Yet another 'halps for my couch!' question

[Nobodyhasthisoneyet]

Hi guys,

I know there are a few 'help me with a slipcover?' type enquires in the archives, but this one's a little different...

I have a sofabed that's seen better days - the fabric itself is sound, it's just faded and stained.  I don't actually use it as a sofa, but keep it permanently folded out and use it as a bedframe.  (This gets relevant in a moment..)

A major reupholstery job is out because I know myself well enough to know I'll be impatient and sloppy and turn a grotty but serviceable couch into a complete piece of crap.  So, I'm thinking removable slipcovers. 

This one in particular caught my eye: http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3749/make-a-sofa-wrap 
I really like the two-layer effect, and the bindings mean it has some nice shape definition, so it's not just like I've hidden the couch under a huge sheet.

But... I can't figure out how to make something that will look respectable while the sofa's folded out in bed mode.  Any ideas?

I'm not set on slipcovers, I'll work with anything.  I've considered painting it.  Dye could work, but it's quite dark already so I'd have to go dark purple or black.  Also I have no idea how.

For reference, here's what it looks like folded out:



The fold-out mechanism's joined on to the base of the arms, so basically what I've got to work with is a big rectangular 'donut', high in the back and low in the front, with the bed frame jutting out of the centre.

[Shana-chan]

You could do pretty much the same thing as what you linked, you'd just need to remove the "seat" part, and find some way of making the cover stay in place. Since you don't use it as a couch, as long as you have the ties on the cover like they show in the picture, it should stay in place fine. I'd probably just drape more of the top cover fabric over the bottom area of the couch (under the bed), with the bottom layer attaching to it at the sides with some velcro or something.

I hope that makes sense.