At times, living a sustainable lifestyle can seem like an overwhelming task. You want to be conscious of the planet and reduce your footprint whenever possible—but where do you begin? Actually, you can start with the arms of your couch.
Before mass production and online shopping, it was expected that purchases would last for years. People wanted to ensure their belongings stayed in good condition—including fixing them when damaged. This allowed items to remain in use—and therefore out of landfills—for longer periods of time. And you can do the same—with everything from clothing to couches.
One way to embrace our grandparents' mend-and-make-do attitude is to find ways to use furniture longer, keeping it in its best shape for as long as possible. An easy way to extend the life of your furniture is quite simple: adding arm covers to your couches and chairs.
This admittedly isn't the most glamorous trend, but it's a practical way to make the most of some of your largest (and most expensive) pieces of furniture. Not only will you feel good about your environmental choices, but you'll also save some money in the long run.
While our grandparents might not have been thinking of climate change, their frugality and distaste for waste kept them from viewing their possessions as disposable. However, now, for different reasons, more people are coming to embrace this mindset today, as the negative impacts of fast fashion and overconsumption on the environment become more and more apparent.
The arms of chairs and couches are high-touch areas and are often the first places to show signs of dirt, wear and tear, and age. While slipcovers are an option, they don't work for all types of furniture—and they can take away from the overall look of your room. Arm covers are smaller, less expensive, and ultimately less noticeable than a full slipcover. While removing and washing your slipcovers can take some effort, small arm covers can easily be thrown in the washing machine and replaced when in need of a refresh.
Despite these perks, you might not be ready to jump on the couch-arm-cover trend yet. For many, these arm covers seem dated and conjure up visions of shapeless pieces of fabric that constantly fall off the side of the chair. But that doesn't have to be the case.
If you want your arm covers to fit seamlessly into your furniture and design, you can have some custom-made in the same fabric as your couch or chair. When well-tailored, they're hardly noticeable.
You can also take a different route by selecting a cover that contrasts with the color of the couch. This creates a new design element, much like adding throw pillows or a blanket would. This means you can buy the covers pre-made, which is often a more cost-effective option.
Prefab arm covers come in a variety of materials: Some of them stretch, so they're less likely to slip and fall (and can fit on various couch styles), while others are quite decorative, made with opulent fabrics and fringe. There are even covers with pockets that allow you to have your books, reading glasses, and cell phone close at hand.
When all else fails, you can drape a throw blanket across the armrest of a frequently used side of the couch.
If you're still not sold on the look of arm covers, remember they're not permanent. If you really want a clean look or have super modern furniture, you can use the covers during the day, then remove them for a sleeker style when you have visitors. That way, you're still extending the life of your furniture without sacrificing anything in terms of design.