An old couch can quickly turn into a beautiful piece of furniture when you add a couch cover to it. Couch covers are helpful because they protect your couch from getting dirty, as well as give your home a refreshing, new look. Some people like the clean and simple color of a white couch cover, while others prefer couch covers with designs on them. Whatever color or design you like, making a DIY couch cover is easy. Today, I'll be going over the steps for how to make a couch cover. These are all cheap couch covers to make, so they are much less expensive than buying a couch cover from the store. I hope this article inspires you to get crafting!

No-Sew DIY Couch Cover Made From Sheets

Is sewing just not your thing? No worries! There are many other DIY couch cover options available besides the kinds that need to be sewn. To make this DIY couch cover, you will need sheets. Make sure you pick a color that you love. If all goes well, this homemade couch cover will last for many years to come, so choose a color that you like.

Step 1: Choose Your Glue

The glue is what will hold your sheets together instead of thread. That is why it is important to choose a durable glue. Perhaps you want a washable, all-temperature hot glue designed for fabric. Slipcovers require occasional washes, so avoid standard hot glue, which will come loose in the washer. Using the right glue and a low-temperature gun, or one with a low-temperature setting, which decreases the risk of burnt material.

Step 2: Position Your Sheet

Lay the sheet over the couch with the wrong side up. If you aren't sure which side is the wrong side, check the hems' finished sides. Adjust the sheet so that it's neatly and evenly in place as a slipcover, but with the excess resting on the floor, not tucked in the arms' and back's creases.

Step 3: Pin the Excess Fabric

Pick up the excess fabric, gathering it along the back of the seat, until it's barely off the floor at the front and back. Use straight pins to secure it. Do the same where the arms meet the seat, bringing the fabric at the sides just off the floor. The pins should be as close to the seat as possible so that you can trim the gathered excess material.

Step 4: Trim And Tuck the Fabric

Use scissors to trim the excess fabric, leaving a couple of inches for hemming. Bring the aligned cut edges together, folding them in even hems.

Step 5: Glue Together

Secure the hems together with hot glue. Allow the glue to cool before removing the pins and flipping the slipcover over, hiding the hems, and exposing the correct side.

Add Ribbon

Attach a wide ribbon along the bottom of the slipcover for a neat finish using hot glue. Tuck any excess material neatly at the couch corners.

How To Make Sectional Sofa Covers

If you happen to have a couch that has sectional cushions, you may be wondering how to make sectional sofa covers. Whether you are needing a 3 cushion sofa slipcover or even more slipcovers, slipcovers for sectionals are easy to make. For these sectional sofa covers, you will need a sewing machine. However, they are still very quick to make.

Step 1: Measure Fabric

The first step to making a DIY sectional sofa cover is to measure the fabric. You can either choose to sew individual cushion covers for each piece if the cushions are detached or you can simply make one slipcover to go over the entire sectional piece. For this project, let's make individual slipcovers for each cushion. If you are wanting one long slipcover, all you have to do is make the slipcover extra long. Start by measuring the front, back, and sides of your sectional sofa, including any ottomans, to determine how much fabric you will need. Be sure to leave at least a 1-inch seam allowance around all edges of the fabric pieces once they are cut.

Step 2: Cut Fabric

Once you have measured the fabric, cut out the pieces. You do not need to use a pattern for this project. You will simply transfer your measurements onto the fabric and cut the pieces you will need. Remember to leave a 1-inch seam allowance on all fabric pieces. Place the pieces on the sectional and match them up with the sectional piece where they will be placed. It is best to sew individual slipcovers for each sectional piece so that the couch can still be moved around. However, if your sofa only came with one cushion, then you'll want to only make one slipcover.

Step 3: Begin Sewing

Removing one piece at a time from the sectional sofa, match and pin the pieces together with right sides together. Sew a 5/8 inch seam to form the back and seat part of the slipcover. Hem the piece by folding the bottom edge under and sewing another 5/8 inch seam. When finished, fit the slipcover onto the sectional piece it was made for and continue sewing the other pieces. By placing each slipcover back on the correct cushion when you finish sewing allows you to stay organized.

Step 4: Finishing Up

After you have sewn all of your slipcover pieces and placed them back on the couch, you can tuck any loose fabric into the back of the piece. Spiral upholstery pins can be helpful for holding the fabric in place. This will make them look more fitted and like custom couch covers.

How to Make Recliner Couch Slipcovers

This next homemade couch cover is designed for a recliner couch. Recliner couch slipcovers take a little more time to make than the previous DIY couch covers. However, these reclining couch covers are still easy to make. Here are the steps for how to make a couch cover for your reclining couch.

Step 1: Measure the Fabric

Measure the sofa length from the front at floor level and over the sofa back to the back at floor level. Increase this measurement by 6 inches so that you have enough room for the hems and tucked fabric.

Measure the sofa width from the far side of one seat cushion to the far side of the opposite seat cushion. Increase this measurement by 2 inches so you have room for the hem. Next, measure the sofa side length from the one-floor level side and over the arm to the point where the seat cushion begins. Increase this measurement by 12 inches to account for the hems and tucked fabric.

Lastly, measure the sofa side width from the front of the side to the rear of the side. Increase this measurement by 2 inches to account for the hem. Once you have all the measurements, write them down so that you don't forget them. You may even want to draw a simple drawing of how you want to make these reclining couch covers.

Step 2: Cut the Fabric

Using the measurements taken, cut three fabric pieces. The pieces include one piece for the main body of the sofa from the floor front to the floor back and two pieces for the arms from the side floor to the point where the arm meets the cushion.

Step 3: Pinning Fabric Onto the Couch

Lay the piece over the couch and pin the arm pieces to the sofa body piece. Make sure the right sides together. Pin the arm in the correct location so the slipcover fits properly.

Step 4: Marking the Fabric

Mark the seat cushion location on both front-edge seams. This is where your knees bend while sitting. Do not sew the seam from the cushion location to the floor. This will create a flap for opening and closing the recliner lift.

Step 5: Begin Sewing

Sew all seams, except the marked front edge, with a 1/2-inch seam. Finish the seam edges with a serger or zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. Next, hem the slipcover by folding under 1/4-inch of fabric toward the wrong side of the slipcover (the side that won't be seen). Complete the hem by folding an additional 1/4-inch and pin to hold in place. Secure the hem by sewing close to the interior edge.

Step 6: Put the Couch Covers Back On the Couch

Place the slipcover on the couch by pulling it over the back and smoothing the fabric over the seat cushions. Make sure the open seams line up on the front edge to open and close the recliner lift. Tuck any excess fabric into the side and back edges of the seat cushions.

Final Thoughts On How To Make A Couch Cover

I hope this article has helped you understand how to make a couch cover. Couch covers help create a new look to your home decor, as well as protect your couch from getting dirty. As you have seen, there are many DIY sofa cover options. If you have a reclining couch, you can easily make reclining couch covers. For sofas with sectional cushions, you'll need to sew more than one cushion cover. The easiest option of all that doesn't even require sewing is the no-sew couch cover made from a sheet. Sheets are cheap to buy, and the glue can be just as strong as the thread. Making your own homemade couch covers can be a fun experience, and the results are beautiful. Have fun making your own homemade couch covers!

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