If you are experiencing slipcovers not staying in place, you are not alone; when it comes to keeping slipcovers in place from sliding or pulling off the couch can be difficult. Slipcover use hook-and-loop tape to enable them to stay in place; you may also need to place a pool noodle, PVC pipe, and or any object that is narrow and long into the crevice to help keep it in place. Unfortunately, slipcovers easily slide out due to different factors, which I will explain below as a first-hand user; a common cause is a wrinkled slipcover that will later straighten up, causing it to either expand or look oversized. Here is How To Wash Pottery Barn Slipcovers. So, how do you keep slipcovers in place?

In short, you can keep slipcovers in place by making sure to tuck them in snugly, tighten the ties, add tension, and by adding friction. Place a pool noodle, PVC pipe, and or any object that is narrow and long into the crevice to help keep it in place. This way the slipcovers stay in place.  

To further explain my experience with slipcovers better, here is why you would normally see slipcovers slipping.

Why do slipcovers slip out of place?

• If the slipcover is loose, having a loose slipcover means it will slip out of place, using the right place holders like a pool noodle to hold it in place.
• If the slipcovers have excess fabric, most of these slipcovers come with excess fabric making them easy to slip. 
• If the slipcovers are not properly tucked or secured using the hook and loop tape, they come with.
• If it has wrinkles that do not strengthen will cause it to become loose and easily slip. 
• Using the wrong slipcover on a sofa, there are different slipcovers for different couches; using the wrong slipcover is one of the reasons why the slipcover is out of place. 

How to keep slipcovers in place?

1. Tuck it firmly

When you have a loose slipcover, it may just need to be properly fixed, and this may also require you to remove it and try to fit it in again to make it more smooth and secure. 

2. Prevent wrinkles

Most times, when slipcovers are washed, it comes out all rumbled or wrinkled; you will need them cleaned and remove as many wrinkles as possible. Starting from the center when covering the sofa, smooth the fabric to eliminate wrinkles, bumps, and excess fabric that may be visible. 

3. Tuck into the crevice

While trying to smooth out wrinkles and bumps from the fabric, tuck the fabric into the couch crevices starting from the arm, then continue to tuck while smoothing out. You will need to push into the crevices right down as much as possible and use a spatula if needed; and this will keep the slipcover in place. 

4. Secure ties

Ties are what keep or stop the slipcover from moving, also called velcro. Together, press both sides of the hook and loop tape for slipcovers with ties; then, the two ends must be pulled and tied together. 

5. The use of tension

You can also add some tension by using any long or round object, and this is because deep tuck does not guarantee the fabric stays in place. Long or round objects are used to create or add tension and keep the fabric in place, the objects can be placed between the back and the seat.

6. Provide friction

Friction is rubbing one object or surface against another, you can provide friction by adding materials like a rug-grip or a nonslip shelf liner between the couch and the slipcover. This will add friction between the slipcover and the sofa to help to keep the slipcover in place. Add pieces of cut material that are much bigger than the cushion before adding a slipcover.

How do I get a slipcover that fits? 

The easiest way to get the best slipcovers that fit your couch is by getting custom-made slipcovers, this can be from an upholsterer or a seamstress so they can take direct measurements of the couch. They will do this by covering the sofa with fabrics and then using pins to hold the pieces together before going on to sew them.

Can you put a slipcover on any couch? 

You can put a slipcover on any couch, but not all slipcovers are made for every couch. Before going for a slipcover, the common factors are the size, the arm, and the back. 

For size:

Sofa sizes that slipcovers can easily fit depending on shape and size; you can add slipcovers on an ottoman, dining chair, armchair, sofa, sofa bed, and sectional sofa. 

For arm:

Another common difficulty when adding slipcovers is the arms, like the English roll and Belgian roll are more difficult; the curvier it is, the more difficult. But arms like round, no arms, wedge, square, and sloped arms are easily fitted.

For back:

Sofas with curvy backs are also difficult for the back to find the right slipcover and curve backs like wing shape sofa, camel shape sofas, roll back sofas, and barrel shape sofas. Easy-to-fit sofas are those with a simple design like straight sofa, high sofa, and round sofa designs.

How do you find a slipcover that fits your couch?

The first step in finding a slipcover that fits your couch is measuring the entire sofa; this will help to give you an exact idea of what you need. Most slipcover sellers also provide measurement guides.

When measuring for fitted slipcovers, consider the most distant area of the chair or sofa, like the arms, and floor to the bottom distance. Also, take note of things like a sofa with a tight back, joined pillow back, or a free pillow back, and the number of cushions. 

When measuring for non-fitted slipcovers, it does not require an accurate size because it usually fits different sofa sizes. It is still relevant to measure; it gives you an idea of the size and dimensions. You can measure starting from the outside end of one arm to the other, and for the slipcover with skirt or ruffle for the bottom, measure the distance from the bottom to the floor. 

Type of slipcovers

The fitted slipcovers

These are ready-made or generic-fit slipcovers; they come in standard size and are produced in mass; they also require tucking and pinning to give them a correct fit. These slipcovers are used mostly on sofas that are constantly used, and they are also cost-effective and machine washable. 

Semi-custom slipcovers

Semi-custom slipcovers are made for specific furniture; they have a better fit than ready-made ones, are machine washable, and are less expensive than a custom-fit slipcover. In most cases, they are available with separate cushion covers, and you can measure the sofa and send it to the slipcover manufacturer. 

Custom slipcovers

The custom-fit slipcovers are more expensive; professionals do the measurement and fit only a particular sofa. Custom slipcovers look more like upholstery, and even though they are expensive, they are usually not machine-washable. With custom-fit slipcovers, the buyer can choose the fabric, color, style, and pattern; this is why they are more expensive. 

Conclusion

This article has covered all there is to know on how to keep slipcovers in place by tending them in snugly, tightening the ties, adding tension, and adding friction. Place a pool noodle, PVC pipe, and or any object that is narrow and long into the crevice to help keep it in place. It is also important to know why slipcovers are out of place and the basics of how to keep slipcovers in place.