How can I make my sofas look less dismal?

[BabCNesbitt]

We're in a furnished rental for the next year, and while most of the furniture isn't too awful, the fabric covers on the sofa are really worn, snagged and drab. I've got no sewing machine (or indeed sewing skills) and don't want to fork out for custom made slipcovers, but the elasticated ones you can buy just seem to look a bit ugly.

It looks a bit like the Ikea Ektorp, although it doesn't seem to be an Ikea sofa (no idea of make, actually). Any suggestions for nice throws or other ways of covering up without it looking like a nursing home or a student houseshare? Thanks!

Primark have fleece throws for around £5, I'm getting some for our sofas as its getting colder and the leather is freezing some mornings.

Pound stretcher usually have some faux fur type ones in lots of colours which look good and add some colour, I think they're about £10/£15 depending on what size. They wash quite well.

Is it possible that an Ektop cover would fit???

Throws are a bit of a pain in the arse, but it sounds like they might be the best compromise for your set-up. To avoid the student-house-look, don't have one whose sole purpose is to hide what's underneath. Look at throws in interiors magazines: they're lovely things in their own right: people like them even if they have a perfectly nice sofa anyway. It might be a classic Harris tweed blanket, or a beautiful, subtly textured throw, or a gloriously ostentatious faux fur (or a combination). Turn it into a complete "look" by adding more accessories (lamp shades, scatter cushions...) that echo the theme, without being matchy. Eg: faux fur throw with suede cushions; mohair throw with silk lampshades in the same colour...

Yeah, I measured, and the seats seem to be too deep for the Ektorp cover, unfortunately! We're off to Ikea tomorrow, actually, and I'm trying to avoid the temptation to just buy 6 of their cheapest throws and be done with it.

I think you're right about trying to find ones that look lovely in themselves - I'll just have to be patient and put up with the sofas, then get the nicer throws one at a time. At least we can take them with us if/when we leave!

I wonder could you have the ikea covers altered to make them fit. If the cushions are the same and you just need a bit more depth under the cushions it shouldn't be a big job.