June 2020 - Comfort Works Blog & Sofa Resources

These IKEA hacks make customising your space so much easier

Posted on June 24, 2020April 29, 2025 by Comfort Works team

If you haven’t already noticed by now, we’re completely obsessed with just about everything IKEA, especially their sofas.

But while we love IKEA for its versatile Scandinavian designs and affordable prices, it can be a bit of a challenge to put together a space that doesn’t also look like Joe’s from accounting, Aunty Mae’s from down the hall and cousin Sally’s (who by the way, just had to get the same white, 3-seater Ektorp as yours).

And that white Malm dresser that she just bought? Pfft. Now that’s just flat-out copy-cat behaviour.

Well, OK it’s not really Sally’s fault that her home set up looks like everyone else’s, and unfortunately, yours — it’s just a natural by-product of IKEA’s furniture being so accessible at down-to-earth prices.

UN-IKEA YOUR IKEA FURNITURE

The IKEA BESTA storage cabinet with Norse Interior’s Marie door design in Tanned Leather.

Yup, you read that right.

Hey, we love an amazing IKEA-inspired space as much as anybody else, but as you can already tell, too much of a good IKEA thing can turn out to be a not-so-great thing.

QUICK IKEA HACK #1: PUT ON A NEW FRONT

The original IKEA Malm Dresser in Oak Finish (left) with Norse Interior’s Astrid drawer fronts in Silver Sage and Kristina pulls in chrome (right).

IKEA’s BESTA and MALM series of cabinets, TV stands, dressers and night stands are popular for a reason — they’re minimalist and stylish, yet gentle on the wallet.

The downside? You can instantly tell where they’re from when you see them.

But with this ‘whoops-I’ve-got-an-IKEA-showroom-in-my-living-room’ vibe as a potential downside, there’s also an upside, and it’s this: That you can easily upgrade the exterior of these pieces just as quickly and affordably by giving them a ‘second skin’ from Norse Interiors.

The company’s sleek, minimalist wood and cane fronts — featuring soft, understated geometric lines and woven cane — are designed to take your everyday IKEA pieces from blah to high-end statement makers in minutes.

These fronts are also perfect for upcycling your old, worn-out IKEA storage pieces into brand-new looking ones so you don’t have to send old furniture that works perfectly well to your local (and likely, already filled-to-the-brim) landfill.

Our favorite part of this hack? Upgrades start from just $60 per dresser drawer front, or $90 for a single cabinet front.

QUICK IKEA HACK #2: GIVE IT A LEG UP

The IKEA BESTA storage cabinet with Norse Interior’s Cane door design in White and Ilse Chrome Legs.

One of the simplest but often overlooked IKEA hacks around is to give your favorite pieces new legs (literally).

Whether it’s your 5-year-old BESTA TV stand or worn-out looking KARLSTAD sofa, you’d be surprised at how a new set of legs can make your space look more expensive than it really is without you having to spend a small fortune.

Prices start from $10 per sofa leg or $25 per storage unit leg.

Pro tip: Swap your cabinet or sofa’s wooden legs with metal ones for a polished, contemporary look.

QUICK IKEA HACK #3: PULL OUT THE STOPS

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6LmIz2pLS_/

The smallest details can make a huge difference, and we’d say this holds true more than ever when it comes to the handles on your IKEA storage units.

Make a bold statement without going over the top with Norse Interior’s brass or chrome on lucite knobs and pulls.

Starting from just $9 per piece, these check our box as the easiest and most affordable way to upgrade your IKEA.

QUICK IKEA HACK #4: SLIP ON A NEW STYLE

*The IKEA STOCKHOLM 2017 sofa in our Madison Ash slipcover fabric.*

As much as we love shopping for a new sofa, armchair or set of dining chairs, we always try our best to do right by the ones we already have, even if they’ve accumulated a multitude of stains, scratches and rips from wear and tear over the years.

This is why we’ll never get tired sharing this hack: Have your pre-loved IKEA seats looking as good as new with a slipcover.

Better yet, give yourself permission to experiment and have fun with fabrics and colours you’d never buy a brand new sofa in, with our removable, machine-washable slipcovers.

At prices that start from just $139, you’ll be getting a brand-new looking sofa for a whole lot less.

Love what you’ve seen from our friends at Norse Interiors? You’ll find even more IKEA hacking ideas and resources at norseinteriors.com.

Where to get the ultimate cat proof couch – without buying a new one

Posted on June 23, 2020April 29, 2025 by Aaron Wong

If I told you that the ultimate cat-proof couch was sitting right under your own roof, would you believe me?

That’s right, I’m talking about your very own sofa. The one which is currently being terrorized by those loveable (and ferocious) furbabies.

But wait, how can that possibly be? That shredded couch is the whole reason you’re here after all.

Well don’t let go of your old couch just yet because with a few little upgrades, your very own couch will be the claw deflecting, cat-cohabitating, cat-proof couch of your dreams.

The solution? Cat-proof sofa covers – ones that will slip onto your couch and erase your cat vs sofa troubles like a rabbit in a magicians hat.

How do they work and what’s so great about them anyway? Stick around and find out:

The best couch material for cats

texture of our cat proof sofa fabric — Claw-proof sofa fabric that looks good

To delight our fellow pet lovers, we searched high and low for the best couch material for cats; one that cats (and dogs) will not destroy, but also doesn’t feel like you’re sitting on a piece of cardboard.

So while our “cat-proof couch covers” are technically for all pets and not just cats, we have made very sure that it passes the test with flying colors.

“The test” being the scratch test. We made sure the fabric selected has to be claw-proof because let’s face it, if cats can’t destroy it then neither will dogs.

We’ve even tested them to great success against the sharpest and fastest cat claws in the wild west (actually we tested them on our own cats at home).

Anyway, the secret behind it’s superhuman superfabric powers is in it’s weave. It’s too closely knitted for cat claws to puncture.

In fact, not only will they be unable to destroy it, they may even stop trying altogether since they prefer to scratch at textures that will let them sink their claws into.

And while the fabric may take away all the joy of scratching your couch away from your cat, you won’t have to worry about them leaving your side on the couch. It’s plenty comfy and will spoil them.

cat on blue sofa — He may not look happy sitting on the couch… but that’s just his default expression

Worry instead that you will have to start fighting against them for couch space.

But that’s not all!

While we have designed the perfect couch covers for cat scratching, that doesn’t mean it’s the only feature that they’re packing.

Convenient cleaning

lint roller cleaning fur off sofa — Remove fur with a roller to reduce trips to the wash

Are stains, fur and the occasional explosive cat diarrhea keeping your sofa in a sad-looking state?

Well now you won’t have to take it sitting down! These cat-proof sofa covers are convenient to wash so you can banish that stuff you wouldn’t want in grotesque detail with a simple trip to the washer.

The frame and zippered cushion covers are a cinch to slip on and off your sofa so that your cleaning will be all that much easier.

Not only will they be cleaner and smell better than they have ever been before, but you’ll save yourself from hours of scrubbing too.

That means more cuddle time with your kitty and zero time wondering how to fix a shredded sofa.

Tailor-fit

form fitting covers on the sofa make it cat-proof — Stylish and functional

Don’t greet your guests with a sofa that is more cat couch protector than sofa.

Do away with the loose fitting and baggy crimes against living room fashion with a little tailor-fitted magic.

Like a gorgeous suit sewn together by a bespoke tailor, all of our sofa covers are made-to measure and will fit your sofa to a tee. No need to worry about losing those gorgeous, clean sofa lines.

Yes, even with sofas that originally came upholstered instead of slipcovered.

Basically, if your sofa is slipcoverable, we can create a slipcover for it. We’ve been hard at work creating slipcovers for 8 years and have gotten to the point where we can make custom slipcovers for all of the major sofa brands.

It’s really the only thing we do here T_T.

And if you’re wondering how wham jam shazammy we can get your couch looking check us out on Instagram to see some of our work; most of which were taken from the very living rooms of our customers. The picture above is from one of them as well :)

Check us out on Instagram for more #inspo

So who says we can’t have nice things when we get a cat?

Your own sofa

image of our claw-proof slipcovers sent by our customer — Customer couch (IKEA Ektorp) turned cat-proof

Home is where the heart is and most of us wouldn’t want to part with a familiar face. Or in this case, a familiar cushion under the butt.

So don’t break up with your favourite sofa over a couple of cats. Upgrade it instead.

We like to think of it as just buying the fabric part of the sofa.

So as long as the frame and cushions of your current sofa are still holding up, dressing it up with a slipcover will make it look and feel new again; all at a more affordable price than splurging on a new cat-proof sofa.

Not only will your sofa look like it’s just rolled out of the shop, but you’ll also have upcycled instead of contributing to the landfill.

After all, a beautiful home doesn’t have to mean a dirtier planet.

Cat-proof but definitely not human-proof

the cat proof couch isn't human proof — Soft, velvety, and great for naps

We can’t call it the best cat-proof couch if the cat’s human didn’t enjoy it as well.

In addition to making the sofa covers as convenient as possible so that cleaning and re-installing them can be done automagically, there are many more reasons why your upgraded sofa won’t just be “a sofa for cats”.

As it turns out, the ultimate sofa material for cats isn’t the least bit uncomfortable. As scratch-proof as it is, it definitely does not feel like a thick and lumpy cat couch protector sitting underneath you.

Instead, be greeted by a luxuriously soft and comforting fabric that feels like what you’d get if wool and velvet were mixed together. Wooly-ish because of it’s slightly longer fibres but comfy and tightly woven like velvet.

And if you’re still wondering “how would that feel like?”, trust me I’m having as difficult of a time putting it into words. I would describe it as being comfy and snuggly though.

But hey, don’t take my word for it when you can test it out for yourself with some fabric samples (pick claw-proof velvet).

Get them easily for some touchy feely action, bring them to your cat, and see for yourself if it can succeed where other cats have failed in destroying them.

Or maybe it will simply have no interest in scratching at it. Either way it’s a win-win :)

Ready to give your sofa a cat-proof upgrade? Learn more about our slipcovers, the fabric we use and the colors you can get them in below:

Discover Cat-Proof Sofa Covers

Where to buy an affordable sofa that’s not IKEA

Posted on June 2, 2020April 28, 2025 by Peony

IKEA may be the go-to furniture store for most first-time homeowners, but if you look beyond your comfort zone of these pine-scented blue-box stores, you’ll find that there is, in fact, a wide array of brands out there that provide some amazing home furnishing staples at equally good prices.

Take sofas, for example.

A sofa is just one of those pieces that will stay with you for a long, long time, simply because of its sheer size and how it’s built.

Although you don’t want to go for something extremely cheap for fear of a shorter lifespan, there are plenty of brands that will be able to provide you with an affordable sofa with great quality and a gorgeous design.

Now, doesn’t that sound like a win-win situation?

Below, we have a selection of brands where you can check out to purchase the affordable sofa of your dreams.

Your only challenge here? To find the right one for your home.

1. Urban Outfitters

Where To Buy An Affordable Sofa That's Not IKEA — Image credit: Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is one of those places where you’d never think to find amazing pieces of furniture. Yet, here we are. The brand boasts some of the most affordable sofas out there, including its Anywhere Sleeper Sofa for US$399.

This particular piece has a clean design that folds out to be sofa-bed perfect for overnighting guests or even yourself, if you live in an extremely small space.

2. Modway

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1e5AiUHSrm/

Modway is another great source of affordable sofas.

Priced between US$500-US$750, its stylish seats — like the Modway Contemporary Modern Fabric Upholstered Sofa — come in elegant-looking designs in a good variety of fabrics and colours.

The brand also has plenty of minimalist-inspired upholstered sofa designs for those who treasure simplicity.

3. Joss & Main

Not all leather couches need to be expensive, as the stylish options from Joss & Main prove.

The brand’s plush leather seats boast rich, chocolate hues and gorgeous roll arms to die for. And priced at less than US$500, this will be your most affordable investment yet.

4. Wayfair

Sometimes, all you need is a fuss-free, affordable sofa.

Wayfair’s wallet-friendly options, like the Ibiza Microfober 80.3″ Flared Arm Sofa fit the bill at just under US$360. The brand’s simple, upholstered designs ensure their sofas will complement just about any interior set up.

5. Hayneedle

Have a small living room?

Then the adorable options from Hayneedle, like the Elle Decor Mid-Century Modern Amelie Love Seat, may just be the perfect fit for your home.

Be spoilt for choice with a wide selection of sofas, loveseats, armchairs and sectionals that come in a versatile range of colours, styles and fabrics — all without breaking the bank.

6. Muji

Muji specialises in minimalist Japanese designed furniture, and its sofas are no different.

The Muji style is simple yet functional, making it perfect for smaller homes while still looking good.

If you already have an existing Muji sofa but want to give it a fresh look, try sprucing it up with a new custom sofa slipcover made.

Not sure where to begin with fabric picking? Have up to eight of your selected fabric swatches sent to your doorstep for a small fee.

Order your fabric samples here:

SEND ME FABRICS!

Get a linen sofa without buying a linen sofa – It’s possible!

Posted on June 2, 2020April 28, 2025 by Aaron Wong

Luxurious and full of character, linen sofas are striking furniture pieces. Not only do they let the world know that you appreciate the finer things in life, but also have a subtlety that doesn’t scream “look at me!”.

That’s why the linen sofa is a classy addition to any living room. Especially with the popular farmhouse style living room that goes perfectly with the shabby-chicness of linen.

To top it all off, linen itself is a functional natural fabric, breathable and comfortable. It’s perfect on the sofa and easy to love by everyone, from the lovers of luxury to the most practical-minded folk.

Simply put, linen sofas are worth splurging on.

But is there a way to get a linen sofa without drilling a thousand dollar hole in your wallet? Yes, there is! I’ll show you how to get a linen sofa without buying a new one.

In fact, this linen sofa will be better than anything found in shops — a 100% pure luxurious linen sofa tailored to your very taste. What’s the secret? Tailored linen slipcovers.

Let’s discover what makes them are so great:

Turn any sofa you want into its linen self

linen ektorp sofa — IKEA Ektorp sofa turned linen

The best thing about linen sofa covers is that they will linenify (yes, now a word) any sofa you choose, as long as it is slipcoverable.

No, not the thin and stretchy $30 slipcovers that you find on social media. We’re talking real bespoke sofa covers that are tailor-fitted for your sofa.

You can slipcover almost any sofa, and you’ll guarantee you and your butt will enjoy the rest of the sofa (and not just the fabric).

Because what’s the point in splurging on great fabric if the sofa underneath isn’t comfortable?

100% pure linen

Anyone who has perused through the fabric details of most linen sofas sold online will know: they aren’t pure linen.

Oftentimes, the fabric isn’t even half linen and is instead linen blended with lots of cheaper alternatives to keep costs down.

Well don’t settle for the linen look when you can have the real thing instead. That’s 100% pure luxurious linen and all its wonderful properties, on your sofa.

The best part is that you’ll be spending even less than what it cost to buy a new sofa. That’s another one of the many benefits to upcycling your existing furniture.

Easy to clean

What’s better than a linen sofa? A machine washable linen sofa!

Of course, the sofa itself can’t go into the washing machine but the slipcovers sure can. They are pre-shrunk and washing machine friendly.

Slip the covers on and off in under 15 minutes. Throw them into the wash and banish those grease and pasta stains. Talk about functional AND stylish.

You can even use your couch with its current fabric while the slipcovers are being washed so you’ll always have a place to sit :)

Or you could reuse the slipcovers on a replacement couch of the same model in the unfortunate circumstance that your couch spontaneously combusts (and somehow leaves only the slipcovers). Hate it when that happens.

Gorgeous styles

Ever dreamed of having that gorgeous Scandinavian style living room but couldn’t quite get your sofa to mesh with the look?

If there were a way to customise that existing sofa the way you want then you wouldn’t be sofa shopping in the first place.

The good news is: there is a way to do that! And not only are you given the option to change-up your sofa fabric to linen, but also the entire style of the sofa. All it takes is a little tailoring magic to change the look.

So go farmhouse, go modern, go minimalist or go something completely different with preset slipcover styles. It’s amazing how many different personalities the same sofa can have.

IKEA Soderhamn linen sofa — IKEA Soderhamn turned linen

Less Wasteful

Get everything you want in a linen sofa without sending your old sofa to landfill.

All it takes is a sofa cover, which will make it look like magic has rewound the clock on your sofa. Even if it’s raggy and stained to the point no amount of scrubbing will make it look clean again.

As long as the frame and cushions are holding up, it can be recovered. Oh, as long as it doesn’t smell too bad as well but who’s judging.

Anyway, pay for the fabric instead of the rest of the couch. This way you’ll get what you want without making the planet a dirtier place.

Waste not, want not!

Ready to turn your sofa into a linen sofa? Learn more about the linen we use, its properties and the colors you can choose from here:

Discover Pure Linen Slipcovers

Month: June 2020