My case for white slipcovers...

The above image is from my Pinterest files.....

Besides the white slipcovered sofa, I love that Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis

fabric in kelly green.....like love it ALOT!

But I digress....like many nights around here, last night was eventful {ha!}.

Last night I wrestled the slipcovers off my living room sofa

and gave them a good washing, complete with a bleach soak.

As I was completing this task, I thought I would share with you all

why I think white slipcovers make perfectly good sense

for families with children and dogs and husbands who actually

like to sit on the furniture:

* you can wash them, as much as they get dirty

*you can bleach them and keep them bright white

*they look fresh

* depending on the decor and styling of the room, white slipcovered

furniture can be contemporary, shabby chic, country, traditional.....

*they smell fresh after a good washing {especially when I let the covers

dry outside in the summer}

* white slipcovered furniture allows fickle pillow people {not me, of course} to

change the pillows and feel the instant gratification of a new 'look'

Often, people who visit my home cannot believe I have a white slipcovered

sofa and chairs....but I wouldn't have it any other way!

And just in case you are wondering, my sofa is made by Lee - we have

had it for about 10 years and it looks as good today as the day

it was delivered. Lee furniture is a bit more spendy than what your

would find at Pottery Barn, or the Ikea lines but I believe in spending

more for good upholstered furniture. In the long run, it makes sense.

The slipcover on my sofa was custom made. I used pre-washed white

denim for durability. If I were to take a guess, I think this set of slipcovers

have been washed at least 20 times - seriously!

22 comments on "My case for white slipcovers..."

Privet and HollyFebruary 8, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Love the first-hand
testimonial, as I need
to have a new slip made
for our main couch and
my "archie chair" as my
hubby calls it, that sits
right next to it. I've been
too afraid to take the
white plunge, but may
have to be brave and
just.do.it as your neighbor,
Nike says!!

xx Suzanne
Karen February 8, 2012 at 2:24 PM
You're preaching to the choir in my case. I too have white denim slipcovers and now wonder how I did without them for so long. I like that I don't have to worry about fading either. Best of all, the fabric I used is readily available in the event that one of my cushions gets a stain that I can't remove, I can pull just that cushion out for reupholstering.
UnknownFebruary 8, 2012 at 3:30 PM
We use a white Ikea slip on our 'still good but with dated fabric' custom sofa in our family room. It was a remarkably good fit. I have made blue denim slipcovers before but thought I would try the IKEA one and it is just a tiny bit short. The chocolate Lab hair drives me crazy (and family often eats in the family room) but I love that it can be washed and bleached or Oxi'd, and look great and smell fresh. Lately I have been keeping a king size white sheet loosely over it to keep it fresh a bit longer, and just whip it off if we have guests or to wash.
chateau chicFebruary 8, 2012 at 4:32 PM
I've never had them myself, but I really like the look of white slipcovered sofas and chairs. Maybe someday....
I'm your newest follower, Mary Alice
Rachel Noelle PallasFebruary 8, 2012 at 4:57 PM
I have to agree with you completely!! My friends always are amazed that I have teenage sons,a husband a dog and a cat and white slipcovers!lol..White slipcovers make perfect sense. My grandpa spilled his coffee all over my slipcovered chair when he was visiting and it washed up awesome!I love having them dry in the sun during the summer too..smell so fresh and clean! xoxo
AntiqueChaseFebruary 8, 2012 at 5:41 PM
I did a bleach soak once and it ate thru my fabric. maybe I used to much... what's your soak recipe?
Burlap LuxeFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:16 PM
Hi Jill,
I too love the white slips and agree with all you posted on them. White slipcovers look good with any style home from modern to country!

Thank you for sharing :)
xx
Dore
AndreaFebruary 9, 2012 at 7:16 AM
I always spend more on my sofas. My last sofa was custom made in NC. I want to get a slipcover made and but am finding it's hard to find someone to sew one for me that is not cost prohibitive.
SueannFebruary 9, 2012 at 7:38 AM
I absolutely adore white slipcovers.
Yours look fabulous
Hugs
SueAnn
HeatherFebruary 9, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Don't you love them? I couldn't agree with you more...I have had the same slipcovered sofa for almost 12 years and it looks as good as new. If I had to get a new sofa now, I would pick the same thing. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT.

Heather @ GreenWay Home
BarbaraFebruary 9, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Another choir member here. I have white Ethan Allen chairs, a white Petrie Crate and Barrel couch and 2 more couches with white slipcovers. Love them. And for one of the same reasons - I can change pillow slipcovers with the seasons. Love the tranquility of white. And I love the way the quilts I make stand out and all work with the white. I just grabbed your badge for my quilting blog - love your site and your photography.
AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 2:27 PM
I always wash my slipcovers and then put them on wet (at night), and then just smooth them and stretch where needed. In the morning it's all dry and everything is ready to go. Love washable slipcovers!
Jen KershnerFebruary 10, 2012 at 5:33 AM
This was timely for me. I have an armchair that I had a slipcover made for and I have loved it for about 4 years. I'm ready for a slipcovered sectional but was starting to wonder if it would be a good idea with 3 cats, 2 kids and a dog. Thanks for the reinforcement as I know it is what I truly want. I have loved them for a lot of years.
JuliaFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:49 AM
I love slipcovers (especially white). I love the fact that they can easily be cleaned. With a little one and a dog I would have nothing else. I have a Pottery Barn Basic slipcovered sofa in sand, but my next one will be in white. I love the flexabiliity of a white sofa.
Kristen CrosbyFebruary 20, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Gorgeous patterns!

My name is Kristen Crosby and I'm with Design Shuffle. I was wondering if you could email me at kristen.c@designshuffle.com I'd love to discuss a guest post opportunity with you!
AnonymousNovember 17, 2012 at 9:01 PM
I love your slip covers and have always dreamed of having a white slip covered couch. How did you find someone to make them for you? Where do you look?
UnknownJanuary 6, 2013 at 6:08 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
UnknownJanuary 19, 2013 at 4:19 PM
I would LOVE to have the white slipcovers...do you have them special made? How do I find some?

melody
melbalina@g mail.com
carefree carpet cleaningFebruary 13, 2013 at 5:51 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
JoLynnApril 29, 2013 at 6:23 PM
I love the look of a white slipcovered sofa, but am so hesitant to take the plunge. I have four kids and am not always right on top of all my cleaning. :) Anyhow, I was just wanting to clarify...you bought a Lee sofa and then had a slipcover made for it? When we get our next house I really want to invest in a nice quality couch and love to recommendations from others. Thanks!
UnknownDecember 6, 2013 at 5:05 AM
Oh!! What a beautiful decor idea. I am really like the decor that you have posted and feeling very happy to read the post. Bedroom Decor ideas
gmachayesMarch 18, 2015 at 6:17 AM
Hi - I just bought an EA sofa (Bennet) with White Bronco denim slipcover - it says dry clean only...the question - kickpleats on the sofa are lined with a brown fabric, so bleaching is out of the question. It's like a liner they used on the kickpleat only, not on the body of the slipcover. But it's got me thinking if the lining shrinks but the fabric doesn't it will not lay right. Any suggestions? Love your blog!!!