Wear and tear is a sign of long term and beloved use of a sofa or couch. When it comes to choose between reupholstering and slipcovering your furniture, select the option according to the damage. If your couch is showing some minor signs of wear and tear, spots, a little fabric damage, you can easily cover it with slipcovers.
But if there is damage to a whole extent, and you can not hide it, eventually you want to keep the furniture piece with you, you may go with reupholstering option. Not only it saves your beloved piece, but also controls your budget.
Difference Between Slipcover & Reupholstering
Slipcovers
An extra fabric cover that goes on to the top of existing upholstery of your furniture is known as slipcover. They keep your furniture safe from spills, spot, wear and tear and also from pet hair. Specially, if you have kids at home, you must cover your furniture. A budget friendly option to create a new look is slipcovering your couch.
Reupholstery
When your furniture shows tear and damage to its core, there is no option beside tearing it down to its frame and rebuild it from there. You may have to add new cushions, base, and new stitching to use it again. This option is best for the couches that are already used at some other place and you just bought them.
When Should I Choose A Slipcover?

Minor Issues
Little issues like wear and tear, fabric damage at small spots, food stains, or a very light color of sofa fabric that attracts dust, can be improved with slipcovers. Your selection of colors from vast range of colors and styles that are available in market, can cover your problem elegantly.
Seasonal Update
It is impossible to change your furniture according to the seasonal decor or requirement. There slipcovers solve your problem easily. You should choose according to the festives, seasons and requirement of use in holidays. Every new sofa cover will create a new aesthetics for your lounge, and you can go with the flow.
Save It From Kids & Pets!
In some households keeping the kids and pets away from your couch is a big issue. Pets tend to pee on the furniture often, this problem can solely be solved with slipcovers. You can bring waterproof slipcovers with great fabric to protect your couch against these problems.
The Cleaning And Maintenance
Some areas are so vulnerable to dust and dirt that you just cannot keep your things clean. That is when you go for dark colors and unwanted furniture pieces just to recover from heavy cleaning routines. Now this problem is also solved by couch slipcovers, just bring 2-3 pairs of them, switch every week and clean them easily. Your couch will be ready for every guest appearance and festival just as new.
Why Should I Consider Reupholstering?

Frame Of Furniture
When it comes to choose between reupholstering and slipcovering your furniture, you must consider the condition of your couch. If the frame is already in good condition, vintage, or a family heirloom you must keep it and reupholster the couch. This will keep the original essence in touch and create a new look too!
Internal Support
Before you go for slipcovering your couch, you must check for the internal support and cushions’ condition. If these two things are worn out and damaged to the core, you should not waste your time and efforts on the slipcover. Choose to reupholster your furniture piece so that it is able to use again.
Long Lasting Results
There are some times when you feel tired from a style. If you need a tailored look, new aesthetics and modern design on your vintage sofa, I would recommend you to go for upholstery. This will give your furniture a whole new, clean, tailored and long lasting look.
Not Ready For New Couch?
When your tight budget does not allow you to to spend enough on the new furniture pieces, upholstering your existing couch can be a friendly solution. You will feel a fresh look and vibes all through the lounge with your existing couch.
Conclusion
Convenience and flexibility problems can be solved with slipcovers easily. While restoration of a family heirloom, a beloved piece, a vintage piece require a complete reupholstering of the furniture piece for a long term use. Choose according to the guide and keep your couch safe and new both ways. ‘
Choosing between both of them is not a problem if you crack down the main issue, get some customized slipcovers for your recliners, love chairs and 3 seater couches to create a tailored look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Slipcovers are affordable and starts from $200 and above, while when you choose to reupholster your furniture it may cost more than that.
A permanent cure of fabric, internal support and cushion is upholstery, a total repair of a furniture piece. While covering your couch with stylish and customised fabric covers are slipcover, that might be a temporary but beautiful solution.
Determine the value of sofa frame and structure, if it has a higher value like a vintage piece, a family heirloom or a very good quality that you may not find today. You must go for upholstery.
A solid wood frame signifies the value of frame, check it for best craftsmanship, and weight of the sofa. If it feels heavy, has coil spring in wood frame it sure is good quality, do not loose it for some chipboard furniture piece and reupholster it.