Not sure if you should get this sofa? Take a look at our updated IKEA Färlöv sofa review in 2022 before you make your decision!
If you’re too lazy to read, watch our video about the IKEA Färlöv instead:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. History, status check & technical details
2. Design & aesthetics
3. Comfort
4. Price
5. Slipcoverability & hackability
6. Overall conclusion
7. Assembly guide
History, status check and technical details
Launched in 2017, the Färlöv family consists of 4 models at the time of writing – the armchair, 2-seater sofa, 2-seater sofa bed and 3-seater sofa. The sectional seems to have been discontinued at this moment. As of now, the Färlöv is still available in the US, Great Britain and Australia.
The Färlöv is actually quite a huge sofa, with the 2-seater being 85 ⅞” (218cm) wide and having a deep seating of 25 ¼” (64cm). If you are planning to get it, you’ll have to take into consideration the size of the sofa that may not fit your space. The Färlöv is also a low-sitting sofa, so if your house is one with a low ceiling, the Färlöv should fit right in.
Design and aesthetics
The IKEA Färlöv sofa has been said by many to resemble sofas from high-end brands such as the Pottery Barn York Slope Arm slipcovered sofa collection and Restoration Hardware’s Belgian Classic Slope Arm Slipcovered collection. But, it comes with a price that’s 3 to 4 times cheaper! One feature that makes the Färlöv stand out is its beautifully sloped arms in comparison to many of IKEA’s boxy sofas with straight arms.
The IKEA Färlöv sofa is available in 2 kinds of fabrics and 4 colours. The first fabric is yarn-dyed with natural hints of flax so it gives more texture to the fabric. Although crisp, this material can feel scratchy to the skin for some people. The colours available for the Flodafors fabric are white and grey. The second fabric is velvet that has a soft surface, dense pile and reflective shine. This one comes in dark grey and dark olive-green and is a more comfortable fabric to lounge on.
Rating: 8/10
Comfort
While the sofa may be firm during your first few “sittings”, the seat cushions eventually soften a little over time. Similar to the Söderhamn, it allows you to sit all the way back while you enjoy a book, but it definitely isn’t as soft as the Söderhamn. Despite that, the Färlöv is still very good for lounging, even if you’re in the taller group.
Rating: 8/10
Price
Currently, the Färlöv 2-seater is priced at GBP329 in Great Britain, starts at AU$449 in IKEA Australia and US$799 for our American friends. Meanwhile, the Färlöv 3-seat sofa starts at US$949 in the US, GBP295 in Great Britain (crazy discount for the Flodafors White cover!) and AU$749 in Australia (only available in Djuparp Dark Grey).
It’s incredibly affordable compared to the Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware sofas mentioned in the previous section. If you’re a fan of the modern farmhouse trend but not about the price of luxurious sofa brands, then pick the Färlöv already!
Slipcoverability and hackability
With the limited slipcovers from IKEA, we bet you’d like more choices. Take a look at how you can transform the plain Färlöv by simply using slipcovers. Whether you want a snug fit or long skirt, the choice is yours. Did we already mention that you can choose from more than 70 fabric styles for your Färlöv (and other IKEA sofas) upgrade?
You could totally put a Pure Linen slipcover with pleated skirts on the Färlöv for a farmhouse look. Additionally, the sofa legs have the same old bolt size that’s used in many of the IKEA sofas, so it’ll be easy-peasy to swap out the sofa legs for something cuter. Done and dusted!
Overall conclusion
The Färlöv series from IKEA is for those who want to graduate from the basic Ektorp. While it’s a little pricier than many other IKEA options, its traditional shape is timeless and slipcovered style makes it easy to keep clean and really go the distance.
Verdict: 7.2/10
Assembly guide
Have you checked out the IKEA Färlöv sofa yet? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
58 Comments
by Mayra
I too saw this series at Ikea and it looked upscale and elegant compared to other series. Our local Ikea only had the sectional on display and many people were flocking to it. I like the Ektorp’s style but the seat cushions were not as comfortable as the older versions and I liked the Stocksund sofa, which seemed more comfortable. Well, your review is on point with the seat cushions for this series, as they felt flat or uncomfortable, although they didn’t look flat. The seats were not as comfortable as you would hope after reading the description from the Ikea website. It is a beautiful looking series for sure! I’m liking it but I haven’t decided between style over comfort. I wish the seat cushions were more comfortable.
by Felicia
Hey Mayra!
The Farlov definitely looks really premium, doesn’t it? Sad to hear that the cushions were flat in your Ikea showroom too, so it wasn’t just ours! Actually the Farlov seems to be priced at the same range as the Stocksund, with the only advantage being that the Farlov comes in the corner sectional configuration but the Stocksund does not.
by deb
Hi,
I’m writing from England, brought here by your photo of Farlov in a colour….any colour! I agree with the comment about Ektorp, I bought the 5-seat sectional when it first came out, and got rid of it after fifteen happy years because I was bored with it and the hideous covers that were available. Big mistake! I’ve recently bought the 2-seat and the difference in seat quality is massive, The back cushions are made with some strange wadding, and the seats just foam – in the older model all cusions were foam with feathers so much firmer. I’m looking at Farlov to replace the new Ektorp, so really appreciate your sensible review. Thanks for posting.
by Dida
Couldn’t the cushion issue be solved by getting a cut piece of memory foam??? I have had the Karlstadt sofa for 8 years….this looks cozier and not as boxy…I love the design but at this price point a tweek to the cushion is totally doable!
by Chris
Hey Dida,
Indeed it could – would have to get the foam custom made though, which might end up being a couple of hundred extra.
by Karen Sommers
Love the style. I really wanted a similar style before recently Purchasing Ektorp 3 seater. I also purchased 2 sets of Blekinge White slipcovers from EBay. I wanted a durable cotton and needed “inexpensive”. I hope to purchase Linen covers soon. ? I really would have preferred the style of Farlov. I am sad to hear the cushion is not comfy. I read a review on Instagram by @withlovedani (https://instagram.com/p/BRE7Lp4DofB/) which echoed the cushion issue. She also did not like the IKEA fabric and plans to purchase a linen slipcover. I know IKEA is trying to “responsibly” source their cotton. Maybe hard to do? I would much prefer pre-shrunk natural fibers for washable slipcovers. I think natural fiber washable slipcovers along with classic styling and value have made Ektorp a popular choice. I hope IKEA returns to natural pre-washed fabrics. I also hope that IKEA returns to better cushion quality. I noticed that my Ektorp cushions are not reversible. I had read that Ektorp cushions are reversible – so I guess this is another recent change. Overall the Ektorp was still a good value for a sofa with washable slipcovers and the ability to purchase new slipcovers at reasonable prices as desired. Hope to purchase a linen slipcover soon!
by Karen Sommers
Do you plan to make slipcovers for the Farlov? Thank you.
by Chris
Hey Karen,
We do indeed plan on adding the Farlov to our collection of slipcovered sofas! Not quite yet though as it’s still brand-new, but maybe in a few weeks time. I think we could drop you an email if you’d like once we launch this?
by Bel
Well, after your review and the one mentioned above on Instagram, I took the plunge and bought it yesterday. It’s not out of the box yet, we are moving so it might not get put together for a week. Our store didn’t have a floor model out, so I couldn’t try it. They did fetch me the fabric samples and, at least with the small pieces I got to see, I like the texture and it didn’t feel awful enough to cover it with a sheet! At least, in sample size. I have wanted the Ektorp for a while, but my husband is 6’1″ and all legs. He said he felt like he was sitting on doll house furniture. I read many reviews of the Ektorp that were owned by tall people and they said they didn’t have an issue, but I also just kept thinking it was a little more “country” (using that term very loosely) than I wanted. When I stumbled upon the Farlov (not sure how I ended up finding it, it wasn’t on IKEA’s website) I fell in love! I thought I could try wrapping batting around the cushion insert if I need it plumping. Or maybe I will try the foam cushion as suggested. I am going to give it a great effort to make it work! I will be looking for slipcovers if this turns out to be too scratchy! Thanks for your review! It really helped me a lot!