugliest couch.  The owner of the winning couch will get their choice of 10 Sure Fit slipcover products, plus $5000 cash to give their whole room a makeover.

Entrants sent in photos of their unattractive, unfashionable and generally horrible sofas, and the worse ten were selected to go through to the semi-final.  And believe me, there were some really awful pieces of furniture – some of them looked to me beyond help – I don’t think even slipcovers could have saved some of these couches!  Visitors to the website were able to vote for whichever one they considered the ugliest. 

Anyway, the polls closed last Friday (24th Aug) and I’m waiting to hear which three sofas made it through to the final.  The three finalists will feature on the “Live with Regis and Kelly” show in the week commencing 24th September, where the studio audience will have the final say in which is the Grand Winner.

If your old sofa looks like a contender for the ugly couch contest, then the chances are it can be transformed with a slipcover, unless it’s a really odd shape.  The ready made slipcovers from Sure Fit are constructed to fit standard-sized armchairs, loveseats, sofas, wing chairs and recliners, and can really work wonders at giving sad looking furniture a new lease of life.

Now, this is the kind of offer I like to see  – something for free and what’s more a freebie that’s really useful.  The deal is that if you order any sofa or loveseat slipcover from SlipcoverShop.com’s range of ready made slipcovers, you get a free 20” pillow for each slipcover you buy.  It’s not just any old pillow though, it’s in matching fabric to the slipcover, so you can use it as part of your furniture’s makeover.

SlipcoverShop.com sell inexpensively priced quality pre-made slipcovers to fit standard sized loveseats and sofas, as well as other types of furniture such as wingback chairs, armchairs, dining chairs and ottomans.  Their washable slipcovers come in all sorts of patterns and colors. And there’s an impressive choice of fabrics too, including cotton, damask, chenille and faux leather.  I especially like the faux suede slipcovers – they look and feel just like the real thing, for a tiny fraction of the cost.  And they are ideal for dog or cat owners as this durable fabric is pet friendly and machine washable.

To take advantage of this offer and to claim your free pillow, you’ll need to enter coupon code PFSL at checkout when you order online.  Click here to go direct to SlipcoverShop.com and start planning your home’s new décor!

At last the sun has finally returned and we’re having some lovely sunny weather.  As a keen gardener, I get a bit down in the dumps when it rains day after day.  So, as soon as I woke up and saw the ray of sunlight shining through the gap in my curtains, I knew I had no time to waste.  I gulped down a coffee and slice of toast and had a quick shower, then put on my old “gardening clothes” – I have a worn out T-shirt and pair of shorts that I wear especially for gardening, as I invariably end up covered in dirt!

Well, the good weather held and as often happens when I garden, time slipped away and before I knew it, it was late afternoon.  I’d got so caught up pottering amongst the veggies and flower borders, that I hadn’t realized the time.  Anyway, I felt exhausted once I’d stopped and as soon as I got indoors I poured myself a long cold drink and collapsed in a heap on the sofa.  Bliss.  It was so nice to lie back, relax and reflect on such a pleasant day’s work. 

I stretched out my legs and I must have been tired as pretty soon I nodded off.  I was awoken a while later by a knock at the door.  It was my sister.  I’d completely forgotten she’d said she was calling in to talk about the party we’re planning for our mother’s birthday.  I leapt up off the couch and let her in.  I then noticed that I was still dressed in my outdoor clothes and my bare feet were a filthy black color – that’ll teach me to wear sandals whilst digging!  Then to my horror, as we both walked back into the living room, we both saw at once the big muddy marks on the arm of the sofa, where my feet had been resting.

“What’s happened to your beautiful sofa?” exclaimed my sister, “those marks are disgusting!” she continued.  Although embarrassed, I’d got over the shock by this point – after all, it was only my sis that had seen me and my home in such a mess.  But the main reason I was feeling so calm, was I knew that my “beautiful” couch was actually nice and clean – it was protected by the pretty sofa slipcover I like to use during hot weather.  So I knew all I had to do was find a spare set of slipcovers and throw the dirty one in the wash.

I was glad to have my sister there to help.  Whilst I went and washed the mud off myself, she got to work removing the dirty sofa cover and the matching chair covers – they could probably do with a wash too.  Then she covered my furniture in another set of clean stretch slipcovers. In the time it took me to freshen up and get changed, she’d managed to completely transform my seats.  Next time, I’ll try to remember to clean the mud off my feet before I curl up on the sofa – but if I forget, at least I know it’s protected by a slipcover!

Here’s another 20% off discount code from Sure Fit – PSE1.  This promotional code enables you to get 20% off your slipcover purchase, regardless of how much you spend – there’s no minimum order.  Just enter PSE1 when you make your purchase online to claim your discount.  But hurry – this offer only runs until Friday 31st August.

Sure Fit are continually introducing fashionable new styles of slipcovers and updating their ranges, so if you’ve been thinking about redecorating in time for fall, this is the perfect opportunity to get your hands on some quality ready made slipcovers and save yourself a few dollars in the bargain!

I would particularly recommend their stretch slipcovers if you want a smooth, form fit.  Sure Fit use a higher percentage of spandex in their stretch fabrics than other stores do, which is why their stretch furniture covers are renowned for their snug fit and sleek good looks.  They are available in a range of fabrics, including stretch faux suede, velvet, corduroy and plaid.  They are exceptionally good value for money, as well as being easy to care for – they are simple to remove and can be washed in the machine.  If I were you I’d take advantage of this offer and treat my home to an early fall makeover!

I called in on my friend Joanna the other day.  I discovered her in an excited mood because she was in the midst of preparations for her son’s fourth birthday party.  Joanna loves organizing things, and little Simon is the apple of her eye, so arranging his birthday party is just up her street.  He’s at that age where he’s old enough to enjoy a party and has just started school, so has made lots of new friends, all of whom had been invited of course!

Joanna certainly had her work cut out for her.  Apparently it’s all changed since I was a kid.  Nowadays it seems kids birthday parties have become hugely important to modern parents and are seen as a great chance to impress the other parents.  It’s got quite competitive, with parents spending a small fortune on things like party bags – a must-have accessory at any kids party.  In my day, we were content with a slice of cake and a party hat to take home with us.  Now it seems parents like to try and out do each other by putting on the biggest and best event for their child’s circle of friends.

Anyway, Jo seemed to have everything under control.  She’d even drawn up a spreadsheet!  She’d made lists of everything – the food, the games, the music.  And although she hoped the weather would be fine so the kids could play outside, she also had a contingency plan in case of rain.  She was going to have the party in her living room.  That is, her beautifully decorated, huge living room with designer furniture, which is always immaculately presented.  In fact, I don’t think even Simon is normally allowed to play in there, let alone with twenty over-excited friends!

I told Joanna I thought she was very brave.  I mean, I’d seen the weather forecast for Saturday, the day of the party, and in all likelihood it was going to be awful.  Which meant the kids would have to spend all afternoon running riot in the living room and jumping all over the furniture.  Did Joanna really think her gorgeous sofa and chairs were going to survive unscathed, with no coke spills or chocolatey stains?  And inevitably with all those party snacks and fizzy drinks inside them, at least one of the kids was bound to get sick… Jo is ever the optimist and told me that she had faith in the weather remaining dry, and even if the worse came to the worse, Simon’s dear little friends are usually so well-behaved…

I couldn’t believe she didn’t even have a sofa slipcover to protect that expensive couch. When I broached the subject that covering her furniture with slipcovers would be a very wise idea, she confessed she’d never used furniture covers before as she thought they would wrinkle and slip and make her posh seats look shabby.  Instead, she took the chance and if a dirty mark appeared on the upholstery, she simply spent hours scrubbing it out by hand. 

Of course, I told her she was mad!  Did she really want to spend the day after the party trying to remove puke from her sofa?  Furniture covers don’t have to be loose and ill-fitting.  I told her all about my child-friendly stretch slipcovers and how they have a tight, tailored fit and it’s hard to tell they aren’t upholstery, they look so good.  But, seeing Joanna still wasn’t convinced, I jumped in my car and dashed home.  I rummaged in my linen cupboard and found a spare set of matching sofa and chair slipcovers, which I took back to Joanna’s house and proceeded to fit over her furniture.  I had to prove my point!

Within half an hour I’d transformed her best couch and armchairs.  Jo had to admit they still looked stunning and was impressed at how the fabric clung to the contours of her seats without creasing or sagging.  Sheepishly, she asked if she could possibly borrow my slipcovers for the party, as I’d hoped she would!

Anyway, the Sunday afternoon after Simon’s birthday, Jo rang me.  She was really pleased.  As predicted, it had rained, but the indoor party had been a great success.  Admittedly the kids did get hyperactive and there were several little accidents on the furniture.  But my slipcovers had done their job.  Jo couldn’t believe how easy it was to remove them and clean them in the washing machine.  She wanted to thank me and find out where she could buy her own slipcovers!

I’ve spotted another great deal. All the ready made slipcovers in Sure Fit’s soft suede range are currently on sale at a 30% discount.

These luxurious slipcovers are actually made from polyester, which gives them the elegant look of real suede without the hefty price tag.  As well as looking gorgeous, this faux suede fabric feels wonderfully soft to the touch and is lovely to sit on. 

Another reason why I think these slipcovers are great value is that they are machine washable, so any dirty marks can easily be cleaned out.  They can even be tumble-dried on a low heat.  Compare that to the hassle of cleaning real suede!

These suede furniture covers come in a choice of solid colors, to match any decor or color scheme – burgundy, chocolate, sable, sage, smoke blue and taupe.  They fit a range of different size seats: wing chairs, armchairs, sofas, loveseats and T cushion seats.

Examples of the savings to be made include wing chair slipcovers for just $34.99 and T cushion sofa covers for only $41.99.  Click here to see all the soft suede slipcovers on offer.  But hurry – this offer only runs until Thursday 30th August.

It always makes me happy to think that I’m getting a bargain and I especially love finding money off offers on top quality products that I would buy anyway, even without the incentive of a discount.  The range of ready made slipcovers from SlipcoverShop.com is exactly the sort of thing I’m talking about.  There’s a great selection of furniture covers for all kinds of standard sized seats, including sofas, loveseats, armchairs and wingbacks.  There are some beautiful fabrics to choose from and what’s more, the slipcovers are very reasonably priced, with sofa slipcovers from as little as $38. 

SlipcoverShop.com also make custom slipcovers, which are made to measure to fit the exact dimensions of your furniture.  This service is brilliant if you’ve got unusually shaped or sized furniture, and a tailored slipcover can make a well-worn favourite seat look stunning again.  SlipcoverShop.com is a great place to purchase your custom made slipcovers as there are clear, easy to follow directions on their website detailing exactly how to measure your sofa or chair.  You can print off the form and fill in the blanks, then refer to this when you place your order online.

Anyway, as I’ve said, I think these slipcovers are fantastic value for money and are already affordably priced.  But if you want to save even more – and who doesn’t like getting a discount – then you’ll need to enter coupon code SLSH at checkout.  This entitles you to $15 if you spend $125, $25 if you spend $175 and $50 if you spend $250.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.  After all, the walls were in dire need of a facelift, and a lick of paint was the obvious solution.  However, what my brother failed to realize was that his choice of peach colored paint would clash awfully with his lilac sofa and arm chairs.  It didn’t do the brown leather recliner many favors either.  In fact, Oliver’s attempts to decorate his family room actually had the effect of making the room look worse than before he started!

Poor Oliver.  He’d had such good intentions and had spent an entire weekend painting, only for what was meant to be a makeover to go horribly wrong! Luckily I called round at just the right time.  Oliver had just spent the afternoon moving all the furniture back into the room and after seeing how bad the sofa and chairs looked, had come to the conclusion that he’d have to go out and buy some new furniture that coordinated with his new walls. 

After having a good laugh at his decorating efforts (what are sisters for?!), I realized that my brother was actually serious – he really did think he would have to fork out for a brand new suite to match the new color scheme.  When I suggested it’d be much easier and cheaper to just get some slipcovers, he was just confused and even asked me “what’s a slipcover?”.  Once I’d explained that they’re ready made furniture covers designed to fit sofas, chairs and even recliners, he was intrigued.

Anyway, he immediately got online to see what I was on about, and that very same day he’d placed an order for some beautiful chair and sofa slipcovers, and had even managed to find a matching recliner slipcover.  A couple of weeks later I called in to see how the decorating was going (he’d moved onto the dining room by now).  And I was amazed to see how fabulous his family room now looked – what a difference those furniture covers had made!  All his seats were covered in stunning champagne coloured slipcovers.  Oliver was really proud of how good his room now looked and especially pleased with how much money I’d saved him!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the Ugly Couch Contest that Sure Fit are running, with the aim of finding the ugliest couch in the US.  The owner of the winning sofa will get $5000 cash to give their room a makeover and will be able to choose 10 Sure Fit slipcover products as well.

This is a fun way to try and win some new sofa slipcovers.  Although I’ve just been looking at photos of the 10 finalists and I think if my sofa was as ugly as they are I’d use the cash to buy a new one.  I’m not sure if even a furniture slipcover could resurrect some of these awful seats!

Anyway, the pics of the ugly couches are worth checking out – they really are hideous – I can’t believe people actually live with these monstrousities in their homes!  Sure Fit are asking visitors to their site to vote for the sofa they think is the ugliest and voting runs until 24th August.  Click here if you want to have your say.  It’ll be interesting to see if the winning couch can be transformed by a slipcover!

Here’s another great deal I’ve come across.  If you’re looking for some new slipcovers to give your furniture a lift in time for autumn, then you can save yourself 20% if you order from Sure Fit during August.

All you need to do is visit the Sure Fit website, browse their huge selection of ready made fitted slipcovers, then after you’ve made your choice enter promotional code SFE2 at checkout.

As well as offering armchair, loveseat and sofa covers, Sure Fit also have slipcovers for other types of seats, including recliners, wing chairs, ottomans and dining room chairs.  So no matter which room in your home you want to spruce up, there should be a slipcover to do the trick!  Don’t forget – this special offer expires on Friday 31st August at 11.59pm EST, so make sure you place your order before then to get your 20% discount.