Slipcovers and Loose Back Cushions

A few weeks ago I went to stay with my old friend Chrissie for a long weekend.  I love visiting there because she's got a lovely house and is a wonderful hostess.  I always feel very welcome and at home.  Her living room is huge and rather grand, but very tastefully decorated and furnished.  She's got some gorgeous furniture, including a pair of sumptuous sofas, a smaller loveseat and a couple of arm chairs. 

Anyway, Chrissie was saying that she fancies the idea of giving her seats a facelift, as she's had them quite a while and feels like a change of look.  They're good quality pieces of furniture so she doesn't want to replace them, just give them a makeover.  However, she'd got a quote for having them reupholstered and was shocked by the cost, and she was worried that she wouldn't be able to find any slipcovers to fit.

You see, all her furniture is the sort that has loose back cushions and Chrissie was concerned that she hadn't seen any slipcovers designed for covering separate back cushions.  I agreed that it seems no one makes this type of slipcover…but I did have a solution.  First of all, I suggested she try a regular stretch slipcover, just to see if it would stretch over the cushions as well as the seat back.  I know people who've done this successfully, but Chrissie looked doubtful as she likes having separate cushions.

My second suggestion, which Chrissie liked the sound of, was to get rid of the back cushions completely and fit ready -made slipcovers on each sofa, loveseat and chair in the usual way.  Then, in place of the old cushions, she could add some pretty new pillows over the top of the slipcovers.  These would be just as comfortable and could look great if she selected a fabric that coordinated or contrasted with her slipcover material.

Anyway, I'm really pleased as yesterday I got a phone call from Chrissie to tell me she'd just received her order of new slipcovers and matching pillows.  The good news is that the slipcovers fit perfectly, and her new pillows look fantastic.  She couldn't be happier with the results.  So, if you've got the same problem with loose back cushions, replacing them with pillows could work for you too!