How To Slipcover A Recliner In 6 Easy Steps

How To Measure Recliner For Slipcover

When slipcovering, it’s important to know the basics about how to measure furniture before you get started. For recliners, you’ll want to measure from the back of the piece of furniture to where it meets the seat. This will help you determine which length fabric you’ll need for your slipcover. Generally, three-quarter length covers work best: they provide just enough coverage for your recliner when in use and offer enough room for cleaning underneath when in storage.

Once you know how long your fabric needs to be, you’ll want to measure the depth of the chair. Choose a material that’s slightly wider than your measurements for a snug fit. While it’s not necessary for all furniture, if your recliner has an armrest that can be raised or lowered, this may affect the way you measure. Ensure that any height adjustments can still be made when the cover is fitted on and ensure that the fabric covers any gaps when in use.

Cleaning Recliner Before Slipcover

The next step in slipcovering is to prepare your existing furniture for new coverings. For this, you’ll want to wash and dry your furniture to loosen up any dust or dirt on the surface. After this, use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove any extra debris from inside your recliner. 

You may also be able to do this by yourself while the furniture is out. However, if you’re looking for the most thorough cleaning possible, remove the cushions from your recliner and clean them separately.

Once you’ve finished preparing the piece of furniture, you’ll want to apply a spray-on cleanser or gentle soap solution to help remove any residual dyes and waxes that fabric manufacturers leave behind. After that, rinse the furniture with water and pat it dry. Again, be sure to be gentle with this process to avoid leaving any wrinkles on the surface of your furniture.

How To Slipcover A Recliner: 6 Proven Steps

When you’re finished preparing the furniture, layout your slipcover material flat on a table. You’ll want to make sure that you purchase a fabric that’s similar in size to your recliner. If your recliner has any armrests or adjustable parts, place them in an outward position, so you don’t have to worry about any extra material when making adjustments as you put the slipcover on. Here’s a step-by-step guide about how to slipcover a recliner:

1. Using a tape measure and pencil, mark off where all of your furniture’s various parts lie along the length and width of the material.
2. Determine how many inches you need of fabric on each side of your furniture’s parts. For example, if you’re slipcovering a recliner that sits four feet from one end to the other, you’ll need two inches on each side. On the other hand, if the fabric is slightly boxier in shape and shorter than your furniture’s parts, it may be a bit easier for you to fold it over. 
3. Once you’ve chosen this option, just follow the same procedure as before: measure from where the part meets the seat up to where it meets the armrest and mark that distance down the length of your material.
4. Make sure that you cut the fabric following these measurements. You can either use scissors for smaller pieces or a rotary cutter if you have one. Before cutting your fabric, make sure to start at the end of where it meets the armrest and slowly work your way toward where it was folded over. While you can shorten the piece of material after it’s cut, doing so may cause wrinkles in the finished product.
5. Gently fold them in half and cut them straight across using a sharp scoring knife or razor blade. Now that you’ve completed one piece of fabric, repeat this process with each one until all four elements are complete. As you go along, make sure you only cut the material straight down from where it connects to the end of your furniture. If you cut the excess off too close to the fabric, you may not be able to use it when it’s time to slipcover your piece.
6. Once each piece is complete, put it all together and sew them. Now, your slipcovers are ready for use. They’re an easy way to spruce up your old pieces and give them new life.