The Velvet Armchair Dining Cover

What it is and how it feels

This is a slipcover for a dining armchair. You stretch it over the back, the seat and the arms, then tuck the edges in, so the chair reads as one clean piece instead of a loose throw. The fabric is a stretch velvet made from polyester and spandex, about 180 gsm. It has a soft surface and a slight sheen that catches light across the seat. The knit stretches in both directions, which is what lets one cover follow the curves of a high-back armchair without bagging at the elbows or the corners.

Sizes and fit

The cover is made for high-back armchairs. Check your chair against these ranges before you order.

Seat depth goes up to 18.5 in (47 cm). One cover fits one chair, and the pack holds 1 cover. If your chair sits inside these ranges, the stretch does the rest. If your chair is much wider or much taller, the cover will pull tight and the seams will fight you, so measure first.

Colors

There are 15 colors to pick from: Beige, Camel, Light gray, Black, Cream, Dark brown, Dark gray, Steel blue, Teal, Navy, White, Dark green, Pink, Orange, Yellow and Burgundy. The neutrals, Beige, Cream, Light gray, Dark gray and Black, are the easy match for a dining room that already has a lot going on. Camel, Dark brown and Burgundy warm up a wood table. Steel blue, Teal, Navy and Dark green give a cooler, deeper look. Pink, Orange and Yellow are the bright ones, good for a breakfast nook or a rental kitchen where you want the chairs to carry the room. Because the fabric has a sheen, darker colors read a little richer and lighter colors read a little softer in daylight.

How to put it on

Start with the chair empty and the cover inside out if you find that easier to guide. Pull the cover over the backrest first, then work it down over the arms. Stretch the seat section across the seat and push the excess fabric into the crease where the seat meets the back and the arms. Smooth the front edge down over the seat lip. Velvet grabs itself, so once the fabric is seated it tends to stay put through a meal. If a corner looks bunched, lift that section and reset it rather than pulling harder from the other side. For a chair with a rounded back, ease the cover on slowly and let the spandex do the work.

Care

Machine wash at 30°C (86°F) on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach and do not iron. Velvet and heat do not mix well, so keep the dryer on low and take the cover out while it is still slightly damp, then smooth it over the chair to finish drying in place. That keeps the pile soft and the sheen even. For everyday crumbs and spills, a damp cloth on the spot is usually enough between washes.

Good to know

One cover fits one chair, and each pack contains 1 cover. If you have a set of four chairs, order four. The cover is plain dyed, so the color runs through the fabric rather than sitting on top of it. It suits dining rooms, home offices and any armchair that needs a fresh surface without a full reupholster.