I promised I would share all of the details of my living room makeover, so here is the second installment.
This sofa was given to me by my awesome Aunt and Uncle. They brought me a truck load of furniture in May including the corner cabinets in my dining room, a great chandelier that’s in Wild Rose and this sofa. It belonged to my Uncle’s mother and it’s got some good age to it. It was damaged in a fire, though, but was professionally restored, so it was in outstanding condition. The foam and upholstery were in perfect shape, as was the wood frame. Here’s the rub. Although the upholstery fabric wasn’t bad, it wasn’t going to work with my curtains. So, I did what any self-respecting DIYer on a budget would do…I slipcovered it in drop cloths. My father-in-law gasped at my covering up the beautiful upholstery, but even he agreed it would clash with the curtains.
I make all of my slipcovers using a pin fitting method. No measuring, no patterns, just pin and sew.
The nice thing about drop cloths (or white cotton twill, canvas or linen) is that there isn’t a pattern that needs to be matched up. That can be a pain and expensive, because you have to buy lots of extra fabric to match up the pattern.
With a solid fabric, you can just cut what you need and use every little bit you can. This sofa took about two 4 x 15′ drop cloths, but there was plenty left over.
I always start with the inside, since that’s the trickiest part. Pinning it all together and then trimming the excess makes it easy to see that the pinning is tight and fitted to the furniture.
I left the wood frame on the back exposed by tying the fabric together with ribbons.
Ok. Here’s the deal. I know I’ve been promising a slipcover tutorial for…well…a long time…like forever. I always start out strong on a project, taking pictures, making notes and then I realize I just wing it with every piece and I give up. There’s not one way to do something. So, after much pondering, I’ve decided the best route to go is to make a video tutorial series on slipcovering. I’m going to take you through the techniques I use to (hopefully) show you how to make your own, no matter what the furniture style is. Sound good? That’s coming in January. I’ve already hired my film crew (aka husband) and I have some subjects to slipcover – a wing chair, two Parsons chairs and an ottoman.
Back to the sofa. The drop cloth gives it a brighter, more relaxed look and hides some of the “too formal” details like the empire legs.
Click here to see my French chair transformation, here to see the trumeau mirror makeover, here to read about the chandeliers and here for a full curtain tutorial.
What’s to come…
How to achieve the paint finish on the chairs and mirror
Upholstery basics
Tied grain sack pillow tutorial
Price breakdown of the room
Living room before and after pictures
Interested in learning more about anything else in the room? Just ask in the comments.
61 Responses
I am so, so, so excited about your video! Maybe I will finally take the plunge into making slips.
-Rene
Gorgeous! You are so very talented!
And I am so excited about your slipcover tutorial. I don't have a clue how to sew anything, but I've decided to try to make slipcovers for my sofa…thankfully my mother is excellent at sewing and I plan on begging her help.
And I have to say, using the drop cloths is a genious idea. When I told my hubby what I am planning with drop cloths…well you should have seen the look on his face. Can't wait to give it a try.
WOW WOW WOW!
This is fabulous, you make it look so easy, someday I hope to try!
Merry Christmas!
XO
Kristin
Yay! I just got a "new" wing chair I want to slip cover! Can't wait!
I'm excited to see you slipcover the ottoman. I'm going to start with the simplest shape first I think…plus mine is so ugly. I'd also really like to hear more about your thoughts on accessorizing and how you pick what you're going to use where.
This looks fabulous! I am so jealous of your gorgeous room 🙂
I did have a question about your gorgeous french chairs which you don't have to answer. But since you mentioned price-breakdown, I thought I would throw it out there. I was wondering when looking for vintage/antique chairs like yours where the fabric was not ideal but everything else was in good shape (the chair padding and such), what is a reasonable/expected price to pay (before they have been re-done)? I realize this varies, but was just curious. Also, about how many hours did it take you to re-do it (for just one chair). Just trying to figure out if it is worth it to try to diy or just figure something else out 🙂
Also, where did you get your inspiration from for your room? It is so beautiful 🙂
Thanks in advance! ~Christie
yOU did a great job..it looks awesome.
I also love the fabric it is upholstered in. The good thing is that someday, when you tire of the curtains, make drop cloth drapes and use your sofa in it's original state and, walla…a whole new look.
I am in COVET mode over those chairs. sooo luscious.
~*~*Amazing transformation!! I just found your awesome blog!!~*~*newest follower~*Hugs,Rachel~*~*
*French Farmhouse 425*
It looks so great! I can't wait for your wing chair slipcover tutorial video. I have 2 rather curvy ones I want to do myself.
Great work! I did the same thing with my sofa. Also, using dropcloths! I'd love for you to come over and check mine out!
http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/2010/12/per-your-request-sort-of.html
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Marian! You are the hardest worker I have ever seen. I am especially looking forward to the price breakdown entry. I love to see the bottom line for beautiful rooms done on limited funds.
I really want to slipcover our couch, so I'm looking forward to seeing your video. I know what you mean about doing it as you go along, it's hard to do a tutorial. We understand 🙂
You should email Home Depot, Lowe's, or the drop cloth company and tell them all that you do with these. They might send you some, or hire you for a tutorial. You can tell your father in law that you didn't want the little boys and all the teenagers to hurt the upholstery. Think about using one of these for a kids bedspread. Ann
It is fabulous Marian! I have a wingback chair and camel back sofa for my MB I would love to cover but have not been brave enough to try. I am not a sewer… Maybe once your tutorial is out I will get brave enough to try it.
Your room looks fabulous!
I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!
~ Tracy
Marian I look forward to these tutorials so much. Thanks for sharing and you have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year with your gorgeous family. Thanks for all your help throughout the year. Sandy xx
definitely could live w/this…gaw-ge-ous!
Great job on the sofa…I've been wanting to ask you (again) how you bleach your drop cloths. I can't seem to find your post on that. When you do, are they white or just a little lighter than the original tan color? Thanks and you can email me at jdy277@aol.com.
Judy
hello, i love your slipcovers, beautiful! i was wondering if there is any place special that you like to buy the drop cloths from? merry christmas! susan
Wow, I just love all of your tutorials. I have been reading your blog for awhile now, but haven't commented. I just started a blog and hope I can do a good a job as you. It can be quite overwhelming on what to post and if people will I am dumb??
Happy Holidays
love it all! i can't wait for the one about the paint tech. for the chairs and mirror!!! thanx for sharing!
question about the french chairs in the previous post: did you replace the seat cushions? If so, how do you replace foam cushions without spending a fortune?
I love it Marian. I followed suit and just finished my chair in a drop cloth and it looks great. I like the relaxed look and feel and so much more reasonably priced than other fabric. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kim:)
Hi Marian, I loved it! Thanks for the inspiration, wonderful! kisses. Happy Christmas and happy new year!
This makeover is just brilliant. Your sofa looks so fabuous. You did a great job, and I really enjoyed your tutorial.
oxox
Jennifer
What a difference. I'm faszinated!
Thank you so much for all your pics, inspirations and ideas. A BIG CHRISTMAS hugs to you!!!!
Tine
You have done such a beautiful job on your sofa, I love it.
I cannot wait for the video.
hugs
Sissie
Can you share your paint colors for the chairs and the mirror? I absolutely love your living room! I am seriously considering trying out your drop-cloth idea.!
Love, love, love your blog. Did I say LOVE?
Thanks,
Kaye
Oh my gosh it is soooo gorgeous!!!
I ADORE everything that you have
done in your room!!
What is the color that you used on the mirror?
I want to move in your blog for
awhile and soak it up 🙂
xoxo
Lori
So excited for the video series! Hopefully it will give me the courage I need to challenge myself. Your sofa and ottoman look great! You did a beautiful job!
Question – did you wash the dropcloths before making the slipcover? Do you intend it to be cleanable (ahem, highly important for me with two boys and a dog). I just bought a loose fitting cover from JCPenney.com and it wasn't too bad. Except now I need to iron the heck out of it.
Dixie
You make it look so easy. I keep telling myself that I'm going to make one. You have inspired me to try. Love the ottoman, too! Gorgeous!
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Your blog has been a joy this past year! Sally
I'm looking forward to seeing your video in January. I like the new look of your sofa.
Merry Christmas! Wishing you and your family great peace and joy. Please give your sweet mother a hug from me. Hoping the New Year holds much happiness and time for a visit! 😉 Now off I go to try to tackle my own slipcovers as a Christmas gift to myself. Thanks for the awesome tutorials! Your house is looking gorgeous (especially w/the cute boy)!
hugs,
Leslie
Ok, I feel seriously in love with your blog on my first visit. I am bookmarking it, and I am already looking forward to your tutorials on slipcovers starting in January.
Looking good Marian, You are my hero- how you do all you do with kids is beyond me. I wish I could accomplish half of what you do.
Could you put a tab on your site for upcoming events that you will be at- like the dates of barn events, lucketts sales etc? I'd love to come to some of them but I need leeway time- you know to wrangle kid care.
tammy
Just beautiful! Love it! I completely agree, when you have a tendency to wing-it it's SOOO hard to create a tutorial! The video sounds like a great solution!
Thanks for all your wonderful, inspiring ideas!
Merry Christmas!
Marian – You amaze me, girl! Once again, you waved your magic wand and breathed new life into something. 🙂 I sure wish I lived closer. I'd have you come work some magic on my furniture which are all in dire need of new slips! I never thought about using drop cloths. Very very clever! What weight do you buy? Looking forward to all of your tutorials coming up! Have a very Merry Christmas, Miss Magic Mustard Seed! ♥
xoxo laurie
I am so anxious for the tutorial. I have two wing chairs upholstered in 80's Hunter green, yikes waiting for pretty new 'dresses". I can't wait. My husband didn't believe me that I was going to upholster them myself, yet alone in drop clothes.
I have an orange ottoman that I want to slip cover but I'm stumped so a video will help with inspiration!
Thanks! Merry Christmas!
Jody
Wonderful! Just your pin shots have me eyeing up a wing chair I'd like to try.
And yes. I'd like to know how to keep all that off white furniture clean. 🙂 Ever use Scotchguard? I'm going to assume this is your guest living room…
Everything is so beautiful! I glanced through a few before pics and I can't believe the difference!
Donna
The couch is so pretty! My favorite part is the little pleats at the bottom!
I love the couch!! It is beautiful!
Merry Christmas and hugs
SueAnn
Squealing with delight over here. I have a wing chair i have been wanting to slipcover for over a year now, but am too chicken to just do it. Will you be showing how to insert the piping; as well as the pleats on that video? I am excited that you are generous enough to share a video tutorial on the process!
Can't remember, did you share how you made your drapes? going to scour your blog to see if you did.
Beautiful!
Joanne
Your living room is absolutely gorgeous!! I read your chair post the other day, and they are drool-worthy…beautiful work! And merry Christmas! -shaunna 🙂
Gorgeous. Can't wait to really see how to do it.
Marion .. wishing you and yours a happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.
Thanks for all your inspiration this year … looking forward to next year's ideas.
Sharon
That looks amazing Marion! I too have a chair that needs covering but the piping is what's holding me back. The cutting and sewing of the other pieces I don't have trouble with, but I guess you have to put in piping to make it look properly finished right? Did you make it yourself?
Marian,
This is so gorgeous!
Have a Wonderful Christmas!
Beautiful! I love that flirty ruffle on the bottom!
Marian: When you do your video, could you address the drop clothes and how you piece them? I'm thinking it would be wise to cut off the hemmed part and use it as a ruffle or pleated area so you don't have to hem that area. But I can't figure out the best way to cut the hem off and still have lots of fabric for pinning, etc. Can hardly wait for the video since I too, like everyone else, have 2 wings + couch + love seat I'm going to slip (and packages of drop cloths waiting to be used). Thanks so much!
Love your blog – so inspiring! I am just in the middle of doing a drop cloth slip for a wing chair. I've done a number of slipcovers before, but never a wing chair and not with drop cloths. I quite like how it's coming together. I have a question, though – I found two weights of drop cloth (8oz and 10oz) and I was wondering what you use? I went with the 8 oz, which will be great for the knife pleats, but am wondering if the rest should have been a sturdier weight? Thanks for your thoughts!
Love it….good for you! smiles… and happy holidays!
Ok, so I'm going to look like a big fat decorating blog stalker, LOL! You're going to get like 100 comments from me tonight. 🙂 I'm working on a slipcover for my big ugly green sofa out of drop cloths, too! I have MOST of it finished – but I'm scared of the piping on the cushions. I didn't pipe the arms, I wanted a loose sort of beachy look, I definitely want the formality and "professional" look of the piping on the cushions and pillows. Any tips?? Gosh I love your blog!!
Do you remember how many drop clothes you used and what size? I’m trying to get an idea of how much I would need to reupholster my two couches but I’m not really sure how to judge it since I’ve never done it before!
Thanks!! 🙂
MMS said she used two 4 by 15 drop cloths. Info can be found under the 4th picture (I think).
Love the look! Love the price of these transformations. In fact, you have inspired me to start making slipcovers for our 14 year old wing back chairs. While ripping my larger drop cloths I made a discovery. My drop cloths were pieced, meaning they have a seam or two down the middle section. I discovered that if you can take the time to unpick these seams you will find finished (bias) ends. Using these will help prevent an unravelling of seams! yay! Thanks for all the inspiration!
What type of thread did you use?
Thanks!
where did you find your curtains??