Itâs going on a year of having my Ikea Ektorp sofas, chair, and slipcover, so today Iâm bringing you my honest Ikea Ektorp sofa review. I get questions all the time what I think about them and the usual response is that I love themâŠ.but. Yes, there is a âbutâ and I will get to that soon. Let me start with saying I did my research on them before heading out on a little road trip to pick them up. Everyone that had them told me to go for it and honestly, Iâm so glad I did because I do love them. The pros for sure outweigh the cons, but I thought it would be helpful to share with you what I wish I would have known before purchasing them.
Iâm going to break it down as much as I can so that it will help you see what I love and what I wish I would have know.
Ektorp Sofa and Chair
Before I get to the slipcover, Iâm going to begin with the couch and chair. We chose the Ektorp style sofa and chair. We purchased two sofas and one chair for our living room. Our living room is pretty large so we wanted sofas that were large enough to fill the space. That was very important to us. We didnât want a tiny couch, and honestly, the size and style were perfect! Itâs exactly what I wanted and looks so great in our living room.
The next test was comfort. Letâs be honest, no one wants to sit on a hard couch. Since we do not have an Ikea close by, I couldnât just pop in and sit on one. That part was pretty scary not exactly knowing if it was going to be soft enough for our family. After we got there and was able to sit on it, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasnât the softest couch Iâve ever sat on, but it was comfortable. I also knew that it would soften up over time so that wasnât at all a concern for me. One year later I am happy to report that they have gotten softer. I also want to add that the fullness is still in tact. It still looks like the day we brought them home.
The last piece of information that is very important is cost. These couches are super affordable. The shape and style of them remind me of Pottery Barn couches but at a fraction of the price. You get so much bang for your buck with these couches.
Ektorp Slipcover
So, one of the most popular questions that I get is about my slipcover. We wanted a lighter color but white wasnât an option for my family. I love white couches, but I just couldnât bare the thought of washing my slipcovers weekly and constantly seeing my dogâs black hair on them. So my fist instinct was an off-white. We decided on Nordvalla Dark Beige. I loved it because it had a linen look to it and the color was exactly what I was looking for. I love this color!!
Ready to hear the best part about these slipcovers? You can wash them! I know, I know, that is the purpose of a slipcover, but I will never go back to a regular couch. Iâm officially hooked on slipcovers. We have two adults, three children (one being a baby), and two black dogs. In other words, something is always going down on these couches. Iâve cleaned up dog throw up and urine (ewwww, I know), soot from the fireplace, and food stains and have successfully washed and gotten out all of the stains with zero fading. They are so simple to wash. In fact, Iâm washing one right now from a mystery stain that I found today. I wash them exactly how the directions say and then air dry them. Another pro is that after you wash them, getting the slipcover back on is pretty simple, especially if they are still a little damp. The most difficult part was the first time, but now that I know what I am doing it is super simple and quick.
Ikea Ektorp Sofa Review â Cons
Now for the cons. This slipcover has a pretty big con. So, after we had these couches for about 3 months, I started noticing that the fabric was balling up. Not at all what you want to see on your new couches. It looked so bad. I was just so upset that my new couches looked like they were old and worn out. I got on Ikeaâs website and looked at the slipcover reviews and didnât see anyone talking about this problem. But, I was ready to return them ASAP. Since we would have to wait until we had time to take another road trip to the closest Ikea, I decided to search for a tool that could possible help with this problem. Guys, allow me to introduce you to my new favorite gadgetâŠ.
Itâs this guy right here. It is a fabric shaver , and it was a solution to my huge problem. Warning, itâs also super addictive. It literally got off almost every single ball. Now, I realize that isnât ideal at all. You should not have to work this hard to have a pretty couch. The good news is that after I did it really good that first time, I rarely have to use it. I just get it out at the same time I lint roll the dog hairs off of my couch. It was my lifesaver. I highly recommend getting this product even if you donât buy this slipcover. It is AMAZING!!
Review Summary
- Ektorp Sofa Prosâ Size, Shape, Fullness, Style, Comfort, and Cost
- Ektorp Sofa Consâ No cons to report
- Nordvalla Dark Beige Slipcover Prosâ Easy to wash, Easy to cover, Cost, Color, and Style
- Nordvalla Dark Beige Slipcover Consâ Durability
I hope my Ikea Ektorp sofa review answered all of your questions about these pieces. I can honestly say that I would recommend these couches, but it is important to know all of the facts before you go all in with a big purchase like this. As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you so much for stopping by the blog!
Ektorp Sofa Review Update for 2021
So, Iâve had my Ikea Ektorp sofas and chair for 4 years now and I still love them. Their durability is outstanding and they are at the center of all my living room pictures and blog posts. I recommend them to all my family and friends especially those who have young kids and pets. I wash the slipcovers all the time. And, Iâm happy to share that over time the âballing upâ problem the slipcover has is almost nonexistent. I have to use the fabric shaver less and less each year.
Marisela says
Hi Carissa,
Thanks so much for all of this information. I myself have been thinking about getting this couch so this is very helpful in making my decision. I do have one question though. How about putting the slipcover on the couch, do you have a hard time with that?
carissa says
Hey, Marisela!! Iâm so glad I could help with your decision. That is a great question and I should have included that. I think it is super simple to get on and off. No problems there. Hope that helps! Thank you for stopping by! Have a great day!
Pam says
Hi Carissa! Thank you for doing this review. It has been so helpful. We will be replacing sofas soon! I love your blog!!
carissa says
Hi Pam! Iâm so glad it could help you with your decision. Thank you so much! So glad you are enjoying the blog. Thanks for stopping by!
Cindy@countyroad407 says
Just found your acct on IG and sooooo glad I did! And I learned you have a blog too â Oh my golly! Can hardly wait to start reading. We have the white Ektorp loveseat and chairs because our room is super tiny. Love them and after a year no tiny balls. Must be the fabric of the dark beige đ. Never thought to use the shaver on other things. Definitely need to get that after our dining chairs! Great post. đ
carissa says
Hi Cindy! That is so nice! Thank you so much! Yes, itâs for sure the fabric. I guess next time I need to choose something thatâs not linen. You will seriously love that fabric shaver! Thanks so for stopping by my blog. It means so much that you like it!
Natalie says
Looks great I bought one myself!! What color is your wall?
carissa says
Hey Natalie! They wall color is called Lenox Tan by BM
Diane Johansen says
I just bought the sofa, chair and ottoman. Got the dark gray covers and the same beige you have for the summer months. Nice to see yours look so great after a year. I love mine so far. And my dog loves the ottoman!
Looking forward to red covers at the holidays!
Was going to purchase Pottery Barn but read so many great reviews like yours and after sitting on them at IKEA decided to forego the PB sofa! Read too many bad reviews on PB delivery and got the IKEA Ektorps delivered the next day!
Thank you for helping me make a wise choice!
carissa says
Hey Diane! That is such a great idea changing the slipcovers out with seasons and holidays! I may need to try that! I am so glad this post helped you with your decision. Thank you so much for letting me know!!
Shelby says
How do you spot clean your slipcover? I just purchased the sectional in this color two months ago and one cushion has a milk stain from my little boy. I read with the white cover to use peroxide but I donât know if thatâs a good idea for this dark beige cover.
carissa says
Hi Shelby! I usually just wash the slipcovers about once a month or so. I just follow the directions on the tag and they always do great.
Josee says
Hi Carissa,
Iâm looking into purchasing the Ektorp and I was just looking at the colours available on the IKEA website, and the same dark beige looks beige on IKEA, but in your pics I find it looks greyish⊠do you find the colour may have changed a bit after regular washing? Or is just the pics and lighting that may it look that way?
carissa says
Hi Josee! No, the colors have not changed. It still looks beige in person. They still look exactly the same after washing. Iâm sure the way I edited my photos made it appear a different color.
Rose says
Hi Carissa,
Well, I took the plunge and ordered the sofa, loveseat, chair and ottoman today. I got them in Lofalet Beige and ordered an extra set of slipcovers in the same color. I canât wait to get them! Thank you for your review. Your living room is gorgeous.
carissa says
Hi Rose! I am so glad my review could help you with your decision! Iâm so excited for you to get them. I really hope you enjoy them as much as I have. Thanks so much for letting me know and for stopping by the blog! Have a great day!
Alice Mason says
Love your roomâŠsimply beautiful. Can i ask where did you get your throw pillows from? .
carissa says
Thank you so much, Alice! I got most of them at Kirklandâs.
alice says
Love your living room. Thank you for the review it helped me to make up my mind about purchasing the sofa and chair. Can I ask where did you get your throw pillows from? Thanks!
Andrea says
Looks lovely. I am interested in this couch with slipcovers. But question, are the the seat and back cushions also slipcovered? Thanks for your review. It was very helpful.
Cindy Braden says
Hello, I love your blog and happy that you did a review on the sofas. I have the sectional and two chairs. I am wondering if it has something to do with the fabric because i have the gray version and have 4 cats, but have never had a problem with the fabric 3 years later except that I have to vaccumn often because of the cats. So happy with them because my last sofa was pottery barn and decided it would be much more cost effective to buy my next set from Ikea because of the cost and the fact that you can buy new covers if you want to change the color if needed, which is what I just did at a reasonable price. Very happy with them. Thanks again for the review. Regards
carissa says
Hi Cindy!! I am so happy you love the blog! That means so much to hear! I am not sure what the deal is with mine. After the initial problem, I havenât seen much since then. So weird! I appreciate you letting me know that you liked my review! Thanks for stopping by!
Theresa Kowalski says
Read this article today, 2 years after it wa posted. But you answered my questions about this couch. I have been going back and forth about. But you seem to rate it high. Iâm not in a position to spend money on junk, I live on a fixed income. I also have a black dog who leave her DNA all over everything. Hoping they have this in a darker grey, with slipcover. Thanks for information, my dog thanks you also.
carissa says
I am so happy I could help a little. I still have the sofas, and I still love them. Well worth your money in my opinion.