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July 19, 2007

That Couch Thing

Ever since I read about Bemz on Design Sponge, I have been coveting new covers for my Ikea furniture. Ikea is pretty much all I can afford on a grad student budget and also the Klippan sofa is the absolute perfect size for me and J (we are small people!) Sadly, the covers cost more than a new sofa. Here are the designs that I adore:
pattern_35_zoom.jpg

pattern_61_zoom.jpg

I wanted a new look for the future living room. I have a red corduroy couch cover that has seen better days in its 7 year history. Neutrals seemed like a good change of pace and so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I got a slipcover day before yesterday at Ikea and last night I went to town on it.

Mix:
1. $19.99 slipcover from Ikea
2. black fabric paint
3. quasi-random stencil/brush

Voila!

sofa.jpg

It is not tucked/attached properly, but you get the idea. Also, I was going for the "messy" aesthetic. At least that I what I am claiming. Heh. I have to heat set it and Scotchguard the hell out of it, but I think it will work pretty well! The craziness of the pattern/paint should camouflage dirt to some extent and for $20, I can just make another one! I am planning on picking up a little chair and doing the same process with a different stencil on it. The best part: I have more to spend in the House budget since this came from the endlessly justifiable Projects budget. Score!

Posted by loyd0008 at July 19, 2007 02:31 PM

Comments

Absolutely bloody brilliant!!!!!
You clever stick you !

Posted by: Anna at July 19, 2007 02:54 PM

I love it. Gads...now I have yet another project to add to my list...copying you :)

Posted by: Toni at July 20, 2007 09:58 AM

I love this idea! It looks fabulous.

Posted by: Mandy at July 24, 2007 06:46 PM

Wow, what a great idea! Maybe you should send a link of it to Grace at Design*Sponge? She might like to see it too:)

Posted by: Chara Michele at July 25, 2007 09:24 AM

hi! i saw your klippan cover on ikeahacker and LOVED it. which stencil did you use? i hope you will not mind if i copycat...happy new year, ariel

Posted by: at December 29, 2007 04:57 PM

Oooh,very pretty!

Posted by: ladygoat at December 29, 2007 06:28 PM

oh my i am so impressed. that is so fantastic. the best ive seen. brillant. so so impressed. WOW. u have a gift at design-y stuff , obviously.

Posted by: sukiandhercat at December 29, 2007 11:50 PM

Great Idea. I am never amazed out of the amount of sheer cleverness that people use to achieve the results that they want. Neat Idea ~Rob

Posted by: Rob at December 30, 2007 12:46 AM

you have inspired me! i have 4 children and despaired of ever having new furniture. you have shown for $20.00 and some imagination and a lil' work, you can have a beautiful couch, and not cringe when the kids sit on it, bravo!

Posted by: kathy at December 30, 2007 12:54 PM

Thanks so much for the lovin', guys! The couch is holding up well so far. Slipcover gets a bit wrinkly, but it is manageable. The design is staying put and no spills yet, thank goodness...

Posted by: villain at January 1, 2008 07:09 PM

Fantastic! I need to slipcover our sofa and chair and this is such a great idea. Thanks!

Posted by: erika at January 2, 2008 11:20 AM

Internet is truly amazing.. Looking for microbeads I ran into hacked IKEA-lamps. Then I saw the concept of IKEA-hacker - something I've been for a long time without knowing I then was part of a big family... ;) On the site IKEA hacker I saw your sofa and fell in love. It's really amazing! Thanks for sharing!

Posted by: vajlet at February 9, 2008 02:01 PM

I'm happy that you like it! :D

Posted by: villain at February 12, 2008 10:32 AM

could you please post the type of stencil? Cannot seem to find it at joann..

thanks!

Posted by: anish at March 15, 2008 10:27 AM

Hi there Anish!

I looked at joann.com and they don't have any stencils at all! Darn. Mine was from a brick-and-mortar store and was only like $5. I did a search for Damask stencils online and almost everything that came up was an expensive ($50 or soO wall stencil. There are a couple places that have cheap stencils, but not in the pattern I used.

http://www.stencilease.com/db/indexdeco.asp?catagory=Traditional

seems to have some good ones that are not too expensive.

I also love the some of the ones at stencil1.com those birds and bees are great! Good luck to you!

Posted by: villain at March 15, 2008 11:07 AM

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