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Slipcovers have come a long way since those horrible plastic or vinyl covers of the 1950s and 1960s. Now you can get them in a variety of colors, as well as fabrics.

Are you old enough to remember the 1950s, when people covered their furniture in plastic or vinyl in order to keep it clean? Oh, it kept the furniture clean, all right, but it also looked horrible and was uncomfortable to sit on.

The beat way to protect your furniture is to use a slipcover - a loose cover of cloth that fits over your furniture to protect it, but which can be decorated in various styles so that it looks pleasant on its own. Thus, it serves two purposes and that makes it economical as well!

You don't need to use slipcovers just on brand-new furniture, of course. If you have a chair with worn-out upholstery but which is still comfortable to sit on, there may be no need to re-upholster it. Simply buy - or make - an appropriate slipcover and put that on. You can also use slip covers if you decide to redo the color of your walls and want to make sure the furniture matches the new color. That's cheaper than buying new furniture!

Where to buy slipcovers
Usually, they are placed in the same area of the store as the linens.

Slipcover designs
Don't get the idea that slipcovers come in plain white or solid covers and won't look attractive. There are as many designs on slipcovers as there are on any type of furniture, from floral designs to geometric, from plaids to solids, to themes such as baseballs or other sports. The fabric that is used varies as well, from cotton to damask, from denim to suede, from leather to tapestry!

With that much sophistication, there's no need to hesitate about buying a selection of slipcovers so that you can change the look of your furniture on the spur of the moment if you so desire.

Ready made vs hand made
It's easy for fabric slip covers to be made in certain generic sizes, so that they'll fit a wide variety of chairs, couches, futons, etc. but it's also possible to get slip covers custom-made. Indeed, if you're talented with a needle yourself, you can make your own slipcovers.

Slipcovers aren't just for chairs, by the way, you can also get them for a variety of beds as well.

Prices
Depending on the type of fabric you use, the prices are quite reasonable, from $20 up to $100. Shop around the web as well as at your local home furnishing store to find the best prices for you.