Upholstered furniture is valued by consumers primarily because of its high level of comfort, but it has one serious drawback - the upholstery material does not retain its original appearance for long and gradually wears out. Random stains, cigarette burns, and cat claws can speed up this process. When planning to purchase upholstered furniture, the owner must remember that not only he, but also his pets will rest on it. When purchasing a sofa and chair, many owners expect it to last for years.
The need to replace the upholstery may arise not only due to its loss of aesthetic properties. The owner may just get tired of it. If, after a few years, he wants to carry out renovations in the house, then it is possible that the upholstery will fall out of the overall composition of the interior. There are different ways to solve the problems described above, but the most preferable one is to buy a cover for the sofa.
What types of sofa covers are there: types and models
There are a huge variety of covers due to the shapes of the sofas available for sale. Today there are models of covers of the following types:
- For straight, corner, U-shaped sofas.
- For double, triple and quadruple sofas.
- For sofas with and without armrests.
- For sofas with and without backrests (with pillows instead of backrests).
- With and without a skirt (with and without frill).
- Universal (dimensionless Euro-cases).
- By technique: quilted, knitted, tapestry, patchwork and others.
- According to the degree of protection: anti-vandal, waterproof.
- By color: plain, colored, with a pattern.
Advantages and disadvantages
For many, purchasing a European cover becomes a real salvation, as it allows you to avoid significant financial costs when it is necessary to protect furniture or transform the interior. The advantages of using a bedspread are:
- the ability to quickly protect the sofa cover;
- low cost;
- the ability to radically transform furniture and interiors;
- elasticity and good shape retention;
- versatility, possibility of use for various models of furniture ;
- ease of use and care;
- resistance to pollution and environmental factors;
- hygiene and safety for people and animals.
The purchase of a Euro-cover is often associated with the need to protect furniture for a certain period of time when animals appear in the house or a child is born. This cover allows you to provide a barrier, preventing the appearance of scratches, chips, dirt, and puffs.
The cost of some furniture models can reach hundreds of thousands, and the purchase of additional protection will require minor financial costs from the owner. If necessary, you can always throw away such a cover and buy a new one.
Buying a sofa for many is considered a special event and the lifespan of such an item is more than one year. Often there is a need to change a sofa due to damage to the upholstery or lack of harmony with the new interior. Reupholstering a sofa always involves significant costs and the need to completely disassemble the furniture. Buying a Euro-cover in this case is the most budget-friendly option to solve the problem.
A significant advantage of modern European covers is their long service life, which with proper care is at least 5 years.
What fabric are sofa covers made from?
As with the types of covers, the fabric can be very diverse.
Leather
Familiar material. The skin looks beautiful and rich. It is highly practical: any liquids or food contamination is not a problem. The skin does not absorb liquids or other substances as well. All skin care boils down to the fact that it needs to be wiped with a damp cloth, and once a year soaked in a special oil so that it does not age and is soft. Disadvantages of this material:
- The leather may become covered with numerous scratches during use.
- In direct sunlight it becomes unbearably hot.
Eco leather
Also popular material. Many people ask the question: what is the difference between genuine leather and leatherette? The fact is that eco-leather is a high-tech synthetic compound. It does not have an unpleasant odor, sometimes its properties are superior to natural leather, minor mechanical damage will not be visible on eco-leather. Also, eco-leather covers provide a tight fit with the product. They do not fade under the sun. The cost of leatherette covers is several times less than those made of genuine leather.
One of the disadvantages is that, like leather, it can become very hot in direct sunlight; if you clean eco-leather with products that contain chlorine, the cover may lose color.
Jacquard
Jacquard is a large-patterned fabric of complex or simple weave, the repeat of which on the warp contains more than 24 differently intertwined threads. This fabric is highly durable and can last for decades. These fabrics are also abrasion resistant. They are quite easy to care for and have a beautiful appearance.
Velours
This material is a budget replacement for velvet. It has high thermal insulation due to its pile, which has an air layer and, thus, retains heat.
Velor is a very pleasant material to the touch. It doesn't wrinkle. One of the disadvantages is that velor fabric collects a lot of dust and hair, it is not resistant to abrasion, and creases can form on the velor pile. Most people prefer velor as a material for covers. They note the beautiful appearance and relatively cheap cost of such cases.
Plush
Fabric with pile on the front side. Plush covers are very pleasant and soft to the touch. It gives a feeling of carefree and comfort. Thanks to the high pile, the plush perfectly retains heat. Just like velor is an analogue of velvet.
Pros:
- Attractive appearance.
- High strength.
- Keeps you warm.
- Durability.
Minuses:
- quickly absorbs dust and hair;
- difficult to remove stains;
- If not properly cared for, it can wear out quickly.
Velvet
Silk fabric with thick soft short pile on the front side. It is created from wood fibers - Velvet.
This is a hypoallergenic material with an attractive appearance. Dense, soft and pleasant to the touch. It perfectly absorbs moisture, allows air to pass through and does not become electrified. It is quite durable, holds its shape for a long time and does not deform.
Disadvantages include the fact that it quickly collects dust, fades in the sun, and takes a long time to dry after washing. Velvet is, first of all, a symbol of prosperity and wealth. The velvet cover has no hint of everyday life. But, velvet is considered a finicky fabric to care for.
Linen
Linen fabric is a fabric with a smooth surface and a matte sheen obtained from flax, a plant of the flax family. Linen is environmentally friendly, has high thermal conductivity and breathability, increased wear resistance, antistatic properties, hypoallergenicity, and mold resistance. It does not attract dust and hair.
The disadvantages are: high creasing of the material, high risk of shrinkage after washing, low dimensional stability.
Flock
This material has a very interesting production: a thin layer of glue is applied to the non-woven fabric, and a thin pile is evenly scattered on it. To the touch it resembles something between velvet and velor. Flock has an attractive appearance, a wide color palette, and most importantly an affordable price.
But this particular material has more disadvantages than advantages. It can release various chemical compounds that are hazardous to human health. This is due to the fact that low quality glue is used. The flock becomes electrified very quickly and collects dust and other suspended matter. It is not hypoallergenic. Flock is problematic in terms of care. May cause discomfort. Sitting on a flock cover for a long time can cause a person to start sweating, especially during hot periods. This is due to the fact that flock does not allow air to pass through and quickly loses its attractive appearance.
One of the advantages is that it is resistant to the claws of pets. That is why it is also called “anti-claw”.
We advise you to purchase only expensive and high-quality flock and under no circumstances buy cheap Chinese products, or turn your attention to a “flock substitute” - microfiber products.{banner_serefs}{banner_ondes}
Microfiber
A synthetic fiber obtained through fine weaves. The structure of this fabric is unique: one thread of fabric is up to 150 woven microfibers consisting of polyamides and polyesters. In cross-section, the thread resembles a star. Thanks to static electricity, microfiber does not rub dirt, but retains it within itself. It does not deform or wrinkle, has a high strength index, does not retain air and perfectly absorbs any liquids.
But not without its drawbacks. Microfiber attracts dust and hair, greasy stains from this fabric are very difficult to wash off, and the cost is relatively high. It should not be washed at high temperatures, nor should it be ironed in a manner that could melt the fibers.
Fur (artificial and natural)
Modern fur covers, which are made from real sheepskin, are an environmentally friendly product. They have advantages both in winter and in summer. Natural fur:
- It allows air to pass through perfectly, so in hot weather it will be very comfortable to sit on a fur cover.
- Does not peel off after long use.
- Does not electrify, does not tear or roll off.
- Parts of the body that are covered with fur do not sweat.
- Capable of absorbing moisture.
Unlike leather cases, fur cases do not heat up as much in direct sunlight. Disadvantages include high cost, the risk that the cover will be eaten by moths, strongly absorbs odors, and there is no way to clean it yourself at home.
Faux fur is much cheaper, does not absorb moisture, which means a person will sweat a lot. Faux sheepskin can easily burn and melt.
Dimensions of sofa covers
Usually all sofas are made to special standards, and the same thing happens with sofa covers. But, if it turns out that you can’t find a cover for the sofa, then you should turn your attention to covers for non-standard sofas (high back or unusual armrests).
Rules of care
Caring for the Eurocover is simple and involves following a number of simple recommendations. General care rules:
- Before washing, the product must be turned inside out;
- use the delicate wash mode;
- do not increase the temperature above 40 C;
- do not use softeners or bleaches;
- dry only at room temperature;
- do not iron or steam.
For some models, the manufacturer may indicate a number of additional requirements , which are always specified in the operating and maintenance instructions. You should familiarize yourself with such features in advance.
How to choose a sofa cover
For both straight and corner sofas, you can choose one of three types of covers:
- Eurocase. Suitable for any sofa model and design, including those with a bar or shelf. Thanks to its structure, the Eurocover stretches well and takes the desired shape. The color palette of Euro cases is very wide and you can easily find a case of the desired color.
- A cover that exactly repeats the geometry of the corner sofa. It can be either with or without an elastic band. Such covers are made from non-elastic materials, so you should choose the size for a specific sofa model. Usually, they are thrown over the back of the sofa and completely cover it, while holding on to the protrusions and secured with an elastic band, zipper or decorative ribbons.
- Covers that fit different parts of the corner sofa.
Nowadays, a sofa cover is becoming a necessity. Especially when there are children or pets. It protects the sofa from claws, mechanical damage, paints and liquids, maintaining the sofa's presentable appearance.
Varieties
Often, covers are chosen as a set for the entire group - a sofa, armchairs, chairs, sofa. Capes come with ties, stretch and with a skirt. The first ones cover the furniture without covering it like a blanket. Products are made from non-elastic fabrics, so they may not be suitable for non-standard shaped items. Features of capes with ties:
- They are good for rocking chairs, chairs of any shape, stools, small sofas.
- Ties are made in the form of durable decorative ribbons or elastic bands.
- They are usually made from natural fabrics (cotton, linen) and artificial ones (eco-leather, flock, raincoat fabric, velor).
The advantage is the versatility of the cover; with the help of ties it can be adjusted to size. The disadvantage is that such a cape does not completely cover the upholstered furniture; gaps may remain. It looks ugly if the colors of the upholstery and cover are contrasting. Another disadvantage is the long process of putting on the cape.
Stretch covers are a popular type of cover, which is divided into Euro covers and rubber covers. The first ones are made from elastic textiles (microfiber, cotton with acrylic, polyester). The latter are equipped with elastic bands for tension, due to which the fabric tightly fits the protruding parts. Euro format models cover the entire furniture. This gives the appearance of factory upholstery. They are easier to put on. These types of covers are often water- and fire-resistant, hypoallergenic.
Indications for reupholstering furniture, stages of work, tips for implementation
On a cover with a skirt, the decor is sewn to the base of the armrest. The length of such models is to the floor. The lower part of the fabric cape is made flared, hanging down without tension. This model is popular both in the interiors of private houses and apartments, and for use at special events. Chair covers with long frills can often be seen at banquets and weddings.
Models with elastic bands only partially stretch. If they are not chosen in accordance with the size of the furniture, they may sag or become too tight. Therefore, the Eurocase is considered universal and comfortable to use. Due to its increased stretchability, it can be used on furnishings of unusual dimensions.
Tensioner
With a skirt
With decorative ties
