Ordering a ready made slipcover only required that you know the general shape of a sofa or chair, but since they aren't customized for each piece, knowing the measurements is unnecessary. In contrast, ordering a customized fitted slipcover requires exact measurements in order to have them made to precise measurements and design specifications. Since they are made to fit any upholstered sofa, loveseat or chair for a removable square or T-cushion slipcover, there's more involved in taking the measurements than height and width.
Measuring Custom Slipcovers For Dining Chair
It's important to start by figuring out the style of dining chairs. Fitted slipcovers can be made to fit Ladder back, Parsons, Queen Anne, Colonial, Chippendale and most other styles of chairs with straight, curved, round or square, wooden or upholstered back up to 45 inches. Custom dining chair covers feature straight skirt with split kick pleat in the center of chair and two ties in the back. Custom slipcovers are made for both dining chairs with arms and armless chairs.
The measurements you'll need to take on a dining chair include:
1. Seat width - This requires two measurements if the width at the front of the seat and the width at the back of the seat are different.
2. Seat height - Measure from the floor to the top of the seat cushion.
3. Seat depth - Measure the distance from the front of the seat cushion to the back.
4. Overall chair height - Measure from the floor to the highest point of the back of the chair.
5. Seatback height - Measure from the top of the seat to the highest point of the seatback.
6. Seatback width - The seatback width measurement is at the top of the seatback.
7. Seatback depth - Measure how thick the seat back is at its widest point.
8. For dining chairs with arms, these additional measurements are necessary:
9. Overall arm height - This should be the distance from the floor to the top of the arm.
10. Arm height - This is the difference between the seat and the top of the arm.
11. Arm length - The measurement should be taken from the front of the arm to the joint where it meets the front of the seatback.
12. Arm width - The measurement of the top of the arm, how wide it is from left to right.
13. Distance between arms - If arms are tapered out, you'll need the measurement from the widest point from the inside of each arm to the other.
How To Measure Sofas, Loveseats And Chairs For Custom Slipcovers
When measuring for a custom slipcover for a sofa or chair, there are several things to determine up front. Seat cushions are either square or require a T cushion slipcover. A T cushion slipcover wraps around the front of the seat, making the shape of a 'T' when viewed from above. A square shaped cushion fits evenly within the frame of the seat, looking like a perfect square or rectangle.
Seat backs are the next thing to determine. The back cushion is either removable or fixed. There are four styles that will help measure most accurately:
1. Low Back - When looking from side of furniture the back may look like pyramid or square shape. This type has straight upholstered back rising above the armrests no more than 10 inches.
2. High Back - Similar to the Low back except that the straight upholstered back rises above the armrests usually by more than 13 inches.
3. Rounded Back - When facing the sofa, it has rounded, fully upholstered back (non removable back cushion) rising above the armrests no more than nine inches.
4. Tuxedo Back - On this type of furniture the height of the arm and height of the back are same or have difference of one-and-a-half inches.
After you've determined the style, make sure to measure size and shape of the seat, height of the skirt, back style and overall circumference of the furniture so that the slipcover can be made to the exact specs.
1. Measure the total length of the seat, left to right, tip to tip, at the widest point.
2. Be sure to measure the maximum thickness of back cushion at the top.
3. Top length can be found by measuring the total length of the back at the top at widest point.
4. Base depth can be measured with the distance from the back to the front of the couch at its widest point.
5. Skirt width is found by measuring the distance from the top to the floor.
6. Seat depth is the distance from to the back of the seat at the widest point.
7. Back height is the maximum back height from top to bottom at the highest point. Measure back depth on the maximum thickness of the back cushion at the bottom of the back. The back height is at the highest point, usually in the center of the couch.
8. Base height is the distance from floor to where the seat and back meet.
9. Back length is the measurement of the back, left to right, tip to tip, at the widest point.