The Old-School Furniture Trend That Needs To Stay In The Past

If you have family members of a certain generation, chances are good you've walked into an older home with a dated style to find furniture covered in plastic slipcovers. Some folks will keep their sofas covered for decades without ever touching the fabric underneath, typically in the name of longevity. Your furniture will continue to look good as new for years if you use plastic covers; this isn't a trope inherent to a grandparent's magic touch. However, is it really worth keeping the furniture you paid good money for under lock and key? Well, there's a good reason this trend from the mid-20th century was relatively short-lived. A sofa cover may protect your furniture from spills and dirt while being easier to clean than most fabrics, but it will undoubtedly be less comfortable (especially when it gets sticky on a hot day) and much noisier — and it will probably make you look set in your ways if you ever forget to take it off before guests come over.

Protection similar to that offered by a plastic slipcover can be found in other sources too. Sofa covers, especially for sectionals, come in all different colors, materials, and textures, which makes it easier to give the couch (and the whole room surrounding it) a brand-new look. Luckily, it seems that slipcovered couches are a trending fashion statement in 2026, which means there's no shortage of places to look for tips and tricks on how to style a covered sofa as the centerpiece for your living room. In truth, there's little reason to want a squeaky, glossy plastic cover on your furniture 24/7 in the modern day.

Though you probably don't want to keep your furniture covered in old-school plastic slips forever, it is still worth getting your hands on a set of plastic covers for your sofa, armchairs, and other large pieces. If you're looking to move things into storage, it's important to protect them from long-term moisture damage, especially if they're made of materials that aren't the best for long-lasting furniture. Dust covers will also keep upholstery from accruing damage in storage, and you can double plastic slipcovers as emergency supplies. If you live in flood-prone areas, having the right covers to prevent major water damage is a godsend that will help you save money in lieu of buying new furniture.

Furthermore, you don't have to wait for a hurricane to strike to get unexpected use out of plastic furniture covers. If you get a new pet, covering your furniture could protect it from scratches, bites, or accidents waiting to happen while this new family member is still being trained (something similar might be said if you have children, for that matter). You can even consider wrapping your furniture to protect it from dust when going on vacation. It's important not to fall into the trap of keeping these covers on forever, though. The promise of longer-lasting furniture is tempting, but is there really a point to keeping the furniture looking brand-new forever if you never get to fully enjoy using it?