This post was originally published in January 2019. Ikea discontinued their Ektorp series in the fall of 2020. I’m updating it today – June 11th, 2024 – because I think that there are still plenty of Ektorps around. And I think there are many for sale on places like Facebook Marketplace. So if you wan to know how an Ektorp holds up after more than 7 years of use, read on!
We have had our Ikea Ektorp couch for more than 7 years now. Here’s an honest review, of what we love about it, some of the cons, and several tips for how to enjoy your own Ikea Ektorp couch!
We Did Our Research
When we were originally in the market for a new couch, Dean and I shopped around quite a bit. Truthfully that’s not really normal for us (outside of appliance shopping). We’re kind of fly by the seat of our pants, impulse shoppers. But a couch is kind of a big purchase, so we definitely didn’t want to make a mistake.
While researching couches, we visited every furniture showroom near our home. On date nights, we’d sit on couch after couch. We’d lounge back like we were watching a movie and sit upright like we were reading a book. We’d feel all the fabrics and read the care instructions.
Dean really wanted a nice, grown up couch. Maybe something in leather. Surprisingly, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money (I tend to be the spender in our house). And we just happened to have a puppy in the house. So, leather was not going to work.
We both agreed a sectional would be best to replace the 2 smaller, two-seater couches we had at the time.
I was leaning toward the Ikea Ektorp Couch for most of the shopping around, but Dean wasn’t convinced right away.
4 Cons of the Ikea Ektorp Couch
1. It’s a wee bit on the small side
By that, I mean, that the backs are pretty low. But for us that’s okay. We’re on the short side – 5′ 1″ and 5′ 7.5″ and find it to be comfortable. I honestly couldn’t tell you, if you’re tall or short or tiny or bigger, if it’s a good couch for you. I recommend you go into Ikea and sit on one to see for yourself.
2. It comes flat-packed
Literally. The couch came in boxes and had to be assembled. I laughed out loud when it was delivered. I couldn’t believe Ikea actually figured out a way to get a couch into a box! Because we bought the sectional, it came in twice as many boxes as the regular couch (which we also bought, second-hand later for our basement family room).
3. The cushions get bent out of shape
Because they’re foam, the cushions of the couch tend to get bent out of shape easily. Like they form a curve after sitting on them for awhile. But that’s easily fixed by flipping the cushions around, or swapping their positions – especially on the sectional.
4. The fabric MIGHT pill
We’ve heard that some people found the Grey slipcover pilled (got little balls of fluff and lint). Honestly, we didn’t have that issue until very recently – and only VERY minorly. Like hardly noticeable.
We did notice much more pilling on the beige cover after several years.
An easy solution to that would be to get one of those sweater defuzzers and use it as necessary.
5 Pros of the Ikea Ektorp Couch
1. The price
No matter whether you purchase the Ikea Ektorp Couch, the sectional, or the arm chairs, the price point is excellent.
Dean and I talked about having big kids/teenagers (no more puke or sippee cup spills), and being well into our adulthood (no more random, mismatched furniture). And we thought maybe a really nice, more expensive couch was what we wanted.
But in the end, creating a relaxed vibe in our house is much more important to us than ‘grown-up’ furniture. We didn’t want our kids or our guests to feel like they were going to ruin something just by sitting on it. To me, an expensive couch meant that I’d be hovering and worrying about it more than necessary.
The Ikea Ektorp Sectional was about a third of the cost of comparable sectionals we looked at!
2. The cushions are loose
By that I just mean, they’re not affixed to the couch. Which means that they can be flipped around to prolong the life of the sofa. Which is a very good thing!
And no, the cushions don’t slide around or fall off. They fit the couch really well, unlike some other loose cushion couches we’ve owned!
3. The slipcovers can be replaced
The slipcovers are hands-down my absolute favorite part of the Ikea Ektorp line.
Truthfully I’d fallen in love with white couches when we were shopping for a couch. But I was simultaneously terrified of them! I figured that with the Ektorp if we tried them and didn’t like them, I could just buy new slipcovers. Which is what actually happened.
After only a couple of weeks, I couldn’t deal with the way the edges of the white slipcovers got grungy from fingerprints. So, after a couple of months, we bought the Nordvalla Grey slipcovers.
We had the grey covers for a couple of years before we bought the Nordvalla Beige covers.
Even with the original price of the sectional and two additional slipcovers – we’ve still spent less than we would have on a sectional from anywhere else!
4. The slipcovers are washable
Because the Ektorp is slipcovered, the whole couch is basically washable. I mean, the covers cover the whole thing. So, they can be spot-cleaned or thoroughly washed.
And we have SPILLED on that couch! Gosh. Potato chips, spaghetti sauce, red wine. And those spills have all washed out!
Truthfully, even with the washability, I spot clean more than I actually run them all through the washer. But, it’s relaxing to know the option is there.
Just remember to follow the washing instructions for your particular cover (the different fabrics have different instructions).
5. The shape fits into a lot of decor styles
While some have said that the traditional rolled-arm shape is a negative, I disagree. It may not fit a modern vibe, true. But it definitely fits into styles like farmhouse, traditional, preppy, vintage, country, cottage, eclectic and shabby chic.
Where to Find Ektorp Slipcovers
Since Ikea discontinued the Ektorp line and sold out of all remaining slipcovers, you’ll have to find a third-party source for slipcovers.
I personally have not ordered from any of these but here are some options to check out if you need a new slipcover:
Tips for Enjoying Your Ikea Ektorp Couch
- Rotate and flip your cushions regularly to keep their shape and minimize wear.
- Buy Ikea’s feather throw pillows inserts and your favorite covers to use as decor and to prop you up for longer lounging sessions.
- Choose a color you can live with. But even if you change your mind, you can find off-market Ektorp covers made by third parties in several materials and finishes.
- If you have the sectional, make sure your laundry machines can handle something that large easily. At our old house, when I washed the white slipcovers I actually broke the washer because it wasn’t large enough for the big sectional cover. Take the covers to the laundromat if your home machines are not large capacity.
So, after all the pros and cons, we truly love our Ikea Ektorp Sectional. We even bought the Ektorp three-seater sofa second-hand for our basement – which is a great option if you want an Ektorp now that the Ektorp has been discontinued.
We also enjoyed two second-hand Ikea Ektorp chairs for over two years in our living room as well. (We swapped them out because we wanted slightly chairs by the fireplace.)
What About the Replacement – the Uppland?
For whatever reason, Ikea discontinued their Ektorp line in late 2020. It was replaced by a very similar looking Uppland line.
The Uppland is slightly larger and taller than the Ektorp, so the covers are not interchangeable. But, based on our experience with the Ektorp for the past 7 years, it may be worthwhile to try the Uppland if you’re in the market for a new couch. I know we’d consider it!
FAQs
Yes, Ikea phased out their Ektorp line in the fall of 2020.
Yes. Each color of slipcover has slightly different washing instructions though, so pay attention to those.
Some can and some can’t. It depends on the material.
The Ektorp was replaced by the Uppland.
They will – but they will be big and sloppy because the Uppland is slightly larger than the Ektorp.
Have you ever considered the Ikea Ektorp Couch for your house? What about another slipcovered Ikea couch, like the Uppland?
*This post is NOT sponsored! We purchased our Ikea Ektorp sectional, chairs and couch, as well as all of our slipcovers.
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