How to Drape Fabric Over a Couch
- 1). Measure your sofa if you want to cover it completely. An easy way to do this is to take off the base couch cushions, leaving any back cushions on the sofa. Using a flexible tape measure, start at the floor next to one arm of the sofa and measure up, across and down the arm, along the base, then up, over, and down the other side of the other arm, down to the floor. Repeat for the front to back measurements, starting from the back, over the back cushions and ending up on the floor in front of the sofa. Allow for a hem on all sides unless you want to fray them for a fringed effect.
- 2). Go shopping for fabric. You might have to double or triple up on the fabric length if your heart is set on one that is sold in narrow widths, but you just need to cut the fabric to the required lengths and then stitch them together along the widths to get the full area for covering your sofa.
- 3). Start at the back of the sofa and lay the fabric against the back with the edge touching the floor. Align the center of the fabric with the center of the sofa. Unless your sofa is leather or plastic, InOutDecor.com advises that you pin the fabric to the back of the sofa to stop it slipping while you fit the front.
- 4). Bring the fabric over the back of the sofa onto the cushions, and spread it out equally on both sides. Tuck the fabric down behind and to the sides of the cushions so that it reaches the base, making sure that any horizontal or vertical lines or patterns on the fabric are level. Keep some looseness at the top of the cushions so that it has some give when people sit down.
- 5). Pull the remainder of the fabric down over the front of the sofa so that the edge is level. Make any minor adjustments by tucking in more fabric around the cushions.
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