Ikea Ektorp 3.5 - seat Review

COMPLETE REVIEW

Ikea is an internationally renowned brand when it comes to furniture. The Swedish multinational may be somewhat controversial and has its fans and critics, but it is nevertheless a popular brand, thanks to its diversity, convenience and affordability.

The Ikea group has been around since 2008 and it currently has over 350 stores in approximately 30 countries.

The Ektorp sofa is another affordable sofa, along with the Vimle model.

The Ektorp model has a beautiful, classic design, soft cushions and upholstery and rounded armrests. Just like the Vimle model, the Ektorp is also budget-friendly.

Here are the main specs of the 3.5 seat Ektorp sofa, which is the one we reviewed:

• Dimensions (W X D X H): 98 x 38 1 /4 x 38 5/8 inches;

Seat dimensions (W X D X H): 78 x 22 1 /2 x 22 inches

• 5 seat sofa cover: 65% polyester, 35% cotton
• Back and seat frame: Fiberboard, Particleboard, Plywood, Solid wood, Polyurethane foam
• Armrest: Hollow fiber polyester wadding, Fiberboard, Particleboard, Solid wood, Cardboard, Polyurethane foam
• Seat cushion: non-woven polypropylene, high-resilience polyurethane foam
• Back cushion: non-woven polypropylene, hollow polyester fibers
• 10-year limited warranty

Just like with most Ikea furniture, the Ektorp is made of recycled materials from sustainable sources. It is also the case of the cotton used for the cover of the Ektorp sofa for instance. The cotton is recycled or grown using less pesticides and water. So if being environmentally responsible is an important aspect for you, this is another reason why you should choose this Ikea product.

Design and comfort

The Ektorp 3.5 – seat sofa comes in several colors: white, beige, dark gray and more, so you can get something that matches your décor. The Ektorp also comes in a loveseat version, sectional, footstool and a chair.

The design of the Ektorp sofa is simple but elegant and inviting. One of its biggest selling points is the fact that it is a slipcover sofa, which means you don’t have to be constantly worried that your kids, dog and so on will get it stained or ruined in any way. The cover is easily replaceable and easy to remove and clean and you can also throw it in your washer. You can use your normal cycle on your washing machine and use warm water.  This is a very big plus for the Ektorp, because convenience and ease of clean is what it’s all about, especially if you’re getting the sofa for your living room and everyday use.

An Ektorp cover goes for approximately $100, in case you want to buy another one.

While the cover of the Ektorp is indeed washable, it is no easy task. And if you go for the white cover, bleach might also be indicated from time to time when you clean it. It might take you a longer time to wash and dry everything. You also have to iron it after it is washed, before you put it back on. Otherwise you’ll deal with some very unattractive wrinkles.

The sofa is spacious enough and the cushions and cover are really soft and comfortable. The cushions are also firm enough to maintain their structure in time.

The sofa has rounded armrests and if you go for the white cover, you’ll get a really elegant and tasteful sofa. The Ektorp sofa is also lightweight.

The cushions and cover both have zippers and the cushions can be reversed when one side gets too dirty or used.

The Ektorp is a bit on the low side and not very deep, which may be a bit uncomfortable for some, but overall, it has a cozy design in our opinion. It is not the best sofa for napping as it is not wide enough and you’d be advised to remove the back cushions if you do want to nap on it, but if you just want to sit on it, it will do the job.

Assembling the Ektorp sofa is hassle-free and you can do it in less than half an hour. The arms and feet have to be attached and so does the slipcover.

There aren’t any major complaints when it comes to the Ektorp sofa. It is an affordable piece of furniture, it is easy to assemble and has a very nice design. Not to mention its convenience, due to the fact that it has a washable/replaceable slipcover. The only ‘con’ we could really find is the dimension of the couch, as some might find it too short or not deep enough to comfortably sit in any position on it.