Making my furniture work with my decor

[mac78]

I have a couch and love seat in my family room....which I am turning into the coastal/cottage theme. My furniture does not match what I want to do in any way, and I am unsure of what I can do to it to make it work. I can't afford new furniture right now.

I am considering couch covers, but honestly, while they always look good in pictures, I doubt they stay in place, plus, my furniture is the type that reclines, and with a cover, I know we could no longer use that feature.
So, I am now searching ideas of what I can do to make it work.

Here is a pic of my couch and area rug. I want to take down the vertical blinds and put up some type of different curtains that I can easily pull over to the side. I painted in this room in the fall......guess I am scared of color. lol
Thanks ladies.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w155/mdburch/DSC03206a.jpg

[Gigi]

Is that a family picture? Beautiful family -including the ones with four little feet!

I think there are some couch coverings that people have been happy with (perhaps someone will chime in)...

I like the way your living room looks now~ :)

[Breezy]

mac78 ~ great pic! I like the wall color you chose & if you add some light blue and white to the mix it should look very "beachy". White sheer or semi sheer curtains would look great in place of the blinds.
It seems to me I've seen slip covers for recliners in the Penneys catalog. Some of the covers look like they fit very well so they wouldn't shift. You could always take them back if you didn't like them - I know Penneys has always been excellent about taking back merchandise.
Best wishes and please keep up posted on your progress.


ps ~ love the clock over the fireplace!

[Zuzu's Garden]

I've never made slip covers, but would sewing in some velcro help keep them in place?

Zu

[mac78]

Yes, this is my family. Hubby Dave, Ashley (18 and graduating this year), and Austin (20 and leaving home for college in the fall :( ) and my 4 legged babies Holly and Jackie. This pic is from Christmas, I have since hung up some wall art the is beachy/coastal related. It is starting to come together, but the furniture is what is bugging me now.

I am trying to figure out new curtains for the patio door.

The couch has recliners in both ends, and so does the love seat, that is the problem. I called the big furniture cover store (can't think of the name) and they said they don't make covers for sofas that recline. I thought about just no longer using the recliner part, but still not sure about a cover and if it will stay in place. If anyone knows of a good kind, please let me know.

[CohenCottage]

I just ordered the dropcloth slipcovers from PB. We had real dropcloth slipcovers with our old couches, but they had funny seams and weren't the right dimensions. That's why I splurged for the PB ones this time. They are still cheaper than others I've seen though. We got 2 white ones to put on our sectional for summer since our current slipcovers are dark charcoal brown. If we ordered "real" covers for our couches, it would be about $1000!! We are planning on testing out the white with the dropcloth ones before getting the big ones...If you were crafty, you could copy their dimensions and make your own.

Here's the link...I think you could still use your recliner feature...

http://www.potterybarn.com/srch/index.cfm?words=dropcloth

[annielinz]

I'll post a pic of my loveseat with two slipcovers from surefit. Granted they no longer make this style but if you can find some with a separate cushion it helps. In fact I saw some at Target this weekend, I can't vouch for the fit.
With the ones I have, it helped that I had the perfect shaped sofa with big rounded arms. I did resort to my staple gun to give a more fitted look.

Edited to add: I just reread your post and you have recliners on the couch ummm guess these won't work for ya.

[mac78]

I love both of those covers. Thanks for showing.

[Suz]

What a wonderful family photo :)

(I'm including the furry little ones in that comment as well ;) )

I agree about the vertical blinds. Some new curtains will give the room a totally different look and feel. I wish I had some input on the slipcovers. Although I do like the drop cloth idea much better than actual slipcovers....

[CohenCottage]

My dropcloth covers are arriving on the 2nd, so I'll post before and after pics so you can get an idea of what they look like in a "real" house (aka not the PB staged fake house).:)

[mac78]

Thank you very much.

I am thinking too, maybe new curtains will be easier and cheaper, and maybe help tie things in, since it is so hard and expensive to change up the existing furniture.

What do you all think of blue curtains for the patio doors......since I chickened out on the blue walls.

[CohenCottage]

I vote white slipcovers, blue walls (palladian blue by benjamin moore), and white curtains. If you've already bought paint, though, I would vote for curtains that are a darker neutral (maybe burlap) or maybe something with a touch of blue (like a stripe).

here's a link to one of my favorite blogs...they do beachy room makeovers all the time http://www.thisyounghouse.com/

also, we got these curtains (in white) at ikea, and they are great. very durable and you can hem them to the desired length.http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00120979

these panel curtains might work for the sliding door too...i think you can put them on a track system. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80078132

[annielinz]

I'm going to post this gals blog. Her beach cottage she is creating is done on a budget and is so serene. She only uses very tone on tone colors.I'm not suggesting the white painted furniture just wanted you to see the feel she is creating on a very tight budget.

www.abeachcottage.typepad.com


A suggestion for the windows:
I think woven bamboo blinds would add texture and a beachy feel to the windows flaked by sheer panels.

[mac78]

Thank you for the links,,,,,what great rooms.

[mac78]

I would like to replace the vertical blinds that are in this pic. But, this is our only back door, and it is what I call a French door, 1 stationary and 1 opens like a regular door. I am not sure how I can do it. I will need to put up a new rod, but can not have a support in the middle, as I will have to be able to pull the curtain panels all the way over to the left (towards fireplace in pic). Will a rod be strong enough with only 2 supports...1 at each end?

Also, what type of curtains? I am thinking something simple and wite or offwhite (like is at the smaller windows), maybe sheers, or just a little heavier?

I was trying to figure out how I could make a patio curtain out of a sheet. I am looking for something cheap. Anyone have any ideas for my door. We use it a lot, and I would like to come up with a pretty rod, and be able to pull the curtains clear over to the side during the day.

I found some tab top curtain panels at Walmart for $9 pair. They are blue. Well, I don't like them. I need something softer for my back room. I have been looking at a lot of magazines my neighbor is letting me borrow, and I am finiding I like curtains that are white, offwhite, and get color thru other things.

Thanks ladies.

[annielinz]

I've got pictures (surprise :D).
I would suggest either using grommet panels or use panels you can attach rings to so it slides easily, o reventab tops. I would look for a wooden poll for the rod that you just need brackets on the end to hold it up. I did include a pic of some sheers that are are to d*e for, I love the smocking on them.