Solid vs Printed Sofa Covers — Which One Is Right for Your Home?

When it comes to giving a facelift to your living and sitting space, few things can be as transformative of affordable as a superb and sell chosen sofa cover.

In India, our homes reflect several elements. These include the size and nature of our household, the climate of the region where we live, cultures and traditions, modern with rustic and even borrowed themes such as Bollywood or Hollywood.

This makes choosing a sofa cover quite a complex issue. Because in India, sofa covers can broadly be classified under two categories- solid and printed,

While our sense of design or aesthetics or even religious and cultural preferences might lean towards certain colours or solids, overall décor and ambience of our home may demand more practical considerations.

Therefore, let’s explore which is the Best Sofa Cover for Your Home - Solid or Printed.

Advantages of Solid Sofa Covers Vs. Printed Sofa Covers

We will begin by discussing the strengths of both solid and printed types of sofa covers and certain other elements to help you find which sofa cover is the best for your home.

That’s because it could help you get the best value for money and serve various purposes, such as protecting the original upholstery of your sofa, giving your sitting area a neat and tidy look while upgrading the overall décor of your living room.

Pros of Solid Vs. Printed Sofa Covers

Since solid sofa covers tend to blend with overall home décor or at least the living room décor, they’re usually the first preference. Here are some of the salient features of a solid sofa cover.

Aesthetic Appeal

Solid sofa covers such as the premium stretchable sofa covers come in neutral and appealing tones, including beige, grey and navy blue, to name a few. These solid colours are standalone and can contrast or match any Indian home décor.

They’re ideal for all types of living room décor- from minimalist to ethnic or even blending with the overall home ambience by matching or contrasting colours of the walls and curtains at your home.

Above all, solid sofa covers create a calm and uncluttered ambience, if used singly or jointly with single-seater and two-seater sofas. You can throw in pillows and cushions of different colours or designs to match the solid sofa cover.

On the other hand, printed sofa covers can make your room come alive and reflect the personality of your household. They add vibrancy to your décor. For example, you could use floral and geometric printed sofa covers for your home to create a specific ambience.

If you’re a nature lover, floral sofa covers might find appeal. But if you’re one of those modern households, a sofa cover with geometrical patterns might suit your needs better.

Generally, Indian homes tend to be traditionally decorated, including apartments in cities. Hence, a floral or printed geometric pattern sofa cover could meet your needs perfectly. Printed sofa covers are also ideal for modern home décor or even when your interiors are mixed or have no definite style.

Additionally, printed sofa covers can add a dash of fervour to your festivities. Printed sofa covers are better for hiding stains and wear and tear compared to solid types.

Maintenance & Practicality

Ease of maintenance and practicality are two main considerations you might have while buying a sofa cover. That’s because Indian homes are prone to marauders such as dust, humidity, and frequent guests are common.

Hence, lot of emphasis goes on the maintenance of your sofa cover, whether it’s a solid colour sofa cover or a printed type.

Generally, sofa covers in solid colours tend to betray stains and marks from spills and drops more easily. This is true even of lighter and pastel shades. The other practical concern is wrinkles and creases after fixing the sofa cover.

The issue of wrinkles and creases can be easily eliminated by using polyester-Spandex blend elastic sofa covers that are highly stretchable. The fabric is washer friendly and can be laundered easily at home.

In contrast, printed sofa covers are ideal if your home has babies, toddlers running around with pens and crayons to paint any surface or even doting pets that need no permission to snuggle up on your sofa. 

A printed sofa cover generally conceals stains, marks and scratches better. Pet dander and fur aren’t visible so easily, provided you take care to dust, vacuum wash frequently.

Explore Waterproof Sofa Covers Collection Here

Indian Climate

We’re all aware that India is a subcontinent and hence, home to all climatic systems and weather- from bone chilling cold in north and north-east to hot and humid western and eastern seaboards, sizzling hot interior and middle regions as well as balmy and serene, moderate south.

These climatic conditions demand that a sofa cover should be breathable and adaptable, one that doesn’t allow fungal growth and retains colour and shape after multiple washes.

Generally, a superb sofa cover from a reputed manufacturer will be made of polyester and Spandex blend. You can also get sofa covers in velvet plus Spandex blend, Jacquard and Spandex blend as well as faux leather for high water-resistance.

In such a scenario, a printed sofa cover can lock in heat and yet remain breathable due to fabrics such as polyester-Spandex blend. This is not a rule, but the patterns and floral designs are more suited to cooler climates since these can serve as subtle mood boosters on grey, cloudy mornings.

Solid sofa covers in polyester-Spandex blend, Jacquard and Spandex blend or Velvet- Spandex blend are ideal for areas with moderate climate. They tend to be breathable and hence offer warmth in winters while remaining cooler during summers.

You can also use faux leather sofa covers that are available in solid colours only for areas with high atmospheric humidity and heavy rainfall, such as the coastal regions of India and hilly North East India.

 Cultural & Festive Relevance

In India, home décor often changes with the seasons or festivals. Therefore, buying more than just one sofa cover makes good sense. But again, the confusion arises on whether to opt for a solid sofa cover or a printed sofa cover. Therefore, here are some factors to consider.

Solid sofa covers are superb to make a bold statement during the festival and celebratory mood. If we look closely, certain colours are associated with each Indian festival. If you’ve repainted your home for a festival, adding a solid colour sofa cover could help highlight that and add to the festive cheer.

However, if you’ll be hosting guests for snacks, lunch, dinner or drinks, a solid sofa cover might not suit your needs since it would betray spills and stains easily.

Printed sofa covers in floral or geometric designs and vibrant colours can add more cheer to your festival and special occasion by creating an ethnic, festive ambience. For example, floral print adds a lot of depth to your home décor alongside colour, while geometrical patterns tend to raise spirits of celebrants and add an element of fun.

These are also ideal for concealing any accidental spills or stains that can arise out of serving food and drink to family members and guests.

In Conclusion

Whether to opt for a solid colour sofa cover or a printed sofa cover is purely a matter of personal choice and need for décor. There are no fixed rules on which sofa cover suits a household or situation when it comes to a choice between solid colors and patterns or prints.

The greatest element or deciding factor for choosing between solid and printed sofa covers is the fabric. Each fabric and material has specific qualities that make them valuable for sofa covers.

Top sofa cover brands usually use superior fabric and craftsmanship for making their sofa covers, regardless they’re solid sofa covers or printed sofa covers. Therefore, buying one of each is the best way to ensure you benefit from strengths of both.