Skirts are something that you either love or hate, there’s really no in-between—but regardless of how you feel, they will never go out of style, and their somewhat traditional look, is making a comeback in modern upholstery today. Skirts are a wonderful base option for both fixed cover and slipcovered sofas.
Fringe skirts feature long fringe or bullion to cover the base of the sofa. Fringed sofa skirts are typically seen in traditional upholstery but have become popular in the last few years with many modern designers using them in a contemporary way.
A box pleat is created as two knife pleats are folded, in opposite directions and hidden behind the two front panels created and then pressed flat. Consecutive box pleats result in multiple wide panels lining the base of the sofa.
As its name suggests, this skirt is created by gathering the fabric at the base of the sofa and allowing it to drape naturally. Skirts can also be gathered only in the corner making a gathered corner skirt.
Featuring pleats at the sofa's corners, kick pleat skirts are straight and uncomplicated and extend from a row of piping just slightly below the deck of the sofa. Panels can be divided by a pleat in line with the sofa's center or breaks in seat cushions.
Side or knife pleats are folded, consistent widths of fabric in the same direction. These can be pressed or left to drape to the ground freely. Side pleats aren’t currently very popular and tend to only be seen on antiques.
A dressmaker skirt extends from the seat deck or the top of the sofa's arm or back to the floor in an unbroken panel. A waterfall skirt is similar but instead of beginning at the seat deck, it begins from the top of the seat cushion.
