September 2017 - Comfort Works Blog & Sofa Resources

What should I spend most of my furnishing budget on?

Posted on September 30, 2017April 29, 2025 by Abel

What do I really need to buy to create a livable home? How much should I spend on furniture? Many questions come to ind when we moving into a new unfurnished house or when we just simply need to buy new furniture.

But probably one of the most important questions is, “Where should I spend most of the furnishing budget on?“. Yes, because unfortunately budgets are limited and we have to prioritize.

This also happened to us recently since we have moved offices last June. During the furnishing process we spent a lot of time looking for the best ways to furnish our new space, and today we want to share all our knowledge with you. Here is the definitive guide to where you should spend most of your furniture budget on.

Start your decoration project with a minimalist style, you can add more decoration items.

Start with the basics

If you have a tight decoration budget always start with buying the basic furniture first. For example, furnish a bedroom by buying a bed and a wardrobe. You can buy a beautiful carpet and some matching curtains later. And maybe you’ll buy even better furniture because you’ll have more time to save money.

Don’t try to furnish all your house with cheap products in a fast way. Good things always need time! ;)

Start buying the basic furniture, and then add all the decoration details over time.

Following this thought, here’s a list of the furniture we think are the basic essentials for a home.

We have also checked the prices of these items in IKEA, to make it easier for you to allocate a budget.

Bedroom: where should I spend most of the furnishing budget on?

Furniture	Approximate Price
Bed Structure (King size)	$300
Foam Mattress (King size)	$300
Pillows (x2)	$60
Bed Lamp (x2)	$60
Night Stand (x2)	$120
Wardrobe	$600
Total Price	$1440

Tips for decorating your bedroom: if you dare to have a modern look you can try to have wooden pallets as your bed structure. You’ll only need to buy the mattress. For stylish bohemians and contemporaries! ;)

Tips and advices to buy furniture — With a little ingenuity, you can get an incredible house – Picture from DEPTO 51

Living Room: where should I spend most of the furnishing budget on?

Furniture	Approximate Price
Sofa (2 seaters with Chaise)	$850
Armchair	$300
Lamp (x2)	$150
TV cabinet	$450
Coffee Table	$150
Total Price	$1900

Tips for decorating your living room: instead of buying a new sofa, you can buy a second-hand one and a slipcover. You can even make it look like a million bucks sofa with velvet or linen fabrics. Check out all our fabrics and slipcovers on www.comfort-works.com.

Sofa with a customized slipcover from Comfort Works

Dining Room: where should I spend most of the furnishing budget on?

Furniture	Approximate Price
Table (Up to 6 Seats)	$300
Dining Chairs (x6)	$500
Total Price	$800

Tips for decorating your dining room: if you decide to buy second-hand chairs or you just want to have customized and unique dining chairs, we recommend you some covers for dining chairs. They’ll give the personal touch you are looking for your dining room or kitchen.

Dining Chairs with covers from Comfort Works

*Remember that all these prices are approximate and they always depend on the furniture you choose. We have based these prices on the prices of the average furniture ranges of IKEA.

Final tips and advice

I’m sure that after reading all this information you have a better idea of where it’s important to spend your furnishing budget, but if you have a tighter one or you just want to squeeze it to the max I recommend you to read the following tips – they’ll help you manage your budget!

Don’t be afraid of combining avant-garde furniture with some other cheaper furnishing options. Variety is the spice of life!
Go with the Do-It-Yourself route and make your home even more personal. For example, we have done some DIY with one the cheapest IKEA sofas and now we have an incredible tufted sofa. We wrote about it here: Tufting Klippan – Be Emerald Green with Envy!
You can also discover more tips to save money when you are furnishing your house: Check out our article: 6 Ways to Save Thousands When Shopping For Furniture.

Variety is the spice of life! – Armchair and sofa with slipcovers from Comfort Works

And that’s all folks! Hope we have helped you with your question about where to spend most of the furnishing budget on. We’ll love to know what do you think about this topic.

You can leave us a comment in this post or on our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Also, if you have any questions about our sofa covers, armchair covers, dining chair covers or any of our other decoration products, please send us an email to info@comfortworks.com.au.

We’ll be pleased to help you :)

How to buy slipcovers online – The ultimate guide

Posted on September 23, 2017April 28, 2025 by Chuck

Have an IKEA or Pottery Barn sofa and don’t want to spend thousands on upholstery? No problem – learn how to order and buy slipcovers online right here!

There can only be 2 reasons why you’re here:
1) Your couch is completely worn out and you need to save it;
2) You own a new, naked sofa and you’d like it to wear some pretty, new clothes (because the standard covers are just meh.)

Well you’re definitely here at the right place! This guide will teach/guide you with all the essentials and processes involved to buy a new slipcover for your couch :)

How do I know which custom slipcovers to buy?

Obviously different sofas would have different sizes and the slipcovers for one will not necessarily fit another, because the measurements for one sofa and another similar looking one can be waaayyy different.

It is important to know what sofa you have, and determine which category it falls into. Having said that the categories are:

Templated Sofa Covers
Majority of the slipcovers made out there are templated, be it an IKEA sofa or a Pottery Barn or a nameless brand.

This simply means that someone created a blueprint or pattern for it, so it’s just a matter of copying it to duplicate a set of covers for you. The caveat is that most sofas out there are actually upholstered (meaning it doesn’t come with slipcovers), which brings us to the next best alternative.

Ready Made Loose Covers
Sadly, slipcovers can’t be made for your sofa for one reason or another. This could be because the cushions can’t be detached, it’s a wingback sofa or some kind of transformer couch. These kind of sofas can’t be recovered unless you have to hack it heavily.

If that’s the case, then you’ll need something super flexible and easy to put on.

Some people call these universal slipcovers, most people address them as ready made loose covers since they are readily available on typical Target, Walmart or Costco shelves.

Custom Slipcovers Made-to-measure
You don’t know the brand but you know that your sofa has a very generic shape, so slipcovers are a possibility even though it was originally upholstered.

Or your sofa originally has slipcovers, so you know for a fact that they can be replicated.

Either way you know you want slipcovers for your sofa, and because the traditional means of acquiring one from your local upholsterer is too tedious and expensive – you look elsewhere.

So where can I buy slipcovers online for my sofa?

If you know the brand – great, all you have to do is Google online and you’ll be able to find replacement slipcovers for them. As a start, here are some common brands:

IKEA
While IKEA does sell most of their sofas with covers, they are largely notorious for having their sofas discontinued after a while.

It’s actually an IKEA Klippan sofa, with new covers, legs and DIY tufting

Thankfully, here are some aftermarket slipcover providers specifically for IKEA sofas, armchairs, etc.

Bemz (Ships Worldwide)
Comfort Works (Ships Worldwide)
Covercouch (Ships Worldwide)
Dekoria (Ships Worldwide)
Soferia (Ships to UK, EU and USA)

Pottery Barn
Mostly found in USA, Pottery Barn is a slightly more upmarket brand for furniture and home decor. While they offer most of the replacement slipcovers, there are some models which are discontinued so it might be slightly harder to find them.

Pottery Barn PB Basic 3 Seater Sofa c/o Savvysouthernstyle.com

Comfort Works
Replacement Slipcover Outlet
Uglysofa.com (known as “Brand X” on their page)

Pricing in general for templated sofa covers shouldn’t cost too much, after all most of the work (measuring, cutting and pattern making) have been done so if you’re paying anything above US$1500 for a sofa slipcover – the fabrics are either incredibly premium, or they’re overcharging.

What if I don’t know the brand?

Nothing to worry about and if you want something fast and flexible, you might want to look for ready made loose covers (or universal slipcovers, we call them).

These are slipcovers with fairly stretchy fabric which makes it incredibly easy to put on. They’re also made about 10-15% larger than the sofa, so the excess gets tucked into the nook and cranny of the sofa.

In essence, it will look something like this:

Ready made loose armchair cover

Yes I know I know, it’s pretty ugly but if you want something super easy to put on and don’t want to spend more than US$200 – this is it.

Here are some guys you may have seen at your nearest Costco or Target even:

Surefit
Wayfair
Slipcovershop.com
Sofasofa (UK)
Overstock.com

As you can tell, they don’t tickle our fancy very much but they do get the job done.

Okay, what’s the best value for money

In all honesty? Custom made-to-measure slipcovers from a provider that does their own manufacturing without any middlemen – this would allow prices to come down significantly, so instead of paying about $1200 at your local upholsterer we can actually do it for half the price (for a 3 seater sofa).

Unbelievable? Believe it.

Custom Sofa Slipcover Made-to-measure by Comfort Works

The main trade-off is between aesthetics and pricing essentially so if you want something super tailored and form-fitting, go with something made-to-measure. It’s the next best thing to upholstery and since upholstery can’t be done online – slipcovers are the alternative.

Going with templated sofa covers would mean that the company has acquired a template for it, so if your sofa came slipcovered originally – you might be in luck. If it was upholstered, then you’re definitely out of luck.

Lastly with ready made sofa covers, these are super easy to acquire but at the end of the day – do you really want a giant sock over your couch? Because that’s what it’s going to look like essentially.

So the next question is, can we make slipcovers for your sofa? Check this infographic below to find out:

Alternatively you could just send us 3 photos:
– front (cushions off couch, but still in picture)
– back
– side

And we’ll let you know whether it’s slipcover-able :)

How to choose fabrics for my custom slipcover

Regardless of whether you’re getting an IKEA sofa cover or just a custom slipcover in general, ALWAYS get samples first especially if time permits.

Think about it, if a food store allowed you to sample every and any one of their dishes — wouldn’t you? And the food might look awesome in the menu but do you sometimes feel deceived when the actual mains arrive?

We don’t want that to happen to you — so get a good feel/look (taste) of our fabric samples when you can, and NEVER base your decision on the colour of your computer screens. We won’t be liable for your tummy ache later.

At Comfort Works, you can order up to 8 samples and it takes 7-15 normally but it can be expedited should you need them quicker.

Got my samples, how do I buy slipcovers online…?

Once you’ve decided on the fabric, you can buy your slipcovers from any of the online stores but with Comfort Works, you can do minor little tweaks such as contrast piping or tailored pleats.

That’s pretty much our USP – being flexible :)

Check out our store here: https://comfort-works.com/en/home/customized-sofa-slipcover-541

Delivery times are generally 2-3 weeks if we’re not too busy; but you can opt for an Express Order to get it in about 10-12 work days guaranteed.

Check out some of our work below:

Custom Slipcovers in Herringbone Cement – MyFabulessLife Custom Kino Charcoal Slipcovers c/o Biggerthanthethreeofus Custom arm pockets on slipcover Custom IKEA Ektorp cover with multiple pleats

IKEA Stockholm 2017 sofa review

Posted on September 16, 2017April 28, 2025 by Abel

Are you familiar with the Stockholm series from IKEA? If your answer is yes then I’m sure you’ll know that it’s the most exclusive range of sofas of the company. And this year they have launched another version of this couch: the Stockholm Sofa 2017.

Fun Fact: The first Stockholm sofa (as far as we know) was a 3.5 seater that was part of 2 large sections, and was replaced sometime around 2014.

”The STOCKHOLM 2017 collection means wellness, quality and comfort”. – Viveca Olsson, IKEA Creative Director

So once again, we went to IKEA to try, test and evaluate this new bad boy for you. If you are thinking about buying this new sofa, this is the perfect blog post for you.

Have in mind that this collection also includes cushions, coffee tables, cabinets; But we will just be focusing on the sofa and the footstool. Because at the end of the day, these are the furniture we are specialized in.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview
Comfort
Aesthetics
Price
Durability
Hackability
Overall conclusion

OVERVIEW

The Stockholm 2017 collection has been available in IKEA since April 2017 and Ola Wihlborg has been the designer in charge of the of the sofa and the footstool/ottoman design. He has tried to make the sofa the most practical possible, affirming that one of the parts of the design process was taking the sofa home to see if it worked in a real home. Interesting, right?

”I wanted to design a big sofa, one which can be used by the whole family at the same time”. – Ola Wihlborg, Designer

This newly updated sofa collection counts with a 3-seater sofa, a 2-seater sofa (just available in some countries) and a footstool. You can see all the designs up next:

Stockholm Sofa 2017 — IKEA Stockholm Ottoman 2017

COMFORT

This sofa has an incredible touch when you sit on it or put your hand on it, a warm and comforting sensation runs through your body. Feels like velvet actually but if you check, it’s a (77%) cotton and (23%) polyester blend.

The seat cushions of this sofa are also perfect! Very comfy, with a nice cushion filling which is very soft, but at the same time very tight, so you won’t sink into the cushion when you sit down. Specifically, they are filled with high resilience foam and polyester fibers which provide comfortable support for your body and easily regain their shape.

The armrests, however, are a different story. They are very tall and hard, so they aren’t very comfy or useful. But it’s true that with the width of the sofa, you won’t even notice that. Because imagine that you want to take a nap. The sofa is so long, that you can lie perfectly and don’t need to support your head on the armrest.

The only thing we don’t like about this sofa is that it’s very deep. When I tried to sit on it, it was impossible to put my back on the backrest and have my feet on the floor, and this is pretty annoying. I suppose that’s what the 10 cushions are for, but they very uncomfortable for me.

Nonetheless, we really recommend you to try this sofa before your purchase it! Maybe it’s big enough for a nap and be seated just a few minutes, but not if you want to have a lazy evening of movies and pizza on your sofa. Just my two cents.

Verdict: 5.5/10

AESTHETICS

The range of colors for the IKEA Stockholm 2017 and the footstools is not very varied. It just comes with three colors: orange, dark blue and dark gray. But we have to recognize that the velvet of this sofa has an elegant and shiny touch that we love.

The sofa just stands out on its own the moment you enter the IKEA sofa section. Maybe it’s because of its sturdy, elegant and large structure? Or maybe we are facing the first paranormal phenomenon of IKEA?

You can check the three different colors available up next:

Hope these pictures help you see the differences between the three colors available for this sofa and discover more about the design and aesthetics of the Stockholm 2017 sofa.

Verdict: 7.5/10

PRICE

Well, well. Here is the interesting point of this sofa. Because everyone knows this is one of the most exclusive couches of IKEA (hence most premium).

At Comfort Works, we believe that what’s ‘expensive’ or ‘cheap’ is simply subjective. It always depends on the quality you want the product you buy to have (normally if it’s more expensive the quality it’s better). You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

That’s why we’ve created this price table. You’ll be easily able to tell if the price is good (or not) for you:

For us, the price for a 3-seater sofa is not very affordable. We understand that it’s a very luxurious sofa but really, you can find very similar or even more comfy sofas (this was too deep) with better prices.

At IKEA itself, a 3 seater Kivik sofa costs only $549 and you can customize it with a velvet slipcover for that price. The funny thing that I should have mentioned earlier was that the armrest protectors don’t even cover the armrest entirely — now why make something that doesn’t work?!

Verdict: 7/10

DURABILITY

The best thing about IKEA sofas is that they always come with a 10 year guarantee. It’s true that the velvet fabrics aren’t as durable and resistant as other fabrics so maybe, it’ll be a good idea to protect this sofa with a sturdier replacement cover?

On the other hand, it is true that the sofa has a very strong structure. The sofa legs are made of solid oak and the main frame of a combination of different materials like solid wood, so it’s actually pretty strong and has a resistant structure.

To increase the durability of the sofa just turn the back cushions so they wear evenly and last longer, as they’re reversible and have the same fabric on both sides. It’s smart – all sofas should be made this way!

Verdict: 7.5/10

HACKABILITY

One of the good things about this sofa is that it can be customized. Yes! Because just changing the color of a few cushions you will have a more modern and unique sofa (you can try with our Pillow Covers). Also, it’s possible to make a cover for this sofa. This is the best way to personalize it and protect it from daily wear and tear. Contact us on info@comfort-works.com for more information about this.

Verdict: 8.5/10

OVERALL CONCLUSION

Well, the truth is that we really like this sofa.

It has an incredible design (better in real life than in pictures), it’s solid and durable with extreme comfy seat cushions.

But (yes, there is a big “but”) – it’s very deep. We can’t understand how IKEA could allow this design because we found it impossible to sit comfortably on this couch, even with the 10 back cushions.

So in general, this sofa has a very good score, but we won’t buy it. Mainly because we love to sit on sofas! They can be elegant, marvelous and beautiful, but if you can’t sit comfortably – then what good is a sofa?

Final Verdict: 7.2

What do you think? Do you agree with us? We will love to hear from you in the comment section of this blog and in our social media. We have accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Just follow us and let us know your opinion.

Also, if you want more information about the past Stockholm collection you can read our IKEA Stockholm Sofa Guide & Resource Page. And remember that you can always personalize your sofa with our sofa covers. ;)

Get customised slipcovers for your Stockholm 2017

Muji Wide Arm sofa guide, resource and review page

Posted on September 9, 2017April 28, 2025 by Minobu Y

Welcome to the ultimate guide and resource for the Muji Wide Arm Sofa series – find sizes, dimensions, reviews, slipcovers, assembly instructions and more here.

Maybe you’re searching for the perfect sofa and need a little help. Maybe you’ve already decided on the Wide Arm Sofa, found one on Craigslist or Ebay and need more information. Maybe you already own an Wide Arm Sofa and your house guest decided to spill coffee on its hard-to-find slipcover. Or maybe your in-law’s are coming to town and you want a more grown up looking slipcover. In this cheat sheet, we’ll help you with all of that.

If your questions aren’t addressed here, feel free to contact our support staff at info@comfortworks.com.au.

Quick Check :

Price：￥70,000

Dimensions：W188 x D81 x H52.5(without legs) (cm)

Size：3 Seater

Price：￥80,000

Dimensions：W214 x D81 x H52.5(without legs) (cm)

Wide Arm Sofa 2011’s model Tappuri Feather Cushions

Size：2 Seater

Price：￥60,000

Dimensions：W158 x D81 x H52.5(without legs) (cm)

Size：2.5 Seater

Price：￥70,000

Dimensions：W188 x D81 x H52.5(without legs) (cm)

Size：3 Seater

Price：￥80,000

Dimensions：W214 x D81 x H52.5(without legs) (cm)

The shapes of each model look all the same in common, yet actual dimensions are slightly different. As listed above, there are several types of cushions for this sofa model.

2011 was the year when the last Muji Wide Arm Sofa model was released actually. Since it’s been sold, there has been no newer model that succeeded it.

Status:

Except for 2007’s model, Muji’s still selling on their shops. 2007’s model has been already discontinued.

Slipcovers:

You can get sipcovers at Muji except for 2007’s model’s. Comfort Works also making cusom slpcovers for Wide Arm Sofa.

Overall Review:

The height of sofa is really low but it’s made this way as it is usually more suitable for Japanese people, as they usually sit on the floor in their living room.

By the way, this sofa model is actually expensive – if you are willing to buy a Wide Arm Sofa, the largest consideration factors would be: Price vs Comfort. If you are looking for a super comfort Wide Arm Sofa, 2010’s and 2011’s models are recommended but they are pricey :(

For the cheaper Wide Arm Sofa, the one with Urethane cushions (2008’s model) is more reasonable, just that it’s not as comfortable as other models. If your budget doesn’t suit with 2010/2011 models and you don’t want to compromise comfort, I would suggest getting the 2008’s pocket coil cushions version. It’s priced lower than the feather cushions’ model, and more comfortable than urethane cushions’ model.

The unique selling point for this sofa is actually its wide arm. Urethane materials are used for the arms as well, so you can rest your head comfortably on the arm as if it’s a pillow.

For the design, it looks like any general sofa with square arms – we can say it’s pretty modern and minimalistic in terms of looks. If you want to personalize your Wide Arm Sofa with a custom slipcover, just let us know!

Our Slipcovers For Muji Wide Arm Sofa: