How easy is it to put a slipcover on an IKEA sofa?

“How hard is it to put a slipcover on?”

Newsflash: It actually isn’t. While the process may seem intimidating, it’s one of those things that you do once and will never forget (even if you wanted to). Personally, I remember sitting on the floor with an Allen Key, completely lost and just not knowing what to do with myself.

Here’s a breakdown of how you can get a slipcover, the options you have, and just how easy it is to put a slipcover on.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Where do I get an IKEA slipcover?
  2. What are the alternatives to IKEA’s own slipcovers?
  3. Will I need to disassemble my IKEA sofa to put on the covers?
  4. What if my sofa has been discontinued?
  5. Wrap-up

Where do I get an IKEA slipcover?

The answer is unsurprisingly: IKEA! Their slipcover selections are available alongside the sofa model on their site.

Slipcover options for the IKEA Lycksele.
Cover options for the IKEA Lycksele 2-seat sofa-bed

In an ideal world, you would be able to get your sofa *and* covers in the same place. While IKEA has stepped up when it comes to its slipcover selections, there is much room for improvement:

1. Your choices are usually between a plain beige, or an outlandish colour not many would consider.

2. Some sofa models just don’t come with slipcovers (the snug kind, at least). Did you know the IKEA Friheten didn’t originally come with a cover?

3. IKEA covers also get stuck in a vicious cycle of ‘sold out’ – because the sofa is just that popular. We’ve heard our own customers say that it takes months for covers to be available in-store.

What are the alternatives to IKEA’s own slipcovers?

The good news is that IKEA isn’t the only option around. Here at Comfort Works, we have a slipcover for just about any household. These are some customers we’ve heard from:

“We have an NYC apartment with a large dog and would love a slipcover for our couch”

Claw-proof Velvet is scratch-resistant, and has been proven to survive the claws of determined cats and dogs!

A dog on a green armchair.
Claw-proof Velvet Moss on an IKEA Koarp Armchair

Perfect for: Fur-parents (and would-be fur parents if you’re planning on getting a pet!)

“My son will eat just about anywhere but the dining table, spills soda and leaves little crumbs all over our couch. Any suggestions?”

Performance Weave is nano-coated to repel liquids and stains ideal for easy clean-up.

Beige sofa in a living room.
Performance Weave Cream on an IKEA Flottebo Sofa-bed

Perfect for: Active, busy homes (or just clumsy people, no shame there).

“I love napping and stretching out on my couch after a long week I’d like something low-maintenance. Do you have something that doesn’t wrinkle as much?”

Comfort Chenille is ultra soft, wrinkle-free and keeps you at the right temperature, at all times.

A dusty pink armchair and sofa in a living room.
Image credit: Comfort Works partnership/Mariko Oka

Perfect for: Naptime enthusiasts and get-out-of-ironing opportunists alike.

Will I need to disassemble my IKEA sofa to put on the covers?

As with any of IKEA’s slipcovers, you will need to disassemble your sofa depending on the sofa model you own.

That’s not the case with Comfort Works covers, and we have our Signature Styles to thank for it. Designed with zero-disassembly in mind, our covers have never been easier to put on.

A beige sofa with extended flanges at its seams.
IKEA Soderhamn, all dressed up in our Signature Style

We’ve also picked up a tip that will help you get your covers on with ease i.e. fitting your covers on while slightly damp. This will help the slipcover go on without much resistance giving it the ideal, snug-fit finish.

What if my sofa has been discontinued?

Don’t worry: we make IKEA covers from a mix of currently-available and discontinued sofas.

A person working in an office room.
Can’t talk right now, designing slipcovers

If you happen to own an IKEA sofa that we can slipcover and it isn’t on our site just yet, we’d be more than happy to help (in exchange for your sofa measurements, of course).

Wrap-up

Now that disassembling your IKEA sofa is a thing of the past, it’s time to consider ordering that slipcover (yes, the one that’s been sitting in your cart). Click on the button below to check out our Signature style for your IKEA sofa.

Find my IKEA sofa

Still going strong — the IKEA Vimle, a timeless living room hero

The IKEA Vimle has long been a fan favourite — and honestly, it’s easy to see why. It’s comfy, modular, and surprisingly stylish for something that comes flat-packed.

Whether your vibe is Scandi minimalism, cosy cottagecore or clean modern lines, the Vimle fits right in. It’s simple enough to work with any living room style, but has just enough personality to stand on its own.

Plus, with its flexible modular design, you can completely change the shape of your Vimle over time — or just refresh the look with new covers (spoiler alert: we’ve got you covered on that front).

Note: In the US and Canada, this sofa is now called Finnala (and we’ve got a separate review for it). Same vibe, slightly updated build. In this review, though, we’re sticking with the Vimle.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. First look at the IKEA Vimle sofa
  2. Comfort
  3. Aesthetics
  4. Price
  5. Durability
  6. Verdict

First look at the IKEA Vimle sofa

The Vimle sofa comes in a few different sizes and combinations. Here are a few options to choose from:

  • 2-seater
  • 3-seater
  • 4-seater
  • 4-seat sofa with chaise lounge
  • 3-seat corner sofa
  • 4-seat corner sofa
  • 5-seat corner sofa with/without chaise lounge
  • 6-seat U-shaped sofa
  • Footstool with storage
  • Armchair
  • 2-seat sofa bed
  • 3-seat sofa bed with/without chaise lounge
  • 3-seat sofa, with chaise longue with headrest

As you can tell, there’s quite a lot you can do with the Vimle. And since it’s modular, you can buy each piece individually and combine them to achieve the exact look you’re going for in your living room. There’s even a Vimle planner on IKEA for you to customise your Vimle from scratch.

IKEA Vimle
(Image credit: saidastyles)

Comfort: 7/10

Have you ever sat on the IKEA Karlstad sofa? Well, the Vimle is very similar to the Karlstad in its depth and height but the Vimle is noticeably wider.

The Vimle might not look like the most comfortable or inviting sofa to rest on, but those assumptions go away the moment you take a seat.

It’s big enough to comfortably fit people who are almost 6-feet tall, and the 3-seater Vimle is wide enough for a good nap.

Although we were initially quite surprised by the quality and build of the Vimle, one of the only drawbacks might be their armrests. They are tall and thin, making them a little difficult to sit on when you’re having a party with more people than cushion seats.

And since they’re thin and tall, resting your head on these armrests might not be the most comfortable thing to do. A quick fix would be to add a few throw pillows, we feel that these armrests are the only drawback from this otherwise perfect sofa.

2022 update: There is the “wide-arm” option for the Vimle sofas now! The original armrests are still available, but the newer option has lower and wider armrests that measure at 54cm in height and 22cm in width. The first version of IKEA Vimle has armrests that are 65cm/68cm in height and 15cm in width. IKEA must have heard us and other people! Who doesn’t love improvements, AND options?

IKEA Vimle
(Image credit: Comfort Works)

Aesthetics: 8/10

One word: versatile. The Vimle’s clean, unfussy design works with almost anything — which means you can change up your look without replacing your sofa.

Want a spring refresh? Go light and linen-y. Cosy for winter? Add rich textures or earthy tones. The only real limitation is the fabric selection at IKEA.

That’s where CW’s custom sofa covers come in. You’ll find dozens of durable, beautiful fabrics to choose from, including linen blends, velvets and pet-friendly options. So you can make your IKEA Vimle sofa feel uniquely you. Explore our sofa cover fabrics here.

Price: 7/10

The prices of the IKEA Vimle sofas are relatively standard. It’s certainly not one of IKEA’s most expensive ranges of sofas, and we think that the quality-price ratio is acceptable.

A 2-seater IKEA Vimle sofa Saxemara light blue costs 499 € and a corner sofa-bed, 5-seater with chaise and wide armrests in Hillared dark blue fabric costs 2,599 € (these are new lowered prices for 2025).

For the average family the 3-seat sofa, with chaise lounge (from 749 €) or the versatile 3-seat sofa-bed with wide armrests (from 1,129 €) are the most cost effective options.

The price of your IKEA Vimle also depends on the sofa cover you go with. The Gunnared beige is the most basic, while the Djuparp cover in dark grey, dark green or dark green-blue, can tack up to 450 € to your price tag.

If you’re not happy with IKEA’s options, you can check out our selection of performance sofa covers that are suited to your lifestyle.

(Image credit: Comfort Works)

Durability: 7.5/10

Just like any other IKEA sofa, the Vimle has a 10-year guarantee. But just because it has that 10-year guarantee, doesn’t mean that we didn’t put it to the test.

That’s why we went to IKEA and tried in every way possible. We sat on it, laid on it, open and shut the chaise lounge and footstool over and over again, and even tested the unions between different modules.

We tested it to our heart’s content, and we have to admit that once you actually sit on the Vimle, you can’t help but to trust in its comfort and support.

The Vimle does indeed have a solid structure, even when it’s combined with other pieces. The unions between the individual modules and legs of the Vimle are also strong and reliable.

It never fails to retain its solid and stable structure. It ensures a consistent level of comfort, making the Vimle an all-time favourite in our books.

Verdict: 7.5/10

We’ve been having a lot of discussions among the Comfort Works team, and this is our overall score on the IKEA Vimle sofa:

  • Comfort: 7/10
  • Aesthetics: 8/10
  • Price: 7/10
  • Durability: 7.5/10 
  • Final verdict: 7.5/10

The Vimle is a well-rounded sofa with a great design. It checks all the boxes and has scored well in all the things we consider crucial in a good sofa.

And guess what? We loved the Vimle so much that we went ahead to include it in our roster of customisable slipcovers. 

Add a personal touch to your Vimle sofa. Browse through our wide selection of fabrics and styling options that can help take your living room to the next level.

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