October 12, 2022 - Comfort Works Blog & Sofa Resources

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview & price
Technical details
Designs, aesthetics & slipcoverability
Comfort
Verdict

Overview and price

Launched around October 2017 and designed by C Halskov/H Dalsgaard, the Flottebo is not how a sofa in a home would normally look – it’s really more like a sofa you’d see at a waiting room of the dentist’s office.

Even though it’s marketed as a sofa bed, it isn’t the same as the other sofa beds commonly found in IKEA. Instead of pulling out the top of the sofa to turn it into a bed, you simply shift the cushions around, make space and there you get a bed.

The Flottebo sofa is currently only available in Australia, starting from a price of AUD1,099 depending on the colour.

IKEA Flottebo Vissle Dark Grey — *Image: IKEA*

Technical details

When it was initially launched, 2 models with different seat depths were offered: 90cm and 120cm. However, we’re now left with the 120cm model, which I think is better anyways because as a tall person, I’d never complain about more seat depth and space. With a width of 120cm and bed length of 200cm, the IKEA Flottebo would be great as my day bed. But also, the fact that the sofa bed is 200cm makes it not so ideal for smaller spaces.

IKEA Flottebo measurements — *Image: IKEA*

Designs, aesthetics & slipcoverability

The Flottebo comes in 3 colours: Gunnared Medium Grey, Vissle Dark Grey and Vissle Purple. They’re all removable covers made out of 100% polyester.

This model has a storage compartment beneath for you to store anything from pillows and blankets to accommodate guests when they come to visit. The storage is pretty spacious, but the con is it does not open up enough, so it can be a little inconvenient when you’re trying to retrieve an item from the deeper end.

To prevent the movable cushions from sliding around, they have an underside that’s made out of anti-slip material. This is useful when you decide to shift them into a backrest or a divider for your 2 children who argued just a while ago and haven’t made up yet.

Design rating: 6.5/10

IKEA Flottebo sofa bed storage — *Image: IKEA*

Comfort

The Flottebo’s individually wrapped pocket springs offer sufficient density to the seats, so the seat cushions are on the firmer side. We reckon it’s quite alright to sleep on for a few nights a week. However, we’d still recommend getting a real bed for your back in case you’re thinking of using the IKEA Flottebo as a bed for the long term.

Rating: 7/10

Verdict

Even though the anti-slip material on the cushion creates a bit of a friction with the sofa seat, it doesn’t really help because it still slips when you try to lean your back against the backrest. Unless your IKEA Flottebo is pushed up against a wall, then the cushions can make sturdy backrests. But I personally prefer a higher backrest for a fuller support.

If it’s a sofa you’d purchase for a waiting room or a room where it’s not often being used, the Flottebo would fit very well in the space with its offbeat design. Or, if you’re sure that the sofa will always be leaning against a wall and you don’t intend to ever move it to the centre of the room, then you’ll be fine purchasing the IKEA Flottebo.

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Plan to get a Flottebo but you’re not digging the slipcover designs? Hop on over to our website and make your Flottebo a lot more interesting to look at with our 70+ fabric styles today.

Style up your Flottebo

Have you ever ordered an IKEA slipcover online and you get so excited when they arrive but when you put them on, your sofa looks wrinklier than a raisin? Yeah, we know that one only too well.

So, the most obvious solution would be to iron them. But, it’s going to take you ages to get through the entire set of covers.

And what if, the covers are not meant to be ironed. How on earth would you get rid of those unsightly creases that make your sofa look ten years older than it actually is?

Before we begin, remember to check your slipcover care guide to make sure you’re able to use the methods below to get a wrinkle-free slipcover. You definitely do not want your slipcover to be damaged when you’re only trying to make it look better!

#1 Hot-Water Spray

The first fix for wrinkled sofa slipcovers is one we picked up from the staff at IKEA. And you’ll be able to find everything you need around the house.

What you’ll need is:

A spray bottle filled with somewhat hot water (about 50°- 60°C would do) and;
Your (clean) hands

Here’s how it goes down:

spray hot water on sofa cover — *Image: The Graphics Fairy*

So, first, lightly spray some of the hot water onto your super wrinkled sofa slipcovers.

smooth sofa cover with hands — *Image: The Graphics Fairy*

Then, smooth them over with your hands and let dry.

Wrinkle-free Sofa — *Image: The Graphics Fairy*

And, voila! Wrinkles gone!

Here’s a before and after of the slipcovers from the back.

before and after of wrinkled sofa cover — *Image: The Graphics Fairy*

#2 Damp Slipcovers Hack

This hack works really well with almost all types of wrinkled slipcovers without having as much manual work.

Here’s what you need to do:

dry sheets in the sun — *Image: Pinterest*

After a wash, air-dry them until about 75 – 80% dry.

Put them back on your sofa.

Smoothing Wrinkles with Hands — *Image: Cotton Stem*

Smooth the creases with your hands. Tug and hold for stubborn creases or use a hair dryer. Let dry.

And that’s it! No irons, no steamers, no fuss.

Pretty neat, huh?

#3 Commercial Wrinkle Removers

Another way to solve your wrinkled sofa slipcovers predicament is by using commercial wrinkle removers, which easily find at your local laundry or even at departmental stores.

Downy wrinkle spray for sofa covers — *Image: Your Modern Family*

All you need to do is spray a generous amount on the covers.

Hold them taut for about 2 minutes.

Let them air-dry.

Spray on, hold and bye bye wrinkles. It’s as simple as that.

#4 Roll-Up Hack

This is probably the only hack with the almost zero hands-on time. You can just set it and go about your daily routine.

Here’s how it works:

roll up fabric cloth — *Image: purewow.com*

Lay your wrinkled sofa slipcovers on a flat surface and roll it up. Make sure you smooth out the big wrinkles as you roll it.

And place the roll under the mattress. Or anything that’s heavy. Leave it for about 30 minutes to an hour.

Remove and unroll it and you would have a set of “pressed” sofa slipcovers.

If wrinkle-free slipcovers sound good to you, take our soft, feathery Eco Chenille or Comfort Chenille for a test run. Maybe you could then say goodbye to wrinkled sofa slipcovers, now and forever more.

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