by
Chris
2016/11/11
Today we’re taking a look at the IKEA Holmsund, which is one of the current sofa-beds / sleeper sofas available in IKEA stores worldwide.
Basics
It’s an updated Friheten, with extra throw pillows, wedged armrests and a higher price tag. Just like the Friheten sofa-bed, the Holmsund comes in two different configurations – a 3 seater sleeper sofa and a sectional sofa-bed (with chaise).
The 3 seater starts from US$549 (£450) and the sectional sleeper starts from US$699 (£495). Which is about $50 more expensive than the respective Friheten.
For cover choice, you’re quite limited if you prefer the original IKEA covers as you only have a choice of 4 colours:
- Ransta White
- Ransta Light Pink (which I still maintain is slightly salmon coloured)
- Nordvalla Medium Grey (Reminds me of our Kino Charcoal)
- Nordvalla Beige (Liege Biscuit / Lino Brushed?)
Each configuration comes with a hidden storage space as well. For the 3 seater, that’s located underneath the seats. For the sectional sleeper, that’s located underneath the chaise.
The fun thing about the chaise is that you can place it on either left or right of the sofa, and switch it any time. The covers allow for this as well 🙂
The sofa legs are quite short, giving the Holmsund the impression of sitting on the floor itself. This is unlike the Friheten sofa-bed, which shows off its legs proudly.
How does it sit?
The Holmsund is really deep. With throw pillows for a back rest, you could make a nest out of the sofa, and my 6’2″ frame sat comfortably all the way back. Armrests were well-placed and comfortable, although you aren’t going to be able to sit on them like a Kivik’s armrest.
Comfort-wise though, the Holmsund is a rather specialised taste. The padding is firm, without being hard. If you like sitting IN your sofa, this is probably not for you. I personally liked it though, but then again I like strong support instead of envelopement.
My friend claims that loads of extra pillows make the Holmsund really comfy, but more than 5 were an issue for clumsy me.
What about sleep?
You should expect the same firm rest on the bed as well. However, on the 3 seater sofa-bed, the seat portion moves forward and then the back rest folds down to join the seat and form a bed. I didn’t quite like this gap and found it rather irritating on occasion.
With the sectional sleeper (with chaise), the bed part pulls up from underneath the seat. Same as with IKEA’s Friheten and Manstad sofa-beds. I preferred this as it was a lot easier to pull out, though some might fear that the mechanism might not last the test of time.
The bed is a double or full size, not quite a queen size bed. Source appropriately for your sheets if you use them.
Comfort Works Tip: I bought a cheap memory foam topper and this improved sleep immensely. If you still get complaints from your friend, give em more beer before they sleep.
Conclusion
Pricier, classy looking, a really deep seat, and a firm supportive padding. Also has slipcovers or sofa covers, but I didn’t quite like the polyester from IKEA as it was a little bit rough and uncomfortable. I’d still get it as I entertain on occasion, but if you’re a bachelor on the high end of the height scale, go for the Friheten instead.
Aesthetics: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10
Durability: 8/10
Price: 6/10
Luckily, we now make slipcovers for the Holmsund sofabed with chaise and the 3-seater too!
If you’ve found this review helpful and want to find out more about other IKEA sofa models, click the button below for the best IKEA sofa reviews!
This sofa says it is 90.5 inches. I have a space that is 90 inches wide. Do we think that it will fit? Can I squeeze it?
Hey Josh,
Usually IKEA over-estimates their measurements a bit to ensure you have more than enough space to wiggle, but I’m afraid 90.5″ will be quite a bit of a squeeze into 90″. I personally wouldn’t recommend it.
Hello,
Based on you experience, what size of the mattress topper did you buy – full or queen? I read reviews on ikea website advising buying queen sheets not full.
Many thanks,
Irina
Hi Sarah,
thanks for your feedback,
I already saw Sandbacken and the Brathultbut but I don’t like it because they have a different bed system (too spartan type), I prefer version used in Backabro/Holmsund.
For your experience, how long it will take to have the Holmsund version available ?
days, weeks or months ?
I need the new sofa on 18 July, because I will have guests
in alternative I’ll have to choose another company
thanks in advance for your help
Marco
Hi Marco,
I completely understand, I also prefer the bed system in the Backabro and Holmsund.
I find that these type of sofa beds last a lot longer as well.
As for the availability, I recommend contacting your local IKEA to get a more accurate date.
They can also let you know if there is another IKEA close to you that have the model in stock. 🙂
Hope this helps and I hope you’re able to come up with a solution quickly!
Hi
I would need to buy a sofa with these characteristics
– sofa corner double bed
– storage
– removable covers
I like , as first choice Backabro, but when last month I went to store I knew that this sofa was out of production 🙁 (why ???? grrrr…..)
Second choice Holmsund, but also in this case it is not available.
In this moment there are not products in Ikea with this characteristics.
Remain only Friheten, but I don’t like it , and then is not removable covers !!
thanks
Marco
Hi Marco,
There are still two options that IKEA currently has which is the Sandbacken and the Brathult.
Both are quite similar and have an additional ottoman for storage. The only big difference is the back cushion styles.
If you have the option of waiting on the Holmsund to come back into stock I would definitely wait on that sofabed. It’s my personal favourite in terms of looks and comfort.
However if you do have to stick with the Friheten, we do offer covers. 🙂
https://comfort-works.com/en/friheten-sofa-covers-115
Hope this helps!
All comments were very helpful!! Planing to buy the Holmsund 3 seater.
Hi, Chuck,
Thanks so much for this very thorough review! I’m a little confused about the “removability” of the IKEA Holmsund slipccover — is it a true slipcover, or do you have to remove all the individual pieces? Do you have to take the sofa apart? Thanks, Colleen
Hi Colleen!
Actually Chris wrote the review but I’ll let him know that it was helpful 🙂
Unfortunately with any sofa slipcover that looks as tailored as the Holmsund, it usually means that each part of the sofa would have its own individual slipcover. As a result, you will need to take the sofa apart in order to change covers.
By default however, if you purchase the sofa from IKEA it’s going to come disassembled to begin with – so putting on covers while assembling goes hand in hand.
All in all though, it’s definitely worth the couple of hours to have a sofa that looks good for another 180-365 days or so for a wash.
Hope this helps!
Hi 🙂 We just put together the Holmsund last night. The back seems rather low, but when I look at the instructions, it seems to be correct. In some other photos I see, the back is higher. Is it possible to make it higher? Thanks!
Hey Suzanne,
Do you mean the backrest? I just checked and looked at all the assembly instructions – it’s a bit peculiar but the 3 seat sofa bed version has a higher backrest, while the Sleeper with CHAISE has a backrest flushed with the height of the arms.
Would I be right to say that you have the Holmsund sleeper with chaise? 🙂
Hi. I bought the Holmsund chaise sleeper this weekend. When I pull the bed out I noticed that if you sit on the edge it collapses in. I can’t figure out if I missed a step or what happened. I’ve scoured the internet and can’t find an answe. Do you have any suggestions?
We have the same problem Katie. Did you find a solution?
Hi Katie!
Not too sure what you mean actually – have you tried looking at the instructions to see if you might have indeed missed a step?
Hi,
I just found your site. We purchased the L-shaped Holmsund this summer. It is a great couch and is especially great to pull out the sofa bed to get cozy on the couch and watch a movie for all 4 of us( 2 adults and 2 kids). I am hoping to get a cover for it that is more like leather. We have kids and despite all of the Scotch guard fabric protector coats we sprayed, we have stains that won’t budge. We laundered them and the stains remain:(. If you ever design stain resistant covers for the l-shaped couch, that would be fabulous. I hope so.
Best,
Kerry
Hey Kerry!
We wouldn’t recommend bycast leather or leather in general for the Holmsund couch mainly due to the shape of the arms – the rest of the body is fine. Reason being, the more curvy the sofa is – the less perfect leather covers would work on it as it needs to be snug to look good. If it isn’t snug enough, it wouldn’t look tailored and just looks cheap and sloppy.
However, if you’re looking for a stain resistant fabric our Liege (Eggshell and Biscuit) fabrics have that property that may help 🙂
Do check out all our fabric swatches here: http://comfort-works.com/en/home/fabric-samples-24
That way you can get some and feel/touch the fabrics in person to get a better idea if they’d work for your household.
Hope this helps!
Hey there! I just ordered a Holmsund and saw your review. When do you think you’ll be having the slipcovers for this available? I’m excited to spice it up!
Hey Calli!
The Holmsund is still relatively new but we’d think sometime around the 3rd quarter of this year is possible 🙂
Hope to get it in sooner!