Sofa slip cover tips:introducing color to a room, and making a look work

With relief you make the decision not to buy a new sofa, but instead to purchase a much cheaper slipcover to update the look of your family room. But uncertainty lingers as you pore over colors and designs. Do you want a comfortable look or a sleek effect? Should you choose a dominant hue in an effort to match the two stuffed chairs, or is it better to go with color that picks up a tiny fleck in the rug or chairs' pattern?

The first decision should be how the slipcover will fit and accent your sofa. A loose fitting cover will create a comfortable, relaxed style, while a snug slipcover suggests a more tailored look. Choose a slipcover that will coordinate your sofa's lines with the other dominant pieces of furniture in that room.

Your next consideration has to do with the color. If your stuffed chairs or loveseat is a solid hue, it may be difficult to find a slipcover that exactly matches their color. If you are able to locate a good match, that might be your most logical choice. Be sure you can return the slip cover if it does not match. Sometimes a color looks different in varied lighting. Of course, if the cover is custom-made, that should not be a problem.

But if you purchase ready-made slipcovers at a department store and can't match a shade to solid colors in your other pieces of furniture, look for small flecks of color in the fabric designs in the room. For example, if the stuffed chairs are covered in a brown velour fabric with a glint of gold woven through it, you may want to choose a coordinating gold material for your sofa cover. The effect will link all of the main furniture pieces.

Another option is to find another accent color from a different part of the room, such as the carpet, wallpaper, or large wall picture. A burnt orange fleck may be noticeable enough so that a matching sofa slipcover will bring it more to viewers' attention. You may want to add an accent lamp or coffee table centerpiece to pick up the rogue tint for a sharper impression.

You may want to improvise a slip cover by purchasing a quilt, afghan, "throw," or another solid cover that can be folded in half or quarters and draped over the back of the sofa. Not only will this add a home-like touch, there are many colors and shades to choose from when you shop. You'll also have the added benefit of a handy cover for chilly nights in front of the fireplace or television.

Even a simple sofa cover can remake a room's appearance when you coordinate it with other elements and a subtle or dominant color scheme. Let your imagination run wild as you consider the possibilities of giving your sofa, and its room, a whole new look. Add a few matching throw pillows or an unusual wall hanging and your guests will enjoy visiting your 'new' place.