We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at IKEA

Shopping for budget-friendly furniture that’s also stylish and durable is a daunting task, but not impossible — as long as you know where to look. We’re talking, of course, about IKEA. Although it’s an obvious choice, IKEA is as popular as it is for a reason, and it should be at the top of your shopping list if you’re looking to save on a larger furniture item that otherwise would be a huge investment.

That’s why we visited IKEA’s Brooklyn location for this edition of our Personal Shopper series, where we touch, sit on, and thoroughly examine our favorite stores’ products in person. We were able to view six of IKEA’s bestselling sofas on this particular trip, including some modular options and even one with storage. Read on for all the thoughts we had while we spent a day at IKEA, and see which sofa was our favorite. 

If budget is your top concern, then there’s nowhere better than IKEA to shop. The Swedish retailer is known for its affordability and modern, Scandi-inspired designs, and you can easily find trendy pieces for much less than you would at competitors.

Plus, IKEA sofas are super customizable in terms of configuration, so you can create the right setup for your space. While there typically aren’t as many color and fabric options (especially compared to places like West Elm and Crate & Barrel), there are brands that sell stylish slipcovers and legs specifically for IKEA sofas, like Bemz (which is an Apartment Therapy favorite).

We’ve written quite a lot about IKEA over the years, including IKEA-focused hacks and designer-favorite products, and the brand is a mainstay in our Before & Afters and House Tours. We’ve also tested and written about a range of IKEA products, including curtains, cabinets, dining tables, and much more.  

We judged every IKEA sofa based on the following criteria:

• Overall sit: What posture does the sofa best support? How deep or shallow are the seats? Are the cushions soft or firm on the back and arms?
• Seat firmness: How soft or firm are the seat cushions? How do they contribute to overall posture and comfort?
• Customizability: Does it come in different varieties? How many colors, finishes, materials, or sizes is it available in? How granular can you get when customizing the sofa?
• Multifunctionality: Does it have storage capacity? What else can the sofa do or help with?
• Sturdiness: Is the frame made from durable, high-quality materials? Does the sofa wobble or creak when you’re on it?
• Appearance: What style does it best suit? Does it lean more traditional (i.e., deep hues, busy details, flanged edges) or more contemporary (i.e., clean lines, low profiles, mid-century modern design elements)?

Each IKEA sofa in this article was tested by Apartment Therapy editors Emma Dangel and Sofia Rivera. Emma started working at Apartment Therapy in 2022 and has been the style editor since June 2025. She covers design, trends, and shopping, and enjoys completing DIY projects. Sofia is the lifestyle and special features editor, and mainly covers topics related to wellness, money, small-space living, and lifestyle hacks. She has been with the company since 2022.

Sofia & Emma’s thoughts: This one is our favorite! We love that it’s versatile enough to work with tons of different styles, plus we’re big fans of the stylish bench seat and surprisingly soft upholstery. The loose back cushions and included side pillows make it comfortable enough for lounging, while the skirted base gives it a more refined appearance that could work in both laidback family rooms and more formal living rooms.

The combination of the bench seat and skirted base gives it a modern cottagecore style that feels fresh and not dated, and you can choose from 10 different colors. We saw two in store: Gransel gray-brown, which is made from a cotton-polyester blend that felt softer than the all-polyester fabrics, and Gransel natural, which combines four different materials for a linen-like feel. Both options were impressive!

Like most IKEA sofas, the HYLTARP comes in a few different styles, including a chaise sectional option with storage. The cover is also removable, so it’s easy to take care of if you’re worried about spills and stains. No matter which configuration you choose, this is a stylish, versatile, and cozy choice that is hard not to love.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a loveseat, sleeper sofa, chaise sectional, and corner sectional 
• Dimensions: 91.4 x 36.6 x 35.9 inches
• Upholstery: Cotton-polyester blend
• Frame: Solid wood, particleboard, plywood, fiberboard, laminated veneer lumber
• Colors: 10

Sofia & Emma’s thoughts: The MORABO is a compact, stylish sofa that we think is perfectly designed for smaller spaces. It has a firmer (but still comfortable) seat with great bounce-back, so it’s a solid choice if you’re someone who likes to work from home on your couch. It’s not the best lounging sofa we saw at IKEA, though — especially because the smaller size makes it harder to spread out and nap. Still, the seat depth and overall height are well-proportioned, and the armrests are surprisingly cushy.

There are only three neutral upholstery options available, and we saw the Gunnared dark gray, which looks more expensive than it is — the lighter threads woven throughout make it look more like wool than polyester. Plus, the upholstered detailing on the legs looks modern and stylish. We also saw the faux leather version, which is a good choice if you’re set on a budget-friendly leather sofa, although we thought the upholstered version looked more high-end.

The MORABO was sturdier than we expected, although it was lightweight enough for us to pick up a corner and push it around on our own. The one downside is that the covers are not removable, so spot cleaning is required. This might be an issue if you have kids or pets, although the sales associate we spoke with said that the leather version holds up well against dog scratches.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in leather and as a loveseat, armchair, sleeper sofa, chaise sectional, corner sectional, and double chaise sectional 
• Dimensions: 81.1 x 36.3 x 31.9 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester
• Frame: Plywood, solid pine, particleboard, fiberboard
• Colors: 3

Sofia & Emma’s thoughts: The KIVIK is a versatile, modular sofa that’s also incredibly comfy (we’ve even written about it before!). The springy cushions have a top layer of memory foam, making the overall feel nice and plush, while the wide, cushy arms and wide seats are great for napping and overnight guest use. We saw the regular sofa, but you can easily turn it into a sectional for even more comfort, thanks to the modular design. 

The fabric we saw has a subtle herringbone-like weave with a slightly textured feel, but there are 12 other options, including a soft corduroy. We didn’t love the piping around the cushions, though, as they made the sofa look a little undone, although that could just be because it’s a floor model. Otherwise, we love the low-profile design, which gives off a cozy, modern look. We think it could easily work in a variety of spaces, especially because it’s so adaptable, but we particularly recommend it for a more laidback living space.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in leather and as a loveseat, chaise sectional, corner sectional, and U-shaped sectional
• Dimensions: 89.8 x 37.4 x 32.6 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester 
• Frame: Fiberboard, plywood, solid wood, particleboard
• Colors: 13

Sofia & Emma’s thoughts: If you’re looking for a workhorse of a sofa, the JÄTTEBO is for you. (FYI: We recently declared it one of IKEA’s most overlooked products.) The standout feature is the built-in storage under every seat (not just the chaise), which is roomy, easy to access, and perfect for smaller spaces. You could hide away toys, blankets, extra pillows, and out-of-season decor without using up any precious closet space. Plus, it’s modular, so you can create your own configuration.

It has a modern, chunky look and extra-deep seats (the deepest of the sofas we tested), which taller people will especially love. With that being said, we’re more average height (5’4”) and our feet dangled off the ground. The back cushions aren’t very supportive, especially if you’re shorter, and we felt more comfortable with some throw pillows for lumbar support.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you can add on headrests, but they aren’t attached so they won’t work unless the couch is placed against the wall. Still, its functionality and plush feel make it an excellent choice for living rooms.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a loveseat, chaise sectional, U-shaped sectional, and corner sectional 
• Dimensions: 94.5 x 37.4 x 28 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester 
• Frame: Laminated veneer lumber, particleboard, fiberboard, plywood, solid wood
• Colors: 3

Sofia & Emma’s thoughts: For a more traditional look, you can’t go wrong with the slipcovered UPPLAND sofa, which is an IKEA mainstay. It has a very cottagecore vibe, with a slipcover, skirted base, and rounded arms — the beige color we saw in the store really sealed the deal. Although the color and material are versatile and refined, we think a cotton option would look even better and more obviously fit the traditional aesthetic. 

The UPPLAND has a sink-in feel that’s a dream for anyone looking for a super-cushy sofa, although it doesn’t have great bounce-back so you may have to fluff up the cushions every so often. We had no issues getting out of this sofa, and we think the height and depth are ideal for sitting and leaning back in comfort.

This is definitely a good couch for busy households, as the slipcover is removable and washable. And although a more high-quality fabric might look nicer, there’s no denying the durability of polyester if you have pets and kids. While the style isn’t exactly modern or trendy, this is a cozy, charming sofa that will appeal to anyone looking for comfort — and because it’s one of the least expensive options IKEA offers, it’s also a fantastic budget pick. 

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a loveseat, chaise sectional, corner sectional, armchair, and armchair with ottoman
• Dimensions: 88.3 x 36.3 x 36.3 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester 
• Frame: Particleboard, plywood, solid wood, laminated veneer lumber, fiberboard
• Colors: 13

Sofia & Emma’s thoughts: The most affordable sofa we saw at IKEA is the SÖDERHAMN, a sleek, minimalist couch with a deep seat and low profile. It’s also the firmest option we tested, although the cushions were still surprisingly comfy considering the lack of plushness. The deep seat felt nicer to lean back in compared to the other sofas because of the included lumbar pillows, and we think this would be a great couch for reading, working, and just hanging out.

If you want to save even more on this couch, you can opt to get it without arms, which is the version we saw in the store. It feels especially minimalist and small-space-friendly without the arms, although the arms themselves are very high and thin, so they don’t take up much space regardless. There are other customizations you can make as well, including adding a chaise or even a slipcover to make it easier to clean. 

It has an airier look compared to the other sofas we saw, which is definitely on trend but might not be as practical if you think you’ll have any clutter beneath the seat. While it isn’t the most comfortable couch we saw at IKEA, we still would recommend it for anyone who doesn’t want to sacrifice style for budget — particularly if they live in a small space.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a chaise sectional, corner sectional, and armchair
• Dimensions: 78 x 39 x 32.6 inches
• Upholstery: Polyester 
• Frame: Plywood, fiberboard, solid wood, steel
• Colors: 12