How to slipcover this couch

[dancelnow]

We’re buying a vacation home that comes furnished so I want to try to extend the life of some of the items until we can save up more to replace things over time. One big one is the couch. I’m especially unsure how to deal with the black back/base. Is there a slipcover option for this out there? Or anyone have another idea how to refresh it?

[rooster222]

That's a tough one! I'd consider that for the cost of a slipcover you may be able to find a used sofa for sale locally. Otherwise I'd probably just embrace the cottage vibe and let it be.

[dancelnow]

Dec 10, 2020 9:29:25 GMT -5 rooster222 said:

That's a tough one! I'd consider that for the cost of a slipcover you may be able to find a used sofa for sale locally. Otherwise I'd probably just embrace the cottage vibe and let it be.

I was trying to embrace, but it just feels dirty. Maybe a good shampoo. It won’t look so bad once I lighten up the other decor (who puts an oriental style rug in a beach house?!). I want it to feel cleaner though.

[zaneyzoo]

What about painting the bamboo arms? It almost looks like you could use a sheet somehow to cover the black parts? The cushions are a fun print but I get the feeling of being dirty. That is definitely a hodgepodge of styles. Congrats on the new home!

[winecat]

Dec 10, 2020 9:34:06 GMT -5 dancelnow said:

Dec 10, 2020 9:29:25 GMT -5 rooster222 said:

That's a tough one! I'd consider that for the cost of a slipcover you may be able to find a used sofa for sale locally. Otherwise I'd probably just embrace the cottage vibe and let it be.

I was trying to embrace, but it just feels dirty. Maybe a good shampoo. It won’t look so bad once I lighten up the other decor (who puts an oriental style rug in a beach house?!). I want it to feel cleaner though.

You could rent a commercial steam cleaner?  

I'm not a decorator but I think that once you make other changes, the black won't seem as bad.  

What are the bar stools made out of?  I'd redo the seats and paint the frames.  

Different coffee tables?  They're really dark and heavy too.  

Any chance that the couch cushions have removable covers?  I'd swap those too, if possible.  Have you looked at how the couch is constructed?  It might be easy to remove and replace the black fabric.  There are lots of reupholstery videos on YouTube. 

[winecat]

Dec 10, 2020 9:37:48 GMT -5 zaneyzoo said:

What about painting the bamboo arms? It almost looks like you could use a sheet somehow to cover the black parts? The cushions are a fun print but I get the feeling of being dirty. That is definitely a hodgepodge of styles. Congrats on the new home!

Oh- I found this: thewickerhouse.com//2015/07/bamboo-stools-makeover.html

[dancelnow]

Dec 10, 2020 9:47:30 GMT -5 winecat said:

Dec 10, 2020 9:34:06 GMT -5 dancelnow said:

I was trying to embrace, but it just feels dirty. Maybe a good shampoo. It won’t look so bad once I lighten up the other decor (who puts an oriental style rug in a beach house?!). I want it to feel cleaner though.

You could rent a commercial steam cleaner?  

I'm not a decorator but I think that once you make other changes, the black won't seem as bad.  

What are the bar stools made out of?  I'd redo the seats and paint the frames.  

Different coffee tables?  They're really dark and heavy too.  

Any chance that the couch cushions have removable covers?  I'd swap those too, if possible.  Have you looked at how the couch is constructed?  It might be easy to remove and replace the black fabric.  There are lots of reupholstery videos on YouTube. 

I’m definitely DIYing the stools. Planning to spray paint the metal teal or light blue and recover the seats with a gray marine vinyl for durability but still feels smooth/cool to sit on.

Coffee tables I think I’m going to put against the wall where the wicker table is now to open up the space. Eventually want something lighter.

Good point, I didn’t consider looking if the current can be removed. I go next week for the inspection so I’ll add that to my list of things to check. My previous upholstery attempts were not good so I’m a bit scared of that, but the black part does have pretty simple lines.

[winecat]

dancelnow- I'm guessing it would be easy. You can see a seam down the back/side. It doesn't look particularly finished. I'm wondering if they recovered it? I'm spacing her screen name but someone on CEP recovered a chair. I think that YouTube is a game changer. The instructional videos have gotten so much better. I bet you could find new coffee tables on Craigslist, etc. for cheap. I think getting rid of those will help a lot. Are the floors linoleum in the living room and wood in the bedroom? I wonder if they put the linoleum over wood in the living room?

[dancelnow]

Dec 10, 2020 10:47:32 GMT -5 winecat said:

dancelnow- I'm guessing it would be easy. You can see a seam down the back/side. It doesn't look particularly finished. I'm wondering if they recovered it? I'm spacing her screen name but someone on CEP recovered a chair. I think that YouTube is a game changer. The instructional videos have gotten so much better. I bet you could find new coffee tables on Craigslist, etc. for cheap. I think getting rid of those will help a lot. Are the floors linoleum in the living room and wood in the bedroom? I wonder if they put the linoleum over wood in the living room?

The living is tile. I’m thinking long term of painting it, but that reddish color has to stay for now. The bedroom is laminate that needs to be repaired (they put it over uneven floors).

I’m really excited to get in there and start just paring down some of their decor. The cottage has so much potential. It was built in 1935, one of the first buildings on the beach and has lived through so much. I can’t wait to breathe new life into it. This will be our view from the deck.

[orval]

What about this kind of cover?
www.surefit.com/collections/sofa-furniture-cover/products/reversible-3-in-1-armless-waterproof-furniture-cover

You could just hang it down the back instead of the front

[winecat]

dancelnow- Painting that tile will help a ton! The view is amazing! I'm jealous.

[dr.girlfriend]

Honestly, I have this Klippan loveseat from IKEA that I've had for more than 20 years. They sell premade slipcovers that you can throw in the regular wash cycle (or at least I do, lol). For a little over $300 you could get both the sofa and the slipcover that fits it perfectly, and I think it would be great for a beach house because you could just throw it wet and sandy in the wash. They used to have some fun patterns too, although I don't see any right now. I would just save up and do that rather than trying to do a short-term fix on that sofa. Or even find a used Klippan sofa on craigslist or something and just buy the cover new.

www.ikea.com/us/en/p/klippan-loveseat-vissle-gray-s09010617/
www.ikea.com/us/en/p/klippan-cover-for-loveseat-kabusa-dark-gray-20398725/

[winecat]

Dec 10, 2020 16:07:49 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Honestly, I have this Klippan loveseat from IKEA that I've had for more than 20 years. They sell premade slipcovers that you can throw in the regular wash cycle (or at least I do, lol). For a little over $300 you could get both the sofa and the slipcover that fits it perfectly, and I think it would be great for a beach house because you could just throw it wet and sandy in the wash. They used to have some fun patterns too, although I don't see any right now. I would just save up and do that rather than trying to do a short-term fix on that sofa. Or even find a used Klippan sofa on craigslist or something and just buy the cover new.

www.ikea.com/us/en/p/klippan-loveseat-vissle-gray-s09010617/
www.ikea.com/us/en/p/klippan-cover-for-loveseat-kabusa-dark-gray-20398725/

The light blue is pretty beachy.  It would be cute with this rug: www.ikea.com/us/en/p/halved-rug-flatwoven-handmade-multicolor-20328228/ 

Or, I think it would be cute?  I shouldn't give decorating advice.  So ignore me if it is fugly.  

[dancelnow]

Ok, as much as I love the IKEA option....the shipping costs as much as the couch!! The nearest stores are 4-5 hours farther than the beach house from us. I understand IKEA’s business model, but as someone who has never lived near a store, I don’t like it.

[af1212]

Would this work?

It’s only $11 - bargain!! 🤣

m.aliexpress.com/item/32907063061.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail&spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4cc2310dawp7Su&algo_pvid=33f40448-0e8f-4e8a-abee-e735c01dd727&algo_expid=33f40448-0e8f-4e8a-abee-e735c01dd727-1&btsid=0b0a555916058368872975183ed222&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

[dancelnow]

Dec 12, 2020 8:06:27 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Would this work?

It’s only $11 - bargain!! 🤣

m.aliexpress.com/item/32907063061.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail&spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4cc2310dawp7Su&algo_pvid=33f40448-0e8f-4e8a-abee-e735c01dd727&algo_expid=33f40448-0e8f-4e8a-abee-e735c01dd727-1&btsid=0b0a555916058368872975183ed222&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Oh my!

[dr.girlfriend]

Dec 10, 2020 19:42:48 GMT -5 dancelnow said:

Ok, as much as I love the IKEA option....the shipping costs as much as the couch!! The nearest stores are 4-5 hours farther than the beach house from us. I understand IKEA’s business model, but as someone who has never lived near a store, I don’t like it.

Aw, that sucks!  Yeah, IKEA is useless if you can't pick up.  Sorry!

As Plan B, I would just throw one of those waterproof pet blankets over it and call it a day until you can replace it.  :-)  Or if you REALLY want you could just get fabric big enough and fold it over the top and just safety-pin it on the bottom to make it look like you recovered the cushions, but even that cost seems like too much.  :-)

[Accountingcat]

Given that a slipcover might cost as much as the couch, I'd try a flat sheet. Get a king-size and maybe safety pin under the couch and around the cushions for a fitted look.

[winecat]

If you can take it apart enough to cover the black with a staple gun or whatever, what about a canvas drop cloth for material? I went down a tiny internet wormhole and found that people couldn't agree about the longevity of the drop cloths you can buy at home improvement stores but I found this place: www.chicagocanvas.com/product/10oz-color-canvas-dropcloths/ A 10 x 10 piece is $55.

[juliachild]

I think I would actually paint the arms black. It would make the back look like it ties into everything. Getting rid of the rug and ottomans will brighten up the space a ton.

[dancelnow]

Update after our home inspection yesterday: the cushions have zippers!! All the floral parts can be taken off to be washed. The black fabric does look like a DIY staple job so I can handle that. Now, the arm did fall off the side when the inspector moved it.....so it’s likely not long for this world.

We renegotiated our sales price based on the inspection and they have accepted so yay! I’ll post updates in March once we can get in there and fix it up. There is a snowbird with a reservation through end of Feb so I’ll be no so patiently sitting by plotting all the things I can do for this place.