Experience with Ikea Couches?

We currently have a mis-matched couch set that was passed onto us when we got married 6+ years ago. Aside from the fact that I want a matching set, the couches have seen much better days. They are both in pretty hurt condition and I'd like to replace them soon!

We don't have a ton of money to spend on couches. I've looked at Bob's and I can get a matching set for a great price, but I wonder about the quality. It would be nice if they lasted us about 10 years.

One thing I was thinking about is Ikea Couches, particularily the Ektorp line. I like the fact that they have so many choices for custom fit slip covers available for their couches. One of the problems that we've had with our current couches is finding slip covers that fit properly. Ikea offers custom fitting slip covers and I don't think they will ever NOT have them available for the Ektorp line since it seems like it's their main line.

I wonder about the quality, the comfort, durability. This will be a 2 child household in another few months and we have a 16 lb dog who likes to sleep on the couches as well.

Any input would be appreciated!

Melissa

Message edited 12/31/2011 3:37:18 PM.

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

We got the ektorp in Feb 2008. We love it!! I have the 3 seat couch and the big chair. I love that I can put the cover in the wash whenever I need to. The whole set is so comfy. I would sleep on it every night if DH would not get mad!

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

After graduating college I had an Ikea couch for my first apartment. It held up for three years perfectly. Then my parents had it in their house for a little while and then it made it for 4 years in a frat house. That couch lasted for 10 years. I think it would have lasted longer if it was not in my brother's frat house. His senior week it got irreparably broken.

ETA: Irreparably broken = being shoved from a second floor balcony to the ground by a bunch of drunk frat kids. The frame shattered.

Message edited 12/31/2011 10:56:41 PM.

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

We had an Ektorp couch we bought in May 2006. It got HEAVY use and crapped out on us about 4 months ago. We just bough a couch from JC Penney to replace it. I love it.

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

When DH and I were looking for a couch we looked at the Ektorp. DH didn't care what the couch looked like, as long as it was comfy when he sat on it. I don't know if it was just the floor model but he sat on the Ektorp for 2 seconds and was like "nope we're not getting this one." I had to agree, it was like sitting on a rock.

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

I have the 3 seat one too & it's served us well. It's currently in my basement & still going strong. It's 10 years old. It could use a new slip cover. I have a $1000 Peter andrews couch & the Ikea one is more comfortable.

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

It was structural. The springs started creaking and popping about a year ago, but it caused no real problems until about 4 months ago. All of a sudden all the springs popped and were coming through the bottom poking through the cushions. The couch totally bottomed out and was completely un-sittable.

Considering the price we paid for for it and the heavy use it got... I think we got our money's worth as it lasted 5 years. It was the primary seating in our living room and DH and I are both overweight.

The slip covers were extremely sturdy and held up well. They were a PITA to wash b/c you could not dry them in the dryer so you may want to look into getting a second set of covers if you don't want to go a day without covers on the couch while they are drying.

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

We looked into ektorp as well for many of the same reasons, but we didn't find it very comfortable and honestly thought the slip covers made them look a little cheap

I wasn't crazy about Bobs either. Have you tried the Raymour and Flannigan clearance centers?? They have display models but also had several that come in new! We went to the one in Lake Grove and they had some beautiful sets in the front of the store that were like half price (about the same maybe less than the Ektorp) and available new.

Re: Experience with Ikea Couches?

We had an Ektorp for about 8 years, my husband still mourns the loss of that sofa. The cover washed really well, and we found it really comfy! We thought the quality was ery good. Really good sofa, would buy them again.