Our Founder Has a Secret Way to Make Your IKEA Sofa Look Like a Million Bucks

We here at Apartment Therapy love an IKEA sofa. Whether it’s the Karlstad, Stockholm, or any of the brand’s other models, we’ve long said it’s one of the best investments you can make for a bargain. They’re built to last a surprisingly long time; they have a modern silhouette that’s at once distinctive and able to blend into most styles; they’re comfortable; and — best of all — they’re affordable. But we also have a little secret that makes them look like luxury items.

For several years now, Apartment Therapy’s founder and president Maxwell Ryan has had a partnership with the Swedish home goods store Bemz. (The Swedes know their furniture!) Bemz specializes in accessories for IKEA sofas and chairs that transform the look and feel of the iconic pieces. The Maxwell Ryan x Apartment Therapy for Bemz collection includes a series of handsome corduroy covers and quirky legs that allow you to put your own spin on your seating.

Maxwell’s sofa and seat covers are made from premium cotton corduroy and easily wrap around every inch of the frame and cushions. You’ll keep the clean Scandinavian silhouette IKEA is known for, but add a slick, streamlined look with a cozy, inviting feel. The Oyster colorway (pictured above) is a casual sort of greige that works with just about any color scheme you have going on. It has a relaxed vibe that pulls you toward it for a mid-afternoon nap without knowing it’s even happening.

If your room needs a cooler palette, Winter Moss is a pensive green that’s so much in line with the earthy colors we’ve seen taking hold in the past few years as our homes become the one place we can count on for calm. It’s a versatile green that can work as a neutral or, in a room with lighter colors, can stand out as a statement piece.

Both colors fit over 50 models of IKEA sofas and chairs, and both have free samples so you can see how they work in your home.

Ask any designer what gives a room its “life” and they’ll tell you it’s in the details: those little “moments” in a room that you don’t see right away, but add a subtle something. With this in mind, Maxwell designed a set of distinctive legs that easily swap out with the ones IKEA gave you. They come in four models, each one inspired by a classic form and then given a modern update. Whether it’s the cheeky Terence (pictured above), inspired by the legendary designer Terence Conran’s design, or the Basil, a sort of stately orb, these are the little touches that give a room its sprezzatura.

All models screw on just as easily as the standard-issue set IKEA sent you home with.

One of Apartment Therapy’s key tenets is working with what you’ve got, and this idea is what enticed Maxwell to collaborate with Bemz in the first place. Bemz works toward a world where furniture that’s still got life in it isn’t kicked to the curb, but given an update so it can give you years more of service. Shop the Maxwell Ryan x Apartment Therapy for Bemz today and give your space a whole new look.