Update Your Dining Room with New Chair Covers

Functionality

Chair covers perform two main functions. They protect the upholstery from staining. And they also create a mood for your dining room which can go from simple fun to true elegance. Covers can be designed to cover just the seat cushion, the seat cushion and back, or the entire chair, including the legs. There is an almost infinite variety of colors, textures and patterns that you can use. Your selection should be made based on the occasion or on the color scheme of your dining room. It is good to select fabric with a waterproof backing whenever possible to afford maximum protection for your chairs. Separate waterproof padding is also available to place on the chairs before your cover them. Also if you keep your dining room chairs covered most of the time, you should select fabric that is easy to wash or to dry clean. Fabric choices range from lace and silk for more formal functions to faux suede for everyday use. Cotton fabrics also work very well because they are easy to wash and to maintain.

Ready-Made Covers

Ready-made slipcovers actually come in standard sizes to fit the various different types of dining room chair styles. Remember that dining room chairs come with and without arms and in styles such as a Parsons chair, captain's chair, modern interpretations, down to even a folding chair. No matter what style you have, you will find a chair cover to fit it. So unless you have oversized or custom built chairs, you will find those sizes readily available. Measure your chairs carefully to make sure that whatever cover you choose, you will get a perfect fit. The most elegant styles include skirts to cover the legs of the chairs. Sometimes they are an integral part of the cover and sometimes they are separate elasticized skirts that simply go over the legs. If your chair legs have a unique design feature you might want to show them off and use chair covers without skirts.

Simple slipcovers can be used to update your look. If you got your dining room set as a hand me down, slip covers are a low cost alternative to sending the chairs out to be reupholstered or even buying new chairs. Or if you have recently moved to a new home and your dining room set doesn't work with your new decor, once again new slipcovers is a very cost effective way of addressing that.

If you frequently entertain and want to change the look of your dining room from time to time you can get different sets of slip covers or chair covers to keep your guests on their toes. For upbeat fun parties you can use brightly colored covers with interesting and exciting patterns. Solid covers in muted colors work best for more formal elegant evenings.

Sew Your Own

If you are handy with a sewing machine you can transform bed linen or curtain material into chair covers. Patterns are available at sewing stores and online for this purpose. Or you can measure your chairs carefully and create paper patterns. Make sure to measure the backs, seat cushions and the legs. Cut a muslin fabric to your pattern and pin it together. Place it over the chair to make sure the fit is good and tight. Now you can pin up the actual fabric and sew it with half inch seams. Make sure to have the cover inside out when you do this. When it is finished you can invert the cover and place it on the chair. If made properly the chair covers will simply drape over your chairs and fit securely.

The most wonderful thing about chair covers is that they are inexpensive and fun to buy and to make. And they not only upgrade the look of your dining room, they also create a style and a mood for your party. They are easy to change so that your dining room will always be refreshed and new feeling to family members and guests. They are easy to clean and maintain and they protect the beauty of your chairs. So use your imagination to select from the wide variety of materials and textures available to you. And enjoy the look of surprise and delight from your family and guests when they come to dine.