IKEA Äpplaryd review – a sofa to re-lie on

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. How does it feel?
2. How does it look?
3. Cost
4. Slipcoverability
5. How hackable is it?
6. Verdict
7. Assembly guide

A new addition to the IKEA sofa family, there is one thing that I can never forget about the Äpplaryd – the way it made me feel so comfortable.

I first saw photos of the Äpplaryd online on IKEA’s website. Without much expectations for a sofa with a simple construction, I walked into IKEA hoping to do a quick sitting test on the Äpplaryd since it is a new one. But, my, oh my…

How does it feel?

It’s really bouncy and when I sat on it, I instantly felt the power of the pocket springs in it. It’s probably also due to the high-resilient polyurethane foam in the seat cushions. I then proceeded to place my head on its pillow-like armrests. They really felt as plump as brand new pillows, to the point where I almost wished I could chop an armrest off and take it home with me.

When I was sitting upright on the IKEA Äpplaryd, the size and height of the armrests fit me perfectly (for reference, I’m about 170cm tall).

Rating: 8/10

How does it look?

Comfort is very important to me when it comes to a sofa. Once that’s settled, the aesthetics come in second place. The Äpplaryd’s appeal lies in its simple, classic looks. This makes it great for a simple space but also a luxurious one.

The IKEA Äpplaryd sofa series comes in 4 colours and 2 types of fabric. Whether it’s the red or blue soft velvet upholstery or the cotton blend fabrics in 2 different shades of grey, it’ll not change the aura it gives off.

Rating: 8/10

Cost

Starting from a price of $999 for the loveseat and topping out at $1,749 for the 4-seater with chaise, the Äpplaryd isn’t the most affordable sofa, but I’d pay for the feeling of comfort and the looks it offers.

The IKEA Äpplaryd sofa series has quite a range of models: 2-seater, 3-seater, 3-seater with chaise and 4-seater with chaise that can fit families of all sizes.

For measurements of other Äpplaryd sofa models, see here:
Äpplaryd 2-seater sofa/Loveseat
Äpplaryd 3-seater sofa
Äpplaryd 3-seater sofa with chaise lounge
Äpplaryd 4-seater sofa with chaise lounge

Slipcoverability

The Äpplaryd is upholstered, so we’re letting you know: be careful with it! Caring for the upholstery isn’t hard, as IKEA advises to vacuum clean or wipe the cotton blend fabric with a damp cloth; and you can use a damp sponge or a mild soapy solution to clean any light stains on the velvet fabric. As for daily or weekly cleaning, you can remove the dust on the sofa with a lint remover.

Take a look at our guide on various ways to clean upholstered sofas.

How hackable is it?

Its chaise can be assembled on the left or the right side of the sofa, hence there is flexibility depending on the design of your room. The chaise is also sold on its own, in case you’d want to add a chaise to your loveseat anytime.

Verdict

I would definitely buy this sofa. It’s got the comfort and looks and it comes at a decent price. The only concern for me is the frame. Firstly, it does look a little bit flimsy and secondly, when I sat on it, it just didn’t feel exactly sturdy enough to withstand some hop-on activities.

As the Äpplaryd series is pretty new in the market, I can’t say how durable it is. We’ll just have to come back and update this sofa review in a few years’ time.

Overall rating: 7.5/10
Price: $$$ (out of 5)

Assembly guide

Download the guide below for assembly instructions:
IKEA Äpplaryd sofa assembly guide