Yesterday, I attended an IKEA event designed to kick off the 2010 IKEA Catalog and showcase the Swedish retailer's newest offerings. Part of the message was the 30th Birthday of the KLIPPAN sofa — love it or hate it, I promise you'll enjoy the look back at some of the 200 incarnations of KLIPPAN...
IKEA KLIPPAN 1979 - 2009 from maxwellgillinghamryan on Vimeo.
It's fun to see the patterns, colors and materials that have changed the look of KLIPPAN over the years — though the basic structure has stayed nearly the same (minus the change in legs!).
The basic KLIPPAN sofa was priced at $395 when IKEA opened their first US store in Philadelphia in 1985. Today, the basic KLIPPAN is priced at $249. IKEA credits this drop in price to "designing smarter, using materials more efficiently and reducing transportation costs".
(Images: IKEA)
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If one is inclined to purchase an Ikea sofa I learned about these slip covers made for their sofas.
http://www.bemz.com/index.php
Credit to Holly at- http://www.inthefunlane.com
Where she found a used Ikea sofa and transformed into looking new with a slip cover. Great idea!
The pictures moved too fast!
the one covered in loose black vinyl makes me laugh - looks like a garbage bag
Love the video. It's fun to see how this couch has evolved over the years.
In 2003 my husband and I bought a Klippan sofa for our first apartment in Vancouver. A couple of years later it went to my sister-in-law's apartment in Prince George while she was going through med school. Now six, almost seven, years later it's back at our new house in my daughter's playroom. I would argue it will probably last us many years more and eventually end up in my daughter's bedroom.
Most uncomfortable couch I've ever owned -
I was relieved to see it leave my apartment.
I love kipplan sofas... I'm not ashamed to say that we still own two! One large one, and one loveseat... both in black.
They're understated, reasonably well-made, the slipcovers wash well, and they're inexpensive enough that I don't care if my baby spills stuff or eventually destroyes them.
yay to ikea
OMG, I bought two. They should nickname them something Swedish for "THE BOARD". They are stiff as a board and way too shallow (and I'm only 5'3").
Like a previous poster said. Adios my Rock Hard friend. Never again.
I like the early legs so much better! And a few of the early covers are fantastic!
Oh yeah - I had that bright orange Klippan in 2000. It looked awesome with my red Tullsta!
I like the red one from 1986... looks sort of Ligne Roset Togo-ish.
Re: cassielynn's comment on the legs-
We have the black leather one (just got out of grad school & entertain a lot- it's held up very well), but I didn't like the legs at all- so we made our own! It was a 1 night project & they're solid red oak stained to match our vintage coffee table. Small detail that made a big difference!
CozyLittleCave, what a great idea! I bet it looks amazing!
I prefer the old legs and agree about the '86 ligne roset togo. They should bring that cover back!
I owned one while in university, and it was probably the most uncomfortable sofa I've ever owned.
I like the simple lines, but I'd never buy one again.
have sat on lots of these at college & esp. grad. student parties. one of my colleagues actually saved his & it now sits in his office. they look pretty nice for the price but yes, they are so uncomfortable.
I actually find mine really comfortable. The new Genarp white is so soft, and with a bunch of nice pillows its great to cuddle up on.
Thanks to this post I was able to identify a "free couch" ad on Kijiji as the Klippan (it was the puffy orange one that looks like it is wearing a down parka LOL) and scored it for my kids playroom. As luck would have it I was able to find a new black cover in the As-Is bin for 50% off the same day I picked up the couch! What luck! I was a little worried when we picked up the couch that maybe the dimensions had changed over the years because the couch we got was constructed differently on the underside than the new ones and had different legs, but no, the upholstered part is exactly the same so fear not, a new slipcover will fit your 30 year old sofa LOL.