An Honest Review of the IKEA Ektorp Sofas
UPDATE: We have now owned this IKEA sofa and loveseat for five years! They have held up so well and I love them just as much as I did when I bought them!
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Almost every day I get questions about our IKEA sofas, so today I’m going to give you an honest review of these sofas five years after purchasing them.
When we finished the renovation of the family room in our previous home five years ago, I knew that I wanted two sofas with slipcovers so that I could remove them for washing.
I wanted the look of the Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs slipcovered sofas, but without the price tag.
In researching slipcovered sofas, I kept coming across the IKEA Ektorp sofa.
At less than $500, I just couldn’t believe that they were very good quality, but I kept reading positive reviews about them.
When a new IKEA store opened less than 3 hours away, hubby and I decided to go check out the sofas in person, and I was very impressed with the look and feel.
So we decided to take a chance, and we purchased the sofa and loveseat with the Vittaryd White slipcovers.
Both sofas came in large boxes, and they were easy to unpack with very minimal assembly.
I have to tell you that hubby was definitely a bit skeptical…..he really believed that we had wasted money on buying them, and that they would not hold up.
It’s now five years later and I am still in love with these sofas. Hubby and I both love them, and today, five years later, they still look like new. They’ve held up to us sitting on them every day, a major move to another state, and a small 20 lb fur baby that thinks the furniture is hers!
Now, before you comment that “you can’t have those with kids or pets” or “you must not live in that room”…..we absolutely live in the family room and the sofas get lots of wear.
We eat on them, drink our coffee and have red wine while sitting on them, we nap on them, and Miss RubyLou sits, sleeps, and lays on them each and every day.
We have children in and out, and my big granddog (95 lbs) thinks the loveseat is hers. Do they get dirty? Of course they do! Just like any sofa, it gets dirty from normal wear and daily living. But unlike upholstered sofas, I can literally take off the slipcovers and wash them when needed.
I love that the slipcovers can be washed and bleached, so I don’t worry about them getting soiled by spills and stains.
They are very easy to remove and put back on. Brown sofas get dirty…..the difference is that I can wash mine!
Also, the slipcovers come in different colors, as well as dark colors so it’s easy to change the look.
The Ektorp sofa might not work for everyone’s style, but I think they would work for most. You can’t beat the price point or the ease in care.
The pros of the IKEA Ektorp Sofa:
~The price….it just can’t be beat!
~Washable Slipcovers…..they are so easy to keep clean. You can wash the entire slipcover, or individual cushion covers if needed. I usually wash the entire slipcover on both sofas every 2-3 months.
~Replacement Slipcovers…..new slipcovers are very inexpensive, they fit like a glove, and come in different colors so it’s easy to change the look of your room with minimal expense.
~Comfort…..Hubby and I find these sofas to be very comfortable. Hubby and I tend to sit in the same spot on the sofa, so periodically I will rotate cushions to they all wear evenly. The cushions are nice and firm and after five years, they haven’t lost their shape at all.
~Quality…..I think the quality is great! The slipcovers have held up well for the last five years, and the cushions are still firm.
~Getting the Pottery Barn/Ballard Designs look for a whole lot less.
The cons of the IKEA Ektorp sofa:
~Location….not everyone lives close to an IKEA store, but they do ship directly to your door! You will have to pay for shipping, and that might not work for everyone. However, even with shipping, they are less than the Pottery Barn/Ballard Designs version.
~Wrinkles….Sometimes, after washing, the slipcovers will have wrinkles. But I have learned to take them out of the dryer while still slightly damp and put them back on the sofa. This makes it easier to get the slipcover back on, as well as stretches it just enough to remove most of the wrinkles.
The home we live in now is a totally different style than the home we lived in when I originally purchased the IKEA sofas, and they fit into our new space beautifully.
I recently purchased a set of new slipcovers in color Lofallet Beige for a different look and I love them as well.
After five years, I can honestly say that I have zero regrets about buying these sofas.
And, if for some reason, they were destroyed tomorrow, I would purchase them again. They have held up so well for our lifestyle and with our pets!
Cheers, Cindy
Hi Cindy, These are gorgeous! am debating white sofas, have always loved them but have never bought them because I was too scared. I would really love to know what you used to clean the covers with please and what do you use hot or cold water etc? Heidi
Heidi, to clean the slipcovers, I wash in hot water with regular laundry detergent and a little bit of bleach!
Thank you for your article. I have a small dog that likes to sit on the back of our couch and look outside. I assume she would smush down the pillows on this sofa if she did this? Would there be room behind the pillows her her to sit. She’s 5 pounds and fluffy. Thanks
I remembered reading this post a few years ago. I’m wondering if you still feel the same way after another 5 years! We need to furnish our living room and I don’t want to go into debt doing it! The couches won’t get used as often as those in our family room, so I’m thinking we can get something less expensive. I’d love your current thoughts!
Hi Donna! Yes, we still love our IKEA sofas! We’ve had no issues with them at all. After all these years, the only thing I’ve noticed is that the cushions aren’t as firm as they used to be, but I have plans to add more batting to them so that should help. We would purchase them all over again! I hope this helps!
The Ektorp sofa that you own and that everyone loved is no longer available and the sofa that replaced it has mostly one star reviews for poor quality. Just a note of warning.
I had the ektorp and loved it, after going down to find out it was discontinued I sold my set online and switched to the new uppland. I will say they are higher up (I’m only 5’1 ) so my feet do dangle but they’re super comfy!! One thing to know is the new slipcovers come in many different fabrics (white is 100 percent cotton), some are 80cotton 20 polyester and some are 100 percent polyester. I made the mistake of grabbing the polyester one and it was not like my other one. I went back and switched to the 80/20 and it’s way better.
Wonderful info! Thank you for sharing!
Cindy, Thank You for sharing this information for I am shopping for new furniture !! My hubby is tall , and likes a high back on a sofa , How do you feel these sofas are for a tall person?!
Kind regards,
Paula
Talk about timing – I have an Ektorp sofa, loveseat, and two chairs and love them. Last week I went to Ikea for new Vittyard slipcovers, only to find they’ve been discontinued! There was one loveseat cover, and I grabbed it. I think there were a few chair slips left. Today we went to ikea to buy an additional Ektorp loveseat for my tv room – only to find out it’s been discontinued! So as we were in line to check out, I happened to see an Ektorp loveseat in the “as-is” section. I went to see if it was for sale, and it was – it was their display model. So of course we grabbed it. I love the Ektorp line.
I think they are coming out with “new and improved” models! Glad you found them!
Do you dry it? Do you have to iron it?
Hi Kimberlee! I dry them in the dryer but remove them while they are still slightly damp. That makes them much easier to put them back on the sofa. I don’t iron them. Removing them from the dryer while they are still slightly damp helps remove any wrinkles.
i have the 3.5 sofa and 4 club chairs. They are used regularly but a house full of teenagers and pets I LOVE the fact I can wash the slips. I use Downy wrinkle release spray on the slips right out of the package to smooth them. They was beautiful and Dawn dish liquid works well as a stain pre-treat. I have the beige color which has a linen look.
Hi Cindy,
Good ole IKEA! It’s been 5 years since I bought my sectional from IKEA, and it’s still holding up! Yay!!!
That’s wonderful, Carrie!
We love the Ektorp sofa from Ikea as well. We have the sofa and 2 chairs in a beach vacation rental and they have held up beautifully with lots of different guests of all ages! I will wash the slip covers twice a year, at the beginning of the spring break season and then again after the busy summer season with occasional spot cleaning here and there. The slip overs wash beautifully.
Thank you for commenting!
Hi Cindy! I was looking at the Ikea site and saw they have an Ektorp sofa and an Ektorp 3.5 sofa, a bit higher price. Which are these? Thanks so much for the review. I was wondering how these sofas rated.
We have the regular Ektorp sofa. I believe the Ektorp 3.5 sofa has a slightly deeper seat than the one I have.
Please tell me where you got your ottoman coffee table! It is gorgeous!
Thank you, Maggie! I purchased it at Ashley Home Store many years ago!
Are they “white” white or off-white? Thanks, as I want to buy for my new home I am moving into in two week, but can’t go to store and see in person
Hi Karen! The slipcovers are definitely white!
Hi Cindy! I just bought the loveseat after seeing yours. I had to travel 2 1/2 hour to Houston to buy mine. My son is coming tomorrow to help put it together, it’s too heavy for me to move from my truck! Any tips on putting it together?
It’s very easy to put together and ours came with great instructions that were simple to follow. Good luck!
What a lovely home you have. I have been reading about these sofas, and your featuring them in this edition has me convinced. We are about an hour and half from the Charlotte, NC location, so I am anxious to try them out! We do have grandchildren but no furry family members! Thanks for sharing.
We ave had the Ektorp sectional for five years—and we thought it would be a “temporary” piece as we moved a lot. But it still looks and performs well after two moves, three cats, two kids and one tv watching husband! The linen washes up fresh every time it needs a fluffing. Definitely a great buy.
I agree, Aimee! We love ours!
Love those sofas and will keep them in mind when we finally get rid of our brown leather ones (they came with my husband) but although I have managed to work around them, pale pale green walls, white trip, green blue paisley pillows, they are still a “dead” color!
Your room sounds lovely, Eugenia! I love the colors you’ve used. The EKTORP sofas would definitely be beautiful with them! Thanks for commenting!
Thank you for the review of the ektorp sofa. I’ve wanted a slip cover sofa for a while and we are due for a change.
We love ours! Thank you for commenting, Lorrie!
We are looking at the Ektorp to replace our old leather sofa, and I ran across your review. I’m impressed with what you had to say, especially about the dogs (we have a small ranch with three dirty dogs!) and the ease of cleaning the slipcovers. I’m interested to know what you think about the firmness – – or lack firmness – – of the Ektorp after years of use. Riding horses wreaks havoc on the more “mature” low back, so we need a couch more on the firm side, and one that allows a person to sit up more rather than lean back. Many thanks for sharing your opinion.
Hi Stacey! I’ve never been a fan of soft, squishy sofas, always preferring them to be on the firmer side. I’ve found the Ektorp sofa to have a very nice firmness. They are comfortable, but firm enough that you don’t have trouble getting up off of it! We love ours, and will buy them again! I hope that helps!
Your room is just breathtaking…so very classy and pretty. So many trying for the French look just seem to overdo it but your room is so tasteful and gorgeous and looks very comfy. I am planning on buying your sofa for my bedroom just as soon as I can get to Ikea in Dallas. Thanks so much for your review…
Thank you so much for commenting, BJ!
Was in love with how the lights washed over and highlighted certain pieces. Love how your puppy is in most shots you take as it always makes me smile.
A professional photographer shared with me one time he missed out on taking pictures of a most loved pet, so in turn he always took lots of photos of his pets and never considered it a waste of film. (film: back in the 1980’s) :o)
Love this sweet comment!
Thank you for this post. When we moved to the mountains I wanted to buy these sofas but went with leather. We have two dogs that think the sofa is there’s and I was worried about the up keep of the IKEA sofas. The leather has held up wonderfully but the room is so dark because of the dark sofa, love set and chair. After reading your post I’m hopeful that our next sofa will be from IKEA.
Suzanne,our dogs are constantly on ours and they are holding up very well. It’s so easy to wash the slipcovers when they get dirty. I think you would love them! Thank you so much for commenting!
Why not just buy the slip cover if your sofas are still good? My leather sofa looks exactly like the one pictured, I will definitely buy the slipcover from Ikea.
The slip cover for the Ektorp sofa won’t fit your sofa. I have a leather sofa as well and they told me at Ikea they only fit their sofas. I was at the Houston store last week and bought the love seat to go with my leather sofa. Another thing, I was told by someone that it’s hard to put a slip cover on a leather sofa because it won’t stay in place, but I’m going to figure out a way to do it cuz I’m so tired of the leather. Hope this helps.
Like others I have had the present white Ektorp love seats for about 7 yrs. I ruined one slipcover set by drying it, but it was replaced by IKEA. We love them. I have new slipcovers now in a different type of fabric, but still white & would never give them up. Before this I had the old Ektorp “hide-a-bed” that isn’t made anymore. When we left Greece I sold it to a friend who loves it still. I like the fact that they are easily moveable too. I too had a red-wine stain (by a house guest) that we removed in the washer—so practical.
I love your blog!
I definitely love our IKEA sofas and will purchase them again, if they ever wear out! Thank you for commenting, Sandi!
Thanks for this neat little article. I’ve been keeping my eye out for just this style, which is a casual feel against a lot of art and gold frames so things don’t get to formal looking. 🙂
That’s wonderful, Rosemarie! I hope the post helped!
Your Family Room is so beautiful Cindy…and the sofas are perfect as they are so neutral in color and design and do not take away from the gorgeous accessories and other furnishings in the room.
Thank you so much, Shirley!
I wholeheartedly agree! I went to IKEA to purchase my ektorp about 5 years ago and lucked out that there was one in the scratch and dent area for $198. It was a floor model so the cover was filthy. It had black shoe footprints across it (a child I assume) and dark pencil mark all over the arm. I bought the sofa and a replacement slipcover. When I got it home, I decided to wash the dirty one to see what would happen. It came out spotless. I returned the replacement. I adore my sofa. I went back a few months later for a matching chair and lucked out again with a floor model for $98!
That’s amazing, Melissa! What a great deal! I’ve never thought about looking for a floor model! Thank you so much for commenting!
You have convinced me. If I outlive my current sofa, I’m buying what you have next. Just beautiful. Thanks for the details.
I hope you love it as much as I do, Carol! Thank you for commenting!
~Cindy~
Thank you for your review !! We are in the market for redoing our family room from top to bottom and will be getting new sofas. I have cats with claws so I do not want to spend a lot on furniture !! I will indeed check out IKEA!!
Have a joyful day!
Paula
IN
Paula, these sofas may be perfect for you! Thank you so much for commenting! Have a great weekend!
Enjoyed reading your blog this morning so much that we went to Ikea and purchased the sectional and two chairs!! They are all on sale and purchased extra slip overs for all the pieces for 140.00!! They are so comfortable even for my 6’4” husband.Your home is beautiful and enjoy following you.Have a great day
Yay!! That’s wonderful, Betsy!! I love our sofas and I hope you love yours just as much!
Hi Cindy, we purchased two Ektorp sofas in the beige in October for our new home. I looked all over and didn’t want to spent a lot either because my husband loves to eat on them and spills all the time. We just love them and when he spills, I just put them in the washer and don’t worry about how much it costs! We also picked up 3 more extra slips. It definitely is a great deal.
Did you have those beautiful pillows made?
Hi Linda! I actually found the pillows on the ends of the sofas at Hobby Lobby. The others came from a thrift store!
What’s a “hubby”? Is that your husband’s name?
Ha! “Hubby” is simply a nickname for Husband……I hope this helps!
Good to know…we have a giant IKEA here in Denver. We had so much fun there the last time trying to pronounce all the Swedish words! Hugs, Pat at Bringing French Country Home
So true, Pat!
I had the Ektorp sofa and chairs, but the back cushions tore apart – the stuffing was like cotton balls or something and they were awful. The seats are made more sturdy. Went out and bought something else…
How long did you have them Mellissa? I just found out they have a ten year warranty on them!
My daughters each purchased the Ektorp sofa for their first apartments. One has replaced the slipcover (purchased the sofa 5-6 yrs) because she added a comfy Ektorp chair and the original slipcover color was discontinued; the other is still using the original. You just cannot find a better sofa for the money and look! Cindy, I always drool over the photos of your stunning home! With hugs to RubyLou…oxoxo
Aw, thank you so much, Susan! Miss RubyLou sends hugs right back to you!
Cindy, I also love my IKEA Ektorp sofas that have been through three boys and two dogs for 7 years now. You need to check out Ektorp sofa covers at Bemz.com. They have many fabrics available and the prices are reasonable for custom covers. Take a look. 🙂
Thank you so much, Deborah! I definitely will take a look!
…and they have the Ruby Lou seal of approval!
Yes, they do!
Cindy,thank you for your recommendation,I love the idea of changing different colors as the mood strikes.. I’m one hour away from Ikea in Atlanta so i can go look around to my heart’s content. Ha ha I usually spend hours when I go.
Oh, Sue, it’s so hard to NOT spend hours in IKEA! I went there a few weeks ago, just to buy curtains, and ended up with a cart load after spending several hours there!
Thank you for the review. Have been looking at these for a while now. Had a question: some people have complained about the depth of the seat. My husband and I are tall and like to slouch with our feet up on the ottoman. Our current seat depth is 22″ vs. the 19.25 for the Ektorp. What is your experience? Thanks!
Hi Kim! The depth of the seat is fine for us, and we like to sit with our feet up on the ottoman coffee table as well….especially hubby. So it all probably depends on the height of the person….but I checked the IKEA website this morning and they have a new Ektorp sofa that has a seat depth of 22 1/2″, which sounds like it would work perfectly for you! And it’s on sale for $399.00!!
Very good info to have !!! We have a brand new IKEA here in Florida (Jax) … I will be checking these out!! Oh…. and I LOVE YOUR PHOTO BOMBER!! lolol Tooooo Cute
You definitely need to visit IKEA! And plan on spending A LOT of time there! RubyLou is definitely my little photo bomber….she loves having her picture taken! Thank you so much for commenting!
Like you, we have found the Ecktorp sofas to hold up to company, kids, teens, and dogs. We had the couch in China, yes China. We had a steady stream of guests, teens and toddlers. It is still in service with the family who bought it when we left. When we were ready to buy, ie had money after the move, we went back to IKEA and replaced those pieces with Ecktorp. When we wash the covers, we hang them out of the washer on doors to dry. Works perfectly!
Thant’s wonderful! Thank you so much for commenting!
I have two Ikea loveseats (Ecktorp) which we purchased 15 years ago…Originally they were slipcovered in the standard white twill. …Last year we changed to their natural linen cover which is Super! The loveseats are terrific and have served us well. Another Ikea success!
That’s wonderful, Patricia! Thank you so much for commenting!
I totally agree with you. I have had an Ektorp sofa for many years and they are so worth it. I learned years ago, to not put them in the dryer at all. I just take them out of the washing machine and put them right back onto the frame and cushions and just set the cushions around the room and let it all air dry…..no wrinkles and no shrinkage. I also love having extra slip covers and can change out the look when the mood strikes.
You’re so right, Erika! I learned the hard way the first time I washed the slipcovers to not let them dry completely! I love being able to change the look with minimal expense….and knowing that I have a clean sofa, just by washing the slipcovers! Thank you so much for commenting!
Thanks so much for this review, Cindy. I’ve had my eye on the Ektorp sofa for a long time, and this really helps, coming from you, as I very much respect your expertise.
Thank you, Patti! I love our Ektorp sofas, and will definitely buy more should the need arise!
We just moved and downsized and got rid of allot of furniture. After finally getting into our new home I realized I needed a sofa and it seemed like a solid white one would fill the space perfectly.
Went round and round looking at all kinds and we too selected the Ikea sofa. We did sit on it at the showroom and it did feel comfortable compared to others we tried. I did see them in your beautiful home and figured if they worked for Cindy they should be great for us. We have had ours since November. Wonderful for afternoon naps and my black furry dog and Granddog also enjoy it. I did spill red wine on it the first week, of course, but it came right out. So far no need to wash but my Granddaughter is coming for a visit this summer so I am not afraid to let her enjoy it.
Not sure if it will fit in my standard washer, we will see.
Cindy I so look forward to your posts and think your home so reflects you, so elegant, warm and interesting! Thank you for sharing all your great ideas.
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Oh, Kathleen, thank you so much for your sweet comment! I appreciate it so much! I’m so glad you love your Ektorp! Enjoy your visit with your granddaughter!
Hi I just luv your home. It is so beautiful. I had a question about your dining chairs, I believe you spoke about them in March. They were cane back and some had what looked like velvet seats. Can you tell me what color fabric was used on the seats. Thank you
Hi Denise! We used an antique French hemp fabric on the seats in an oatmeal color. Here’s the post about the chairs: https://wp.me/p5Xug9-1nI
Could you guess how many times you’ve washed the slip covers? I’m curious how many washes they can handle…especially if you have to bleach them. Thanks!
Hi Jill! Over the last three years, I’ve washed the slipcovers approximately a dozen times. I don’t bleach them each time (probably every other wash) because it can break down the fabric over time, but I do put a scoop of Oxyclean in the wash every time. I hope this helps!
I have the same IKEA Ektorp sofas, one L shape and the other a 3 seater. I have had the L shape for 8 years and the 3 seater for about a year. I concur on the value for money and durability. I think the L shape was an older and slightly better made version. After about 5 years the fabric of the inner cushions tore horribly and it is kept together by the vision cover. The inner cushions are of a strange paper quality fabric but when I complained I was told they were insured for ten years so I will go and exchange them for new. It is of course vital to have proof of purchase! I had the white covers to start with but this year changed everything to the pale beige ones. Like you I’m really happy with them and would buy them again!
I’m so glad you told me about the ten year warranty, I had no idea! I have my eye on the pale beige slipcovers as well. I like the extra bit of texture to them, and will be purchasing them to change the look a bit. Thank you so much for your comment!
I just went out and purchased the loveseat after reading your post. I also purchased an extra slipcover to switch it out with Just wondering, how much bleach you use and if it fits in your home machine. TIA
Hi Patti! I don’t use bleach each and every time I wash the slipcovers, because it’s so rough on the fabric. When I do use the bleach, I only add a couple of cups to a full load and make sure it’s mixed with the water well before adding the slipcovers. Yes, they fit in my home washing machine! I hope you love yours as much as I love ours!