IKEA Uppland sofa review – A new classic

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Overview
  2. Comfort
  3. Design & aesthetics
  4. Price & construction
  5. Verdict

It’s the end of an age for IKEA. At least that’s how it felt like when they discontinued their most popular couch, the Ektorp.

Having been a catalog constant for over a decade, IKEA fans across the US and Canada (where the Ektorp was discontinued) were caught unprepared by its sudden departure.

And they didn’t take it well – replacement covers for the Ektorp were fought over like toilet paper in a pandemic. We thought that wasn’t necessary because there are replacement Ektorp slipcovers of various fabrics, designs and colours for you at Comfort Works. 

Now, back to the successor of the most popular sofa in the world, the Uppland. It certainly has some big shoes to fill. And how is it doing? We’ll let you know all the details in this IKEA Uppland sofa review.

Overview

The Uppland is similar to the Ektorp. IKEA obviously wanted to fill the void left by the Ektorp as much as possible. 

IKEA-Ektorp-sofa-grey-slipcovers-pillows-throws
Image credit: Comfort Works

They even went so far as to release the exact same configurations for the Uppland:

Without reading the labels, nobody would guess this was a new couch. It has the same silhouette and colours that the Ektorp came in.

What is surprising however is that the dimensions on the Uppland are a far cry from the Ektorp (by IKEA standards). It’s clear that this rehash isn’t the same as when they discontinued the Vimle and released the Finnala with a half an inch increase to the backrest and armrests height…

No, this time they’ve made real, noticeable changes. The otherwise “safe” design of the Ektorp has been remodeled into a significantly higher and deeper couch, with longer armrests.

Without the back cushions, the back of the Uppland is 2 inches higher than its predecessor and a whopping 5 inches higher with them. That’s not to mention the 4 inches of added seating depth that drastically changes the way the couch feels to sit on.

Like all of their other regional-specific overhauls, I assume all these “upgrades” were made to accommodate their western audience better.

So how comfortable is the Uppland after these sweeping changes? It’s very comfortable indeed! But some may not appreciate the fact they can no longer touch the ground while fully rested on the back cushions.

Comfort

The Uppland is a big improvement over the Ektorp comfort-wise. Chances are, you’ll love it too. 

Like its predecessor, the Uppland is a very classic round arm sofa. This time, the added seating depth makes it far more loungy.

While the Ektorp had a rather attentive sit, the Uppland is far more relaxed – perfect for those lazy Netflix nights. Still, it’s not too loungy by any means since 23” of seating depth isn’t extreme by couch standards.

Even paired with its increased height off the ground, you’ll still be able to touch the floor comfortably if you’re above 5’7”. Perhaps how high it sits is one reason why the Uppland feels incredibly easy to spring up off.

Or maybe it’s the fact that the seat cushions have springs in them now (which is big news for IKEA couches)… or maybe it’s because the cushions are way overstuffed, which adds even more height.

Whatever it is, this couch is really easy to get on and off from, which is a godsend for anyone with bad knees.

Somehow despite how plump the seat cushions are, the Uppland is not the most cloud-like either. It’s supportive and will let you sink a little into it, but is surprisingly firm-ish compared to its appearance.

The Ektorp which wasn’t the most squishy couch to begin with, so the Uppland is even more comfortable – both to sleep on and sit on. I’d say it gets a solid 9/10 on the scale of IKEA comfort.

Props to the fact that armrests are at the right height to rest your head against when laying down as well 🙂

Comfort score: 9/10

Design and aesthetics

IKEA-Ektorp-sofa-cream-linen-slipcovers
Image credit: Comfort Works

The aesthetic of the Uppland is rather unexciting. Classic and good looking, yes; but not exciting.

What’s there to say? It’s the same as the Ektorp – a traditional round arm couch.

Even the slipcover colour choices are the same as the ones we’re used to with the Ektorp.

Personally, I’m a big fan of the fact there are a whole 7 colour choices. That’s way more than what you get with other IKEA couches!

It could do with a wider selection of bold colours though.

Given the colours and shape, the Uppland looks like it would work wonders in more grown-up homes or those going for the farmhouse/cottage look (especially in white) but maybe that’s just me?

Aesthetic score: 8/10

Price and construction

IKEA-Uppland-Sofa-Hallarp-Beige
Image credit: IKEA

The Uppland loveseat starts at USD 649 at the time of writing (November 2022).

The Uppland is as budget-friendly as its predecessor despite the fact it now includes spring support in the cushions.

There weren’t many complaints about the Ektorp cushions losing shape, but the addition of springs will eliminate these completely. And if that wasn’t enough, the Uppland also comes with IKEA’s 10-year guarantee for the frame and cushions.

Not likely you’ll need to use it in the first place, seeing as the frame is essentially one solid thick piece, unlike something like the Soderhamn. Basically it gives a good impression it’ll hold up to normal, non couch-trampoline usage.

Another unique feature of the Uppland is that the seat cushions are easier than ever to get into their covers. There’s a long zipper that completely opens up at the bottom of the cover for easy slipping in.

Having stuffed lots of IKEA couch cushions into their respective slipcovers, I can appreciate this genius! It makes things so easy. On the reverse side, you cannot flip the seat cushions like you could do with the Ektorp.

With all that, even a 10/10 score for this category wouldn’t be too much of a stretch!

Price & construction: 10/10

Verdict

What a couch!

It was daring to reinvent the wheel on their tried and tested Ektorp but you can tell that IKEA put serious thought into these changes. They want to make this America’s next top round arm couch.

It’s especially telling that they’ve taken the Uppland further in the direction (seating wise) of the famous Pottery Barn basic round arm couch, but much more affordable.

With such a juicy offering, it’s hard to justify the value of buying a round arm couch from more upmarket brands. Especially when there’s so few reasons not to like the Uppland.

Be sure to head into one of IKEA’s showrooms and compare them for yourself!

Overall score: 9/10

Thinking of getting an Uppland but want something more than the standard IKEA slipcover choices? Consider designing your own custom cover! From colour to material to style, you choose it all to best fit your home. You can even order the Uppland without the cover and use your own. How awesome is that?

Interested? Visit us on our website to check out all the colors and fabrics you can get your IKEA Uppland sofa in:

Upp-grade your Uppland

3 things you didn’t know about IKEA

So your entire living room is decked out in IKEA. You may have a wine glass or two, or a decorative bowl you got on a whim just before heading to checkout.

I was recently at IKEA for one of those adjustable standing desks (why the legs don’t just come with the desks, I’ll never know) and wondered what actually makes it the place to be.

From its unconventional practices down to some IKEA hacks you can try out for yourself, here are 3 things you may not have known about.  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Everything about IKEA is designed to make you buy more
  2. The size of your sofa may differ – where you are matters
  3. You can order an IKEA sofa without the cover

Everything about IKEA is designed to make you buy more

Between IKEA’s maze of a layout and the psychology of meticulously curated items, IKEA does a great job of tricking you into thinking you need more (yes, that glossy pink mug too). The best part? It works.

Pink mugs on a dining table.
The IKEA Färgklar mug, in case you were wondering.

While most retailers strive to create a seamless shopping experience, IKEA seems to break all the rules when it comes to floor plan design.

“All I wanted was a damn $40 nightstand but I had to trek through a 2-hour maze to get there.”

– a disheartened Redditor

Those yellow, conveniently-placed shopping bags aren’t there by coincidence either – it allows even the most casual of shoppers to make an impulsive purchase.

A hack that I’ve personally discovered is going through the registers, instead of the entrance. This way, you can head directly to where you need to be (without walking past the entire IKEA catalogue).

The size of your sofa may differ – where you are matters

As of October 2022, IKEA has 456 stores across 62 countries worldwide. It wouldn’t make sense for them to have a standardised offering – especially when they’re catering to people of different regions, builds and such.

IKEA’s solution is to produce the same sofas in differing dimensions – some even have different versions altogether.

Light grey sofa in a living room.
The IKEA Söderhamn compact sofa

Take IKEA Japan for example: they offer compact versions for several series like the Söderhamn, Karlstad and Klippan, taking into account that its population generally has smaller frames. There are also size variations of the Flottebo in the US and Europe.

Dimensions aside, there are sofas with different arm types i.e. the wide arm vs. slim arm version like the Vimle. This is why you’ll notice slight variations of the same sofa, or nearly identical sofas that go by alternative names.

Dark grey sofa in a living room.
The IKEA Vimle 3-seater sofa, with wide armrests

If you can’t tell which model you have at home, you can go ahead and ask us here.

You can order an IKEA sofa without the cover

Yes, you read that right. Between IKEA’s limited color options and how their slipcovers are frequently sold out, it can be a frustrating (read: disappointing) experience. 

That’s why we set out to find the best way to go about it – here’s how you can do it too.

Bare sofa in a living room.
A naked IKEA sofa, ready for a slipcover

Once your sofa has been safely delivered to your home, you can now dress it up in some new covers. We make replacement slipcovers for a large range of brands including IKEA, West Elm, Crate & Barrel and more.

Our fabric collections feature a great mix of trendy, stylish shades, and timeless neutrals you know and love. Click on the button below to sample our fabrics!

Get fabric samples now

IKEA Soderhamn sofa review – lounge once, never get back up

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Overview
  2. Comfort
  3. Price & durability
  4. Design, aesthetics & hackability
  5. Verdict

Overview

Launched in 2013, the Söderhamn has come a long way since then. However, the fact that it’s still available in various countries in 2022, the IKEA Söderhamn is going strong even after almost 10 years of being in the market.

Does it really have what it takes to pass the Comfort Works’s sofa standards? Here in this IKEA Söderhamn sofa review, we reveal the details since we’ve got our first ever Söderhamns in 2015.

Comfort

First thing I noticed were that the Söderhamns have very, very thin seat cushions, “this can’t be comfortable” I thought. I was wrong.

Here’s how it went: Because the Söderhamn is lower than the average sofa height (only 39cm), I had to lower myself slowly down so as not to add too much pressure to my knees (youngsters nowadays are less healthy). But once I sat on it, I realised: OK this is the end of my work day.

It is that comfy. The fact that it has very deep (70cm) and cushy cushions makes it very easy to change all the plans that you have for the day and just…lay there with a book, your phone or with Netflix turned on the whole day. That’s because they use a netting-like base underneath the seat cushions for that extra softness.

For those with back issues, we do not recommend this sofa because with the soft back cushions AND seat cushions, there really is no way you’re able to sit properly. If you remove the back cushions though, and add a small, firm pillow for your lower back, then it would probably be somewhat better.

Comfort: 8.5/10

Price and durability

Due to how modular this seat is (we’ll talk about this later), we’re just going to display the price for the 1-seat section and 3-seat sofa as there are just too many variations you can fix up with the Söderhamn.

1-seat corner section (with armrests): USD300 – USD350
1-seat section (without the armrests): USD339 – USD379
3-seat sofa (with armrests): USD749 – USD899
Chaise lounge: USD360 – USD470

Wondering why the 1-seat section with armrests is cheaper than the 1-seat section without the armrest? Us, too. But. we’ve got a Söderhamn hack here to help you save a little of that money and get the best bang out of your buck.

So, if we use the price of the pre-constructed 3-seat sofa as a benchmark, the price would be in the low to mid-range category. With this price, what makes it better is that the Söderhamns in our office are still very comfortable to lounge on even after 7 years. Maybe it’s because it’s already so soft since the beginning of time, there’s no way it would become worse, just better and better (for the loungers).

As for how it’s standing at this point of time, it’s great. It’s been 7 years! There are no signs of it breaking down (or anytime soon), its frame is still very sturdy as people plop down daily for a quick break.

We change its slipcovers every now and then, so it’s quite refreshing to see slipcovers of different colours and materials change the kind of look the Söderhamn offers.

Durability: 9/10

Design, aesthetics and hackability

So, as we mentioned earlier, the IKEA Söderhamn looks skinny (from its armrests to the seat cushion and steel legs). It just doesn’t look as reliable as how the IKEA Vimle looks – big, sturdy and secure. 

The Söderhamn may look chic and modern, but it really depends on how you dress it up.

For example, if you wanted a Scandinavian design, our Cotton Canvas White slipcovers with a long skirt would be a great fit. 

white-IKEA-Soderhamn-sofa-rooftop-room-scandinavian-home
Image credit: Comfort Works

Dress your IKEA Söderhamn in Pure Linen Natural slipcovers and our replacement sofa legs for this boho-chic look.

IKEA-Soderhamn-sofa-linen-slipcovers-boho-chic-home
Image: The Sorry Girls

We make vegan leather slipcovers for the Söderhamn too. You can also swap the legs out for our Bailey Wooden Sofa Legs for a vintage sofa look.

One big selling point of the Söderhamn is that it’s modular. This means you can purchase sofa sections and combine them together to form the ideal size and arrangement that you want. Depending on the size of your family, your home or your lifestyle needs, you can use the IKEA Söderhamn planner to achieve that.

In fact, it’s so easy to modify that we hacked the Söderhamn a few times ourselves. We actually made it into a three-seat section with 2 individual seats and even hacked it entirely into a premium sofa lookalike

Design: 8.5/10
Hackability: 9.5/10

Verdict

All in all, the Söderhamn is simply modern, affordable, comfortable and so easy to modify. We’re giving it a 9 out of 10.

Maybe we’d give it a 10/10 if they came in our slipcovers…

How did you enjoy our IKEA Söderhamn sofa review? Let us know in the comments below.

Make your Soderhamn a 10/10

The average cost to reupholster a couch and… do I need it?

Should you go down the route of reupholstering your couch? What is the average cost to reupholster a couch and what are the alternatives?

The sofa struggle is real, but we’re here to help. Read on for all the answers, approximate prices and insider tips you need to make the most informed decision about whether or not to reupholster your sofa.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. First up: how much does reupholstery cost?
2. How much is it to reupholster a couch on your own?
3. How much does a slipcover cost then?
4. When should I buy a new slipcover?
5. When do I need to reupholster?
6. Can I get a slipcover for my upholstered sofa?

First up: how much does reupholstery cost?

According to Angi, the national average cost to reupholster your couch in the USA starts from $600 and can go up to $4,000. 

Let’s see how much each type of sofa costs:

Type of sofaReupholstery cost
Loveseat$600 – $2,000
Sectionals$2,000 – $4,000
Ottoman$300 – $700
Chaise lounge$900 – $1,500

Transport

If it’s just the ottoman, you’re most likely able to transport it to the upholsterer using your car. However, if it’s your 3-seater or 5-seater that you’re going to want to reupholster, you’re going to need to pay $100-$300 per trip to get it transported. With the help of professional movers though, it’s safer and without any scratches during the move.

Fabric

Upholstery fabrics count for one of the most expensive parts of this process. They can range from as low as $10 to as high as $100 per yard.

Fabric typeCost per yard
Polyester$10
General fabrics (cotton, tweed, linen etc)$50 – $70
Silk, velvet$100
Leather$30 – $70
blue-fabric-samples-sofa-upholstery-fabric
Fabric samples

To put that in perspective, it takes about 14-16 yards to reupholster a standard 2-seater sofa (about 72 inches), and about 7 yards of fabric to reupholster a standard armchair. That means the fabric alone for your 2-seater sofa could cost anywhere from $140 to $1,600. If you have a 5-seater IKEA Kivik sofa, it could cost around $3,000 just for the reupholstery itself.

Workmanship

Workmanship costs vary greatly depending on the experience of the upholsterer, but you can use our estimates as a basic guideline. An average chair or couch will cost between $500 and $1,000 and it can take up to 1 month for the reupholstery process for large items. That means you will not have a sofa at home for about a month until it’s ready.

Cleaning

If you’re thinking about the cost to hire professionals to clean your upholstery, you have to be prepared to pay $125-$225 per visit. But, you can rest assured that the professionals will do an excellent job when it comes to cleaning your upholstery (much better than us trying on our own).

How much is it to reupholster a couch on your own?

It’s definitely cheaper to reupholster the couch on your own. The tools for hammering, stapling and sewing will cost from $50-$200. Add that on to the cost of the fabric by the yard, and you’re good to go!

So, a standard 2-seater DIY reupholstery job using a medium-range fabric ($50) will cost around $800.

Fabric: 14 yards x $50 = $700
Tools: $100
Total: $700 + $100 = $800

You may not be paying for the labour cost, but you’ll be working really hard to get this done and I’ll tell you, it isn’t easy! Check out this post of our own DIY reupholstery.

After considering the cost and the need to reupholster (or not), if your answer is no, we’ve got an option for you: slipcovers!

How much does a slipcover cost then?

IKEA-Manstad-brown-vegan-leather-slipcovers-with-piano-in-living-room
IKEA Manstad in Savannah Saddle slipcovers

Spoiler alert: A lot less. The costs involved in producing sofa slipcovers are much cheaper than those of a new sofa or reupholstering an old sofa.

For a standard 2-seater sofa slipcover, it will cost about $239 in Comfort Works’ most affordable fabric option – the Everyday Weave. As for a sectional like the Kivik 5-seater, that will cost around $799 in our soft, comfortable Brushed Cotton fabric. 

How do sofa slipcovers compare to upholstery:

SlipcoverUpholstery
Lower costHigher cost
Machine-washable/Spot-cleanRequires professional cleaning for best results
Use the same sofa while waiting for slipcover delivery in 2-3 weeksNo sofa for 1 month during the reupholstering process
Free worldwide delivery (USD150 & above)Furniture transportation fee
Easy to slip on and removeHard to put on and remove (probably requires professionals)

Other cool benefits of using our slipcovers: 

When should I buy a new slipcover?

IKEA-Vallentuna-in-white-linen-slipcovers-minimalist-design-living-room
IKEA Vallentuna in Pure Linen Natural sofa slipcovers

You’ll probably need a new slipcover when:

  • Your sofa fabrics are old, outdated or frayed – but the sofa itself is still comfy.
  • You’ve just bought a new sofa and want it to last many years.
  • You have kids or pets and need to wash your slipcovers frequently.
  • You love your sofa and it has a lot of sentimental value for you. (Who can blame you?)

When do I need to reupholster?

You should go down the upholstery route if:

  • Your sofa isn’t comfy and its cushions are very difficult to change.
  • The couch cushions have little holes or perforations.
  • Your sofa has a design which doesn’t allow you to create a slipcover.

If the batting or foam of your cushions is completely worn out and flat, you’ll most likely have to change it completely, and an upholsterer can help with that. You’ll be looking at about $40 for a seat cushion (made of foam and dacron batting) and $70 for a back cushion (made of polyfill usually).

Can I get a slipcover for my upholstered sofa?

Signs point to… yes!

At Comfort Works we can create customised slipcovers for your upholstered sofa. Of course, there are a few limitations and we can’t manufacture covers for all the sofas in the world (yet). Check out the infographic below to see if your sofa is one we can cover, or send us an email and we’ll tell you if your sofa is slipcoverable.

Can you slipcover my sofa?

How easy is it to put a slipcover on an IKEA sofa?

“How hard is it to put a slipcover on?”

Newsflash: It actually isn’t. While the process may seem intimidating, it’s one of those things that you do once and will never forget (even if you wanted to). Personally, I remember sitting on the floor with an Allen Key, completely lost and just not knowing what to do with myself.

Here’s a breakdown of how you can get a slipcover, the options you have, and just how easy it is to put a slipcover on.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Where do I get an IKEA slipcover?
  2. What are the alternatives to IKEA’s own slipcovers?
  3. Will I need to disassemble my IKEA sofa to put on the covers?
  4. What if my sofa has been discontinued?
  5. Wrap-up

Where do I get an IKEA slipcover?

The answer is unsurprisingly: IKEA! Their slipcover selections are available alongside the sofa model on their site.

Slipcover options for the IKEA Lycksele.
Cover options for the IKEA Lycksele 2-seat sofa-bed

In an ideal world, you would be able to get your sofa *and* covers in the same place. While IKEA has stepped up when it comes to its slipcover selections, there is much room for improvement:

1. Your choices are usually between a plain beige, or an outlandish colour not many would consider.

2. Some sofa models just don’t come with slipcovers (the snug kind, at least). Did you know the IKEA Friheten didn’t originally come with a cover?

3. IKEA covers also get stuck in a vicious cycle of ‘sold out’ – because the sofa is just that popular. We’ve heard our own customers say that it takes months for covers to be available in-store.

What are the alternatives to IKEA’s own slipcovers?

The good news is that IKEA isn’t the only option around. Here at Comfort Works, we have a slipcover for just about any household. These are some customers we’ve heard from:

“We have an NYC apartment with a large dog and would love a slipcover for our couch”

Claw-proof Velvet is scratch-resistant, and has been proven to survive the claws of determined cats and dogs!

A dog on a green armchair.
Claw-proof Velvet Moss on an IKEA Koarp Armchair

Perfect for: Fur-parents (and would-be fur parents if you’re planning on getting a pet!)

“My son will eat just about anywhere but the dining table, spills soda and leaves little crumbs all over our couch. Any suggestions?”

Performance Weave is nano-coated to repel liquids and stains ideal for easy clean-up.

Beige sofa in a living room.
Performance Weave Cream on an IKEA Flottebo Sofa-bed

Perfect for: Active, busy homes (or just clumsy people, no shame there).

“I love napping and stretching out on my couch after a long week I’d like something low-maintenance. Do you have something that doesn’t wrinkle as much?”

Comfort Chenille is ultra soft, wrinkle-free and keeps you at the right temperature, at all times.

A dusty pink armchair and sofa in a living room.
Image credit: Comfort Works partnership/Mariko Oka

Perfect for: Naptime enthusiasts and get-out-of-ironing opportunists alike.

Will I need to disassemble my IKEA sofa to put on the covers?

As with any of IKEA’s slipcovers, you will need to disassemble your sofa depending on the sofa model you own.

That’s not the case with Comfort Works covers, and we have our Signature Styles to thank for it. Designed with zero-disassembly in mind, our covers have never been easier to put on.

A beige sofa with extended flanges at its seams.
IKEA Soderhamn, all dressed up in our Signature Style

We’ve also picked up a tip that will help you get your covers on with ease i.e. fitting your covers on while slightly damp. This will help the slipcover go on without much resistance giving it the ideal, snug-fit finish.

What if my sofa has been discontinued?

Don’t worry: we make IKEA covers from a mix of currently-available and discontinued sofas.

A person working in an office room.
Can’t talk right now, designing slipcovers

If you happen to own an IKEA sofa that we can slipcover and it isn’t on our site just yet, we’d be more than happy to help (in exchange for your sofa measurements, of course).

Wrap-up

Now that disassembling your IKEA sofa is a thing of the past, it’s time to consider ordering that slipcover (yes, the one that’s been sitting in your cart). Click on the button below to check out our Signature style for your IKEA sofa.

Find my IKEA sofa

IKEA Vimle sofa review – IKEA’s biggest hit

The Vimle sofa might just continue being IKEA’s biggest hit for many years to come. It’s simple, comfy, elegant and modular.

It blends well with many different looks and can be adapted into many different decorative styles for your living room, which makes it easy to pull off a different look for every season while still keeping the same sofa.

The Vimle design isn’t too risky, and that’s precisely why we like it. Every now and then, IKEA goes back to the contemporary look, making the Vimle perfect for a broad range of styles and personalities.

To give you a better idea on why you should get this sofa, here’s our in-depth IKEA Vimle sofa review just for you.

P.S: The IKEA Vimle is now called “Finnala” in the US and Canada (with some improvements made), but the name “Vimle” remains in other parts of the world. 

In this post we’ll be talking solely about the Vimle, not the Finnala. There’s a separate review on the Finnala that you can check out.

TABLE OF CONTENT

  1. Overview
  2. Comfort
  3. Aesthetics
  4. Price
  5. Durability
  6. Verdict

 Overview

The Vimle sofa comes in a few different sizes and combinations. Here are a few options to choose from:

  • 2-seater
  • 3-seater
  • 4-seater
  • 4-seat sofa with chaise lounge
  • 3-seat corner sofa
  • 4-seat corner sofa
  • 5-seat corner sofa with/without chaise lounge
  • 6-seat U-shaped sofa
  • Footstool with storage
  • Armchair
  • 2-seat sofa bed
  • 3-seat sofa bed with/without chaise lounge

As you can tell, there’s quite a lot you can do with the Vimle. And since it’s modular, you can buy each piece individually and combine them to achieve the exact look you’re going for in your living room. There’s even a Vimle planner on IKEA for you to customise your Vimle from scratch.

Comfort: 7/10

Have you ever sat on the IKEA Karlstad sofa? Well, the Vimle is very similar to the Karlstad in its depth and height but the Vimle is noticeably wider.

The Vimle might not look like the most comfortable or inviting sofa to rest on, but those assumptions go away the moment you start sitting on it.

It’s big enough to comfortably fit people who are almost 6-feet tall, and the 3-seater Vimle is wide enough for a good nap.

Although we were initially quite surprised by the quality and build of the Vimle, one of the only drawbacks might be their armrests. They are tall and thin, making them a little difficult to sit on when you’re having a party with more people than cushion seats.

And since they’re thin and tall, resting your head on these armrests might not be the most comfortable thing to do on the Vimle.

Though this could be easily dealt with by adding a few throw pillows or cushions, we feel that these armrests are the only drawback from this otherwise perfect sofa.

Update (2022): There is the “wide-arm” option for the Vimle sofas now! The old one with tall and thin armrests are still available, but the newer option has lower and wider armrests that measure at 54cm in height and 22cm in width. The first version of IKEA Vimle has armrests that are 65cm/68cm in height and 15cm in width. IKEA must have heard us and other people! Who doesn’t love improvements, AND options?

Aesthetics: 8/10

One of the things we love most about the Vimle is its versatile design. It’s simple, yet elegant build can compliment almost any kind of look and style in your living room.

As we mentioned earlier, the design of the Vimle is anything but risky. It’s simple — and almost minimal — look, makes it easy for just about anyone to fall in love with.

What’s the catch? You can only get the Vimle from IKEA in just 6 colours: Gunnared Beige, Gunnared Medium Grey, Hallarp Beige, Hallarp Grey, Saxemara Black-Blue, Saxemara Light Blue.

Price: 7/10

The prices of the Vimle IKEA sofas are relatively standard. It’s certainly not one of IKEA’s most expensive ranges of sofas, and we think that the quality-price ratio is very acceptable.

A 2-seater IKEA Vimle sofa in Saxemara Light Blue costs £450 and a U-shaped 6-seater in Bomstad Black fabric costs £3,228. If you don’t have a big family and a comfortable sofa will do, £1,000 could get you a 3-seater, with a balance.

What do you think?

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Quite affordable?

Then take things to the next level by adding some personalised touches to your sofa with our custom covers that are handmade to order.

IKEA-vimle-white-sofa-living-room
Image credit: Comfort Works

Durability: 7.5/10

Just like any other IKEA sofa, the Vimle has a 10-year guarantee. But just because it has that 10-year guarantee, doesn’t mean that we didn’t put it to the test.

That’s why we went to IKEA and tried in every way possible. We sat on it, laid on it, open and shut the chaise lounge and footstool over and over again, and even tested the unions between different modules.

We tested it to our heart’s content, and we have to admit that once you actually sit on the Vimle, you can’t help but to trust in its comfort and support.

The Vimle does indeed have a solid structure, even when it’s combined with other pieces. The unions between the individual modules and legs of the Vimle are also strong and reliable.

It never fails to retain its solid and stable structure. It ensures a consistent level of comfort, making the Vimle an all-time favourite in our books.

Verdict: 7.5/10

We’ve been having a lot of discussions among the Comfort Works team, and this is our overall score on the IKEA Vimle sofa:

  • Comfort: 7/10
  • Aesthetics: 8/10
  • Price: 7/10
  • Durability: 7.5/10 
  • Final Verdict: 7.5/10

The Vimle scores a solid 7.5/10 in our final verdict. It is a well-rounded sofa with a great design, and build quality to back it up. It checks all the boxes and has scored well in all the things we consider crucial in a good sofa.

And guess what? We loved the Vimle so much that we went ahead to include it in our roster of customisable slipcovers. 

Add a personal touch to your Vimle sofa. Browse through our wide selection of fabrics and styling options that can help take your living room to the next level.

IKEA-Vimle-grey-couch-covers
Image credit: saidastyles

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