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Mar 28, 2023The 11 Best Sofa Slipcovers of 2024: Shop Our Favorites
Transform your whole living room with our top picks.
Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
There's always a catch to spending a ton of money on a luxe sofa: It may get ruined—especially if you have pets, kids, or a combination of the two. That's where the best sofa covers come in handy: Not only do they add a layer of protection, but they can easily dress up your furniture with very little effort. We chatted with Canadian interior designer Tiffany Leigh to get the low-down on where to get them, how to use them, and what they're good for, and her tips are helpful. "I think the main benefit is it's easier to keep clean than a traditional sofa," she says. "The cover can be removed, either thrown in the washing machine or taken to the dry cleaner [and it can be] more easily spot treated. If your home is prone to maybe some spills or stains, it's a great option."
Luckily, most of the sofa covers on our list are on the more affordable side (read: under $50), but we threw in a few more luxurious options just in case you're looking to splurge. After all, Leigh says, "Sofa covers are synonymous with a relaxed, very inviting casual feel," so having it elevate your space is a welcome addition to their main purpose of protection. Go ahead and save your furniture from the inevitable spill, shedding fur, and more before it's too late.
Velvet couches are having a moment, so if you want in on the trend but don't want to toss out your current sofa, enter this sumptuous sofa slipcover. Stretch the base piece to fit around a 72-inch to 96-inch sofa, then cover three cushions with the included covers. The fabric is extra soft, so you feel like you have a high-end sofa at a fraction of the price. "My family used this velvet slipcover to bring a dated, faded blue sofa back to life in a trendy ivory velvet that looked like it could be at home in any furniture showroom," Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie says. "Even better: it was so soft against my skin that I fell asleep on it during movie night more times than I'm proud of."
Material: Velvet | Colors: 14 | Care: Machine washable
Sofas are often the center of your family room, which means they can be a high-traffic, mess-prone area. Whether you're worried about pet or kid accidents, or an errant wine spill during book club, this waterproof cover could be a great solution to protect your beloved furniture. The stretchy jacquard fabric is leakproof and fits snug to your cushions and frame.
Material: Polyester-spandex | Colors: 17 | Care: Machine washable
If you are new to this brand, you're not alone. The e-commerce company launched in January 2023, so it's still still quite new to the design game. However, as anyone who's snapped up the young brand's most beloved product knows, these sofa covers really work. Theye're super, super stretchy, so there's no need to get a specific size; just get the right shape: seat cushion cover, back cushion cover, chaise cover, or pillow cover. Trust us; it will fit. One reviewer even went so far as to say, "These changed my life with three dogs and a new sofa. Couldn’t be happier."
Material: Polyester and spandex | Colors: Five | Care: Machine wash
The stretchy spandex of this sofa cover makes it a great choice for an inexpensive, colorful refresh. The textured jacquard fabric comes in seven sizes and a whopping 35 colors, so you're bound to find something that suits your sofa and style. It's also machine washable, so feel free to enjoy a few wine nights on your sofa, especially if you opt for one of the darker colors.
Material: Polyester-spandex | Colors: 35 | Care: Machine washable
For a much more casual look (and application process), this geometrical sofa cover fits like a big textured blanket, so it'll avoid pooling on one end of the sofa. Plus, it can be used for several purposes: it's a great picnic blanket whenever you decide to change up the look of your sofa. It's bordered in adorable tassels, and the chenille fabric is also durable enough to stand up to your furry friends.
Material: Chenille | Colors: 28 | Care: Machine washable
If the idea of investing a small fortune in a white couch sounds like a risky idea, opt for a white sofa slipcover instead. This blanket-like cover is oversized for a luxurious, draping look, and it's available in two light linen shades. It will give your living room that coveted clean, modern feel without triggering your anxiety. The best part? This one is machine washable, so any time you notice that there's a mark or stain, pop it in the wash, and it will be good as new.
Material: Polyester and linen | Colors: Two | Care: Machine washable
Whether you're trying to get in on the skirted furniture trend, or you're just looking to fill your space with vintage flair, this sofa cover can transform your couch in one fell swoop. Go with this moody blue option or one of six other colors (like a wine red to disguise any Cabernet stains). The checked fabric and ruffled skirt will add some lovely texture to your space.
Material: Polyester-spandex | Colors: Seven | Care: Machine washable
This slipcover may not look like the coolest option on our list, but hear us out. The waffle weave fabric is bouncy and tear resistant, so it's more likely to hold up to any scratches from your furry friends, without looking like a car seat cover. Place it over a dated, patterned heirloom sofa to bring a modern look to your living room. It's stretchy enough to fit over any standard sofa.
Material: Polyester-spandex | Colors: 24 | Care: Machine washable
If you want something that'll truly protect your sofa from the wrath of your pets, Pottery Barn's pet furniture throw is a no-brainer. Available in three sizes, this lucky find can be customized in a bevy of fabrics, too, including tweed, bouclé, and chenille, among others. Of course, they're all performance-grade.
Material: Basketweave, Linen, Boucle, Velvet, and more | Colors: 100+ | Care: Depends on fabric material you chose
Technically, this only fits Crate & Barrel's Willow II sofa, but since it's the brand's best-selling seat, we figured the slipcover deserved a spot on our list. You can also choose between Crate & Barrel's 18 fabrics, all of which are performance-grade. Plus, the material itself kind of feels like worn-in denim, which makes sense because it's composed of washed cotton that's both easy to clean and stain-resistant.
Material: Canvas, linen | Colors: 18 | Care: Machine washable
The form-fitting, soft fabric of this sofa cover will get you the suede couch of your dreams for a fraction of the cost. There's no anxiety about keeping it clean, either—every piece is machine-washable. The cover tucks easily into the seams of your sofa, no matter the silhouette.
Material: Polyester-spandex | Colors: Three | Care: Machine washable
The size of your sofa cover will depend not only on the size of the sofa or couch you want to protect, but the properties of the fabric itself. Leigh says that with a stretchy fabric, you may want a cover with measurements slightly smaller than the dimensions of your sofa, for a tighter, more fitted look. For sofa covers that have corner ties that allow you to tighten or tie bows, the fabric might have a bit less give, and you'll want to give yourself a little extra room in the size of the cover.
Some styles lend themselves to being covered a bit better than others. Leigh says that sofas with a thinner arm or roll arm tend to look nicer with a slipcover on it than those without. You can also choose between having a skirt on your sofa cover or showing off the legs of your furniture, depending on your aesthetic preference. "I like when they go right to the floor because for me, a skirt cover is a much more traditional, covered look," Leigh says. "If you have a little bit more of a modern style, having a slip cover that stops at the legs can be a fresher, kind of more updated take."
When choosing a sofa cover fabric, natural fabrics like linen are typically a great bet. For family rooms or homes with pets, indoor/outdoor fabrics like crypton that have been treated to repel dirt and debris are a safer bet for those wanting something stain-resistant. The stretchiness of the fabric also matters when selecting a sofa cover. "If you wanted something a little bit more durable, canvas or cotton would be a really great material on there," Leigh says.
It's always a good idea to pay attention to the care instructions for whatever cover you buy, as fabric care really depends on the individual material. For example, a heavier cotton material can likely hold up to more washing. "I would say only wash when you really need to, just like a really nice sweater," Leigh says. "Don't wash it every time you wear it, because washing breaks down fibers. So it could actually reduce the longevity of your sofa cover. Most of them are designed to be taken off and put in the wash. So if and when you feel like 'oh, you know what, it's looking a little bit dingy, it's time,' that's the time to do it." Also, it's important to note the size of your cover, as larger ones may require a commercial washing machine.
Additionally, when it comes to linen in particular, which softens with every wash, the cover may wrinkle overtime with use. "Linen does get a little bit wrinkly, but I think that's kind of the charm of a slipcovered sofa, having that kind of rumpled you know 'someone just took a nap here' look," Leigh says.
"An oatmeal linen slipcover is that very quintessential, relaxed coastal style that you see a lot of slipcovers used in, and I think it's a classic choice that you'll never go wrong with," Leigh says. Don't run away from pattern either, though—Leigh is seeing a rise in patterned upholstery in the design industry, and it's a chance to push the envelope and have fun with your design choices. "A cover can be a great way to you know, try out a pattern without necessarily committing to it forever, because if in five years you say 'okay, this pattern was fun, but I'm ready for something different,' you can just change the slipcover as opposed to having to get an all-new sofa," Leigh says. Pro tip: patterns are also a great way to hide stains.
At House Beautiful, we are experts in reviewing and buying big pieces of furniture, from mattresses to sofas. We are also knowledgeable about the accompanying accessories, like a sofa cover, to get with your big investment items. For this story in particular, we asked our staff members to share their favorite sofa cover (if they own one) and combed the internet for 10+ hours, reading reviews about the best ones on the market right now. While we haven't tested every product on this list ourselves, we've thoroughly laid out the pros and cons to each sofa cover in order to provide you with all the necessary details before you make a purchase.
For further insight into how to best place sofa covers in your home, we consulted interior designer Tiffany Leigh. Leigh runs her eponymous firm in Ontario, Canada, where her team helps clients create their dream homes and cottages. Since 2019, they design approachable and livable interiors that feel welcoming and elevated, with a focus on quality craftsmanship, emotional connection, and natural elements.
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