Best sofa covers to protect your family furniture

two kids sat on the sofa with a sofa cover eating.

by Arabella Horspool |
Updated on

When you've got a busy household with kids and pets running around, there's bound to be plenty of sticky hands and muddy paws all over the furniture, which is why you need a set of sofa covers to keep your family sofa protected.

As well as keeping your home feeling clean, you can use sofa covers to switch up your surroundings and give the room a new look - as if you've just bought a new settee from the store, when really all you've done is popped over cover over it like magic!

Editor's Choice:
Best stretchy sofa cover: Mingfuxin Armless Sofa Cover
Best 3 seater sofa cover: Shein Plush Full Covered Sofa Slipcover
Best boucle sofa cover: Dunelm Boucle 3 Seater Sofa Cover
Best dog sofa cover: Wayfair Microsuede Reversible Sofa Cover

Even celebrities such as Stacey Solomon have jumped on this trend. When she found some stains on her light boucle sofa, she got to action covering them with 3 seater sofa covers.

So, if these sound like something you need for your soft furnishings, you've come to the right place. From corner sofa covers to stretch sofa covers, there are such a wide variety of sofa covers to choose from.

The best sofa covers UK:

Best stretchy sofa cover

For around £20 you can get your hands on these Mingfuxin armless sofa covers. It's available in more patterns than we can count and it promises a wrinkle-free finish thanks to the 360-degree stretchiness.

One happy reviewer said: "It's amazing as it fitted perfectly. I was scared it was not going to fit as the seat part was slightly bigger, but the product is very stretchy and super comfortable. I love that it's super soft to touch, easy to install and that it has super fast delivery - an amazing print as well!"

Pros

  • Soft material
  • Broad range of designs

Cons

  • Only suited to sofa beds and futons
Material:92% polyester fibre, 8% spandex
Size:10D x 10W x 10H cm

Best 3 seater sofa cover

Shein - Best sofa covers
Price: $23.50 (was £25)

www.shein.co.uk

Up next is this trendy Shein sofa cover that will make your living room look extra cosy with its comfy, teddy bear fleece style. We love that it's scratch-resistant, which is perfect for those with cats and dogs who are allowed on the furniture.

A reviewer wrote: "This is really good! They also give you a small pillow cover and the material is so fluffy! I will buy this in more colours."
Another reviewer said: "I love these. They are so warm and at an excellent price. It's such a good idea to save your sofa with, especially if you have a pet."

Pros

  • Available as a single seat, 2 seater, 3 seater or 4 seater sofa
  • Thick material

Cons

  • Perhaps a bit too warm for hotter days
Material:95% Polyester, 5% Elastane
Size:190-230 cm (3 seater)

Best boucle sofa cover

If you like the look of Stacey Solomon's Boucle sofa, you'll love this Dunelm sofa cover as you can give the style a go without spending loads! Available in three colours, it's machine washable and has a lovely texture to it, plus there's enough material to cover a 3-seater settee.

One reviewer put: "So perfect to renew your sofa at such a low cost; it's really worth it. I was hesitant at first, so I only bought one to begin with and as soon as it was on sofa umber one, I ordered it again for sofa number two. It takes a little shuffling and tucking to fit perfectly but worth the effort... Highly recommend."

Pros

  • Machine washable
  • Foam cylinders to work with excess fabric

Cons

  • Fiddly to get on
Material:70% Polyester, 30% Recycled Polyester

Best loose sofa covers

A waterproof sofa cover is a must-have for those pets or little ones or people who are prone to accidentally spilling drinks. It also has a non-slip design that stays put until you need to throw it into the washing machine for a refresh.

A customer wrote this review: "This is a great cover which is very easy to install and comfortable to sit on. I used them to cover both my sofa’s, during his teenage birthday party! They are very durable and kept the sofa’s clean and safe."

Pros

  • Non-slip backing
  • Adjustable strap

Cons

  • Limited colour options
Material:Polyester
Size:50.8D x 116.8W x 190.5H cm

Best dog sofa cover

Wayfair - Best sofa covers
Price: $32.99 (was 37.99)

www.wayfair.co.uk

We like this sofa throw cover that's stain-resistant and machine washable, allowing it to withstand the general wear and tear of day-to-day life. It's reversible too, so you can switch up your design.

A reviewer said: "It looks fabulous and is really good quality! It’s totally refreshed my sofa and it was very easy to fit."
Another reviewer put: "Great value for money and it matches the colour of my settee. I would definitely recommend if you have a pet."

Pros

  • Single-piece
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • A bit thin
Material:Microfibre/Microsuede
Size:194H X 168W X 56D cm

Best corner sofa cover

You may be thinking that a corner sofa is difficult to cover, but CHELZEN have made this two-cover option that has two parts which will easily cover each section. It's made with spandex, making it extremely stretchy.

A reviewer said: "I ordered the 2 and 3 seater version. In fact, we have a sofa without a backrest. On its own, it is a bit cumbersome and not perfectly coated. But the fabric is comfortable and very very big and stretchy. Ordered it to intercept cat hair. They both had fun too. The cover has elastic bands that you can tie together under the sofa so that nothing slips."

Pros

  • Very versatile, with a wide range of colours and sizes
  • Super stretchy

Cons

  • Not the easiest to put on
Material:85% polyester and 15% spandex
Size:2.3D x 2.3W x 0.8H m

Are sofa covers worth it?

It's definitely worth investing in a sofa cover as it will protect your sofa from dirt, dust and pet hair and it will be easier to clean as you can simply take it off and give it a quick wash. Plus, if you're looking to decorate your home for less, a sofa cover is often much cheaper than investing in a whole new settee.

Are sofa covers machine washable?

There are many machine-washable sofa covers, but not all of them are, so it's best to double-check the settings before you pop them into the washing machine. Some covers may be heavy, so it's worth noting the maximum weight capacity of your machine.

How to dry sofa covers

Some sofa covers are safe to go into the tumble dryer, but most will need to be air dried, either outside on the clothes line or on a heated airer if it's too cold outdoors.

Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby and Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.

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