Fall is the season when I crave everything cozy. My plush duvet slippers feel warm and soft. My favorite yoga pants are comfortable. The fireplace radiates warmth. Everything is just so cozy—except my family room. After the unfortunate “dog barf episode” involving our white slipcovered sofa, the space lost its inviting feel.
In frustration I discarded two of the three seat cushions, so the sofa shell has been sitting in the family room exposed and unusable. Without seat cushions it didn’t feel comfy or welcoming, and the whole room looked disheveled and incomplete.
That’s not how I want to spend autumn at home.
I cleaned the sofa thoroughly so it no longer smelled, which was a relief, but it still lacked cushions. Not ideal. When I realized the new sofa wouldn’t arrive until after the holidays, I decided I couldn’t tolerate an entire winter with an uninviting family room. So I had two choices: live without a sofa (not cozy) or improvise and make the old Pottery Barn sofa work for another few months.
Some years earlier, when the back cushions had flattened and sagged, I had slipped bed pillows inside the zippered covers to add loft. It wasn’t perfect, but it made the cushions firmer and more comfortable. That memory gave me confidence that I could make a temporary solution work again.
Determined to restore a cozy atmosphere for fall and winter, I sent my husband to the storage under the house to retrieve a gray slipcover I’d purchased at IKEA a few years ago. I also dug through the garage and found two outdoor chair cushions that would serve as temporary seat cushions (the outdoor cushions didn’t fit the slipcovers perfectly, but they would do).
With only one original cushion still in good condition, the rest made up of bed pillows and outdoor cushions, and a slightly imperfect IKEA slipcover, the sofa is far from pristine. It’s not upscale, but it suits our practical, lived-in home. The soft gray is a pleasant, cozy change for fall. I was relieved to have a usable sofa for a recent baby shower I hosted and happy to have a place to curl up until the new sofa arrives.
Jack and Lily are happy to have the sofa back as well—though their delight may not be great news for long-term cleanliness!
Cozy imperfections—that’s exactly what I’m embracing.
Let the fall coziness continue. Amen?
PS. For those who asked, I included a note about my tufted ottoman in the original post.
Related Posts:
Loving Fall Day 1: Getting in the Rhythm, and Day 2: Quiet
The Truth About White Slipcovers: Part 1, and Part 2 (Pet Edition)
Creating a Cozy Corner for Fall
How to Decorate: The Slow Process to a Style You’ll Love