Transform an Ugly Sofa with a Dropcloth Slipcover

One extra discotastic but oh-so-comfy sofa

+

One big ol’ canvas dropcloth

Amazon

Equals not so ugly anymore

It’s pretty awesome. Just like a nice linen, the dropcloth gets softer every time it’s washed. To arrange it on the sofa, I find the seam that runs all the way down the middle lengthwise and fold the whole thing in half so that the two ends of the seam meet. Then, I plop it on the sofa so that the seam is lined up with the back of the cushions and the folded edge is about in the center of the sofa.

Then I take off the back cushions and unfold the dropcloth, tucking the seam way down behind the seat cushions.

I put the back cushions back on and toss the cover over the back, tucking the excess material on the floor under the sofa and arranging the folds over the arms so that the sides are pretty well covered.

Sometimes I think about trimming some of the excess fabric on the front and back (and maybe adding it to the sides, which are a little skimpy), but I wash this thing all the time and I’d hate for it to shrink even a little and look all high-watery. Besides, it’s so easy to just tuck the fabric underneath since the whole operation sits up on some awesome 80′s caster wheels. I got this sofa from craigslist for $60 and the dropcloth was about $30, so even though it’s not exactly high design this is a great alternative to reupholstery and a budget-friendly way to take a piece of secondhand furniture from “used and abused” to “ready for a new life.” If you’ve got the sewing skills to fashion a tailored slipcover more power to you, but this girl is not good at spatial reasoning so a loose-fit slipcover it is.

Even Apartment Therapy is into the look:

Photo credit David Benrud | Image via Apartment Therapy

The room above features Pottery Barn’s Dropcloth Twill Slipcover, which retails for $99 in the sofa size. My dropcloth is significantly larger (which was important since this sofa is long enough for all 6’4″ of my husband to stretch out on for a nap). Now, I love me some Pottery Barn, but I’m pretty proud to have gotten my slipcover and my sofa for less than their slipcover alone. I do like the way theirs falls so nicely around the edges, though. It’s pictures like this that make me want to hem mine. What do y’all think? Should I hem it to nicely graze the floor and risk awkward shrinkage, or keep on truckin’ tuckin’?

10 Responses to Transform an Ugly Sofa with a Dropcloth Slipcover

  1. The Stucco Bungalow

    This couch caught my eye previously in your home tour photos - I really like the unique size, streamlined shape AND now I love the slipcover EVEN MORE! I can’t sew to save my life so I say leave it be. Great thrifty slipcover tip, would love to try it!

  2. Being 6’5″ myself, I can totally relate. Nothing is more important than having a couch long enough to stretch out on for a nap. I also sleep diagonally on my bed because otherwise it is too small.

  3. Janet (Country Mouse}

    What a great idea! I have an ugly sofa and loveseat that I don’t want to get rid of because they are so comfortable. I hate to spend money on expensive slipcovers because the dogs also love to sleep on them. I usually put little blankets where the dogs sleep. Dropcloths would be so easy to keep clean.

  4. Pingback: DIY Burlap Table Runner | Living Well on the Cheap

  5. britt@knewlywifed

    We did the same thing! It worked wonders! We even use drop cloths for doors and curtains now!

    • Charlotte | livingwellonthecheap

      So smart! You just gave me an idea to maybe use them as curtains in our front room. I bet they’d insulate better than the muslin. Thanks!

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