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IKEA Flottebo sofa bed review: Offbeat design, unusual structure

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Overview & price
  2. Technical details
  3. Designs, aesthetics & slipcoverability
  4. Comfort
  5. Verdict

Overview and price

Launched around October 2017 and designed by C Halskov/H Dalsgaard, the Flottebo is not how a sofa in a home would normally look – it’s really more like a sofa you’d see at a waiting room of the dentist’s office.

Even though it’s marketed as a sofa bed, it isn’t the same as the other sofa beds commonly found in IKEA. Instead of pulling out the top of the sofa to turn it into a bed, you simply shift the cushions around, make space and there you get a bed.

The Flottebo sofa is currently only available in Australia, starting from a price of AUD1,099 depending on the colour.

IKEA Flottebo Vissle Dark Grey
Image: IKEA

Technical details

When it was initially launched, 2 models with different seat depths were offered: 90cm and 120cm. However, we’re now left with the 120cm model, which I think is better anyways because as a tall person, I’d never complain about more seat depth and space. With a width of 120cm and bed length of 200cm, the IKEA Flottebo would be great as my day bed. But also, the fact that the sofa bed is 200cm makes it not so ideal for smaller spaces.

IKEA Flottebo measurements
Image: IKEA

Designs, aesthetics & slipcoverability

The Flottebo comes in 3 colours: Gunnared Medium Grey, Vissle Dark Grey and Vissle Purple. They’re all removable covers made out of 100% polyester. 

This model has a storage compartment beneath for you to store anything from pillows and blankets to accommodate guests when they come to visit. The storage is pretty spacious, but the con is it does not open up enough, so it can be a little inconvenient when you’re trying to retrieve an item from the deeper end. 

To prevent the movable cushions from sliding around, they have an underside that’s made out of anti-slip material. This is useful when you decide to shift them into a backrest or a divider for your 2 children who argued just a while ago and haven’t made up yet.

Design rating: 6.5/10

IKEA Flottebo sofa bed storage
Image: IKEA

Comfort

The Flottebo’s individually wrapped pocket springs offer sufficient density to the seats, so the seat cushions are on the firmer side. We reckon it’s quite alright to sleep on for a few nights a week. However, we’d still recommend getting a real bed for your back in case you’re thinking of using the IKEA Flottebo as a bed for the long term.

Rating: 7/10

Verdict

Even though the anti-slip material on the cushion creates a bit of a friction with the sofa seat, it doesn’t really help because it still slips when you try to lean your back against the backrest. Unless your IKEA Flottebo is pushed up against a wall, then the cushions can make sturdy backrests. But I personally prefer a higher backrest for a fuller support.

If it’s a sofa you’d purchase for a waiting room or a room where it’s not often being used, the Flottebo would fit very well in the space with its offbeat design. Or, if you’re sure that the sofa will always be leaning against a wall and you don’t intend to ever move it to the centre of the room, then you’ll be fine purchasing the IKEA Flottebo.

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Plan to get a Flottebo but you’re not digging the slipcover designs? Hop on over to our website and make your Flottebo a lot more interesting to look at with our 70+ fabric styles today.

Style up your Flottebo

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8 Comments

  • by Suzy
    Posted May 1, 2019 10:21 PM

    I just purchased this bed and have yet to put it together. It was delivered. Question, the mattress came rolled up. Was it your experience that the mattress once unrolled was fine? it seems strange to me that it is rolled up. Wondering how it will conform to a full mattress shape once unrolled. Thanks!

    • by Chuck
      Posted May 2, 2019 9:30 AM

      Hey Suzy,

      If I recall correctly there were instructions saying that we just need to leave it for a few to 24 hours to let it “expand”. Many of IKEA’s products (most recently we brought in a Farlov sofa) made of foam are vacuum-packed so save space, which makes a lot of sense logistically.

      It was quite cool when we first saw it as well but yea, just about 24 hours later the shape will go back to normal 🙂

      Hope this helps!

  • by Jane Graland
    Posted December 10, 2019 7:18 PM

    I am curious what size sheets fit this mattress?

    • by Chuck
      Posted December 13, 2019 4:16 PM

      Hey Jane!

      As per IKEA’s website it’s about 120 x 200cm, which I believe is pretty close to a “Queen” size but not exactly — best to check the exact measurements on the packaging 😉

      Hope this helps!

  • by Andres G. Rojas
    Posted December 30, 2019 7:59 AM

    I find that the cushions keep sliding as my back is up against them. Is there something I can do or some way I can treat the sticky side that that its stickier or doesn’t start sliding??

  • by ayca
    Posted June 28, 2020 6:51 AM

    I bought two Flottebo sofas from UK and I regretted it! The back rests are sliding and falling, not immediately but gradually (around 5 minutes after you lean on them), therefore it is not working as a sofa. If you go to Ikea website almost everyone purchased also complain about back rests are sliding. They don’t work as it is described in the middle of the room with its back rest as they slide and fall (each time), you need to put the sofa and the cushions against a wall to make it work. Not to mention they are extremely uncomfortable even though I love the design and simplicity of this sofa i am now trying to get rid of them 3 months after purchasing and unfortunately I didn’t get a refund!

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