If you've spent several hundred dollars for a matching set of furniture for your living room (otherwise known as a suite, and consisting of two chairs and a couch), the last thing you want is for one of those three items to become stained by drink, food, or pet accidents.

The logical thing to do is put slipcovers on them.

Slipcovers of the past - made from plastic or vinyl - are definitely in the past! These days, slipcovers come in a vast variety of designs and colors, as well as fabrics, so that you are sure to find something you like. So, you'll be able to protect your suite with these slipcovers, maintaining that matching upholstery look, while the overall design of the furniture matches as well.

What kind of slipcovers should you get?

Well, that depends entirely on how much use your living room suite will have to bear. If you have a lot of visitors who use the living room, or kids that spend a lot of time jumping up from the chair or couch, you'll want a sturdier fabric than if the room is used in a sedate manner.

Fabrics

Fitted slipcovers come in a vast array of fabrics. Cotton, denim, damask and leather are only a few of the choices. Visit your local home furnishing stores to see and feel these fabrics in person, but if you don't see anything you like don't hesitate to surf the web to see what's available.

Colors and Patterns

Slipcovers are so popular that there are a great many colors and patterns available. So much so that it's highly doubtful that you won't be able to find something you like. Again, if you don't see anything you like in your local stores (and you should always support your local stores if possible) then surf the web, as you're sure to find something.

Color and pattern are important considerations, of course, as you want them to blend in with the decor in your living room.

Why slipcovers

You may be asking yourself why, if you just purchased a brand new suite because you liked the pattern and color of the fabric, you should cover it up. Well, you might be able to get that fabric in a slipcover as well, so you'll just be putting an extra layer on those pieces of furniture!

It's not necessary to put your slipcovers on your new suite and leave them there. Slipcovers are made to be removable, after all. Use them only at certain times - when you're having a party, for example, and take them off when done. In that way you'll protect your new furniture and keep it safe for a long time to come.