Slip covers are made of washable, heavy duty fabrics and designed to fit over existing pieces of furniture. Slip covers can be found for sofas, loveseats, recliners, arm chairs, and straight back chairs. The beauty of slip covers is that you can literally slip them over a piece of furniture to change its look or protect it from wear, and then slip the cover back off when its time to wash it. If you grow tired of your slip covers, you can simply remove them for good.

Slip covers, like other linens, range in form and quality. Fitted slip covers fit the form of a specific piece of furniture, such as sofa or chair, and are held in place with sturdy elastic. They can be significantly more difficult to put in place than furniture throw slip covers, but they tend to stay in place better once they’re on. Furniture throw slip covers are designed without any elastic and resemble a very large blanket. These slip covers are designed to simply throw over a piece of furniture and then tuck in between cushions and backs as necessary.

When choosing slip covers for any room, you can usually find a color or pattern that is pleasing and goes with almost any décor. Some people choose to use slip covers seasonally to change the look of a room, and other people prefer to use slip covers as protection for their furniture. In households in which pets are permitted on the furniture, the upholstery can be preserved with the use of slip covers.

Fitted slip covers generally come with directions for proper placement, and there should be tags sewn into the inside seams of the slip cover that indicate front and back centers. Certain types of upholstered furniture work better with slip covers than others. Loose back cushions are more difficult to work with than attached cushions, but with patience and careful attention to seam, placement slip covers can work well with nearly any type of furniture.