How does the IKEA Grönlid compare to the IKEA Ektorp, given that they’re both quite similar?
Let’s break it down.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Aesthetics
Design-wise, I personally feel the Grönlid mirrors the Ektorp quite closely. Chuck thinks the Grönlid is what we’d have if the Ektorp and the now-discontinued Vimle had a baby. We agreed to disagree.
Armrests
The armrests on the Grönlid are a traditional round arm shape, but not as chunky as the Ektorp. This gives the Grönlid a much more clean and refined shape, overall.
IKEA designers Ehlén Johansson & Francis Cayouette also thought of the little things. Notice that the Grönlid’s piping style is much more subtle compared to the more traditional style on the Ektorp.
The armrests are quite a distance from the seat, creating a seat cubicle that you can retreat into. The only thing is, when you actually want to use the armrests, it can be a tad uncomfortable.
Colour choices
IKEA didn’t give us much choice on the covers for this one. They seemed to have gained inspiration from nature (again) and frankly, it gets a bit dull after a while.
Here are some of the colours offered at IKEA Britain:
The Sporda Dark Grey is perfect if you’re a parent (pet-parents included). You probably have to worry less about colour marker stains when your toddler gets his Picasso on.
The Tallmyra Light Green is a sweet, teal colour and would go great with a mostly white decor or even those with a more natural, wooden feel.
The Sporda Natural works with almost any decor – a standard neutral sofa.
The Tibbleby Beige/Grey is a perfect choice for parents who want a modern touch in the living room and for times when their little ones decide to work on a “project” on the sofa.
The Inseros White is great if you like a sofa that’s very simple and don’t mind the maintenance of its white couch covers.
The Tallmyra Light Red is one of the more vibrant colours in the Gronlid series and it’s for those who like something a bit more sporty in their living room.
In a nutshell, the colour choices available for the IKEA Grönlid are all of what I call “IKEA colours”, borrowed from nature and distressingly overused.
If you too are feeling uninspired by the standard IKEA colour offerings, we’re happy to report that you can order your own custom made Grönlid sofa covers from Comfort Works. (We have over 70 different fabric options!)
Aesthetic score: 6/10
Comfort
In terms of comfort, the Grönlid is a clear winner in the IKEA family. We’ve taken into account all the comfort factors that we could think of for the Grönlid.
Cushion thickness
The cushions on the Grönlid speak for themselves in terms of comfort. Essentially, they make you feel like you’re sitting on square clouds. The seat cushions are domed on the top (a little like the Vimle) because of the extra fibre stuffing. (Maybe there is some truth to Chuck’s Ektorp met Vimle theory.)
Seat depth
The seat depth on the Grönlid is about 20% deeper compared to the Ektorp. This extra space is great when you want to lean back to the maximum or if you need space for your laptop. The extra depth is also great for napping, whether for adults or children.
The only setback is that it’s a little hard to get out of because of the extra deep seats but maybe IKEA just wanted people to stay relaxed a little longer.
Loose back cushions
The movable cushions on the back of the Grönlid give you the freedom to adjust them to your preferred comfort level. They’re also great if you need something to prop your head on when taking a nap.
Nap-ability
Yep, we did try taking a nap on the Grönlid we found at IKEA and it was possibly the best IKEA nap ever! The cushions are so soft yet they provide flawless support. The fibre layers in the seat cushions conform to your body and keep you fully supported during naptime.
Comfort score: 9/10
Hackability
The Grönlid, as with almost all IKEA sofas, leaves the designing to you. You can mix and match the components in the Grönlid series to get the perfect look for your living room.
The Grönlid series comes with the usual shebang of sectionals: footstools, corner units, chaise lounges. But its chunkiness does limit your flexibility in combining the different components available. Just a 3-seat section is good enough to occupy an entire wall on its own.
Hackability score: 3/10
Pricing
Now, it all comes down to this: the price point. Surprisingly, for a super comfortable and cosy sofa, the IKEA Grönlid 3-seater is only GBP 499, compared to the Ektorp 3-seater at GBP 429 (both in their cheapest fabric option, of course).
If you plan to deck your 3-seater out with a chaise here and a footstool there, the price can start to stack up.
Personally, I’d choose the Grönlid blindfolded, based on the comfort factor alone. But I’d stick to the essentials, mainly because the bare minimum is already good enough.
Price score: 7/10
Final verdict
The Grönlid is a decent sofa range addition to IKEA’s catalogue; my only complaint is that the colours are not great.
It gets a gold star for comfort – those cushions are unbelievably soft yet provide great support. The loose cushions are a great touch and it gives your sofa the fluidity to be a daybed, when needed.
Hackability isn’t so great with this series. The price point is within the affordable range and given that you’d be paying a little more for a bigger and better sofa, it makes sense for the Grönlid to cost a little more than the current bad boy on the IKEA block, the Ektorp sofa.
Overall final score: 6/10
If you love the Grönlid but not the standard colours it comes in, or need to give your existing Grönlid an update, have a look at our custom sofa covers. We have over 70 different fabric options for any kind of lifestyle, and all the different Grönlid variations. Go crazy!
