by
Chris
2016/08/26
We review IKEA’s latest offering in the sofa world, the Vallentuna sofa. Is it the best IKEA sofa ever? Or is there something fishy in the state of Sweden?
Actually, I’m not going to waffle on: it’s kind of a mixed bag of hits and misses.
There are quite a few reasons, but first, let’s talk about the fine details. Launched in March 2016, the Vallentuna is the latest completely modular sofa series from Sweden, intended to be contemporary and modern. It’s made up of freestanding modules which can be either seating, sleeping or storage modules. Designers – Lisa Hilland, Eva Lilja Löwenhielm, and Andreas Fredriksson.
Now, let’s take a look at one of the Vallentunae.
This is the IKEA Vallentuna 3 Seat Sofa with Bed. I’m not even going to touch the low hanging fruit of the fabric; just look at that gap in the backrest and protruding centre seat. Personally, that is going to spell a lot of accidents in my future. The sleeper module is also just a single bed, so it’s not really the best for sleeping on after a night out.
You might think that the 3 seat Vallentuna is acceptable. And I’ll agree with you, it’s decent. Except for the shorter backrest / armrests and protruding seats on either corner. That’s the only downside of this piece.
But then you have this suggested configuration. At which point I just have to ask, why?
The good points
Okay okay the Vallentuna really isn’t ALL that bad.
Here are some benefits:
– It’s modular, so it could be combined and moved around to a configuration of your preference
– Cushions are firm: you don’t sink in nor are they as hard as rock.
– Setting up the sleeper was fairly easy, just pull and transform the cushion
– Fabrics come in 8 different basic colours
Apart from this though, we can’t say that it made a very good first impression between us:
Chuck: “Great concept, questionable execution”
Feli: “I couldn’t bring myself to sit on it. It looked horrible.” (editor’s note: she really did refuse to sit on it)
Chris: “It’s too small for me. Also, no real support. Those walls make you feel like you’re in a cubicle.” (co-editor note: yes he’s a bit of a tree)
So there you have it.
The overall verdict would be as follows for us:
– Design/Aesthetics: 5/10
– Practicality and Comfort: 7/10
– Price: 5/10 (Would prefer a Kivik any day)
But to each their own of course, so if you have a different opinion altogether – feel free to drop it in our comments section below.
P.S. We now have custom Vallentuna sofa covers, if you have need of them.
I bought this to put in my Airbnb space because it was the only sofa/bed combo I could find that fit the small space. The seats ARE quite deep (and I have long legs). However….I piled on five 20″ throw pillows on top of the Vallentuna ‘lumbar’ cushions and it makes a huge difference! Much more comfy, and less ‘brutally minimal’ visually. As for the firmness, I prefer a couch you don’t sink into, and this makes the bed module very comfortable to sleep on. Vallentuna also appealed to me because the cushion covers are removable and washable. That makes the whole thing more eco-friendly — no need to ditch it if/when it gets stained or worn. The grey tweedy upholstery option looks and feels very nice, not as cheap as the cotton/poly covers. One last bonus is that being modular it’s relatively easy to move myself without needing a second person.
A couple of years in and I think the Vallentuna is beginning to have its slight appeal for me. I can’t say that I resonated well with their marketing approach by presenting various fabrics onto one sectional but based on what you and other people have told us it does make a somewhat practical option for people who need something small and modular. The sofa bed option was a nice touch indeed.
My only last qualm with it now is that at roughly $240 a section and $80 for an armrest, it’s gonna be a pricey 3 seater close to a $1000. At that point, I’d probably opt for a Soderhamn or Vimle sofa instead.
i went back and forth on the vallentuna for a while, but it was the only piece that worked for our needs (seating in the living room at first, then fold out beds in the kids room once our renovation is over). once we got them i realized how awesome they actually are. the beds are very comfortable, even for my 6’2″ husband (as a guest bed or for a few weeks, not for life). the hidden bed platform slides so nicely, and they are just a marvel of engineering. not sure why ikea styles them the way they do, they look a lot cooler IRL. anyway we had a ton of reservations but are very happy with them.
I went into Ikea to try the Kivik chaise because I was thinking of buying one second hand. But when I sat on it my bum sank down near the backrest and I knew it would hurt my back quite quickly and I have a bad back. So I sat on every chaise in ikea and the Vallentuna was the only one I found really comfortable. I got the sofa bed module which is a longer rectangular seat but not quite as long as the other chaises, and put the square storage module at the end to make a chaise. It is wide enough for two people to sit on it, so I can snuggle up with my boyfriend in front of the tele. The sofa bed is also surprisingly comfy when set up. I fit two blankets, a doona, two pillows and a set of sheets in the storage box. The only problem is that it’s firmer than the one in the shop but I’m hoping that the shop one got softer from lots of people sitting on it and that therefore mine will get softer with time. I’d like to hear other people’s experience of the softness. The zapper also broke a few days after I got it and I had to exchange it, but I was trying to get it undone while it was still sitting on the base so that might be my fault. It’s a bit more expensive than other chaises but I’m hoping how comfortable it is and the utility with the bed and storage will make up for that and hopefully the price reflects the quality and that it lasts.
I have got this sofa had it out of your clearance dept and it’s orange , do you do a range of driffrent cover colours for this sofa …?
Hi Tony
Indeed we do! You can find covers for the Vallentuna sofa on our website: https://comfort-works.com/en/vallentuna-sofa-covers-477
Hope this helps 🙂
I bought this sofa as last Monday, and I love the way it looks and how versatile it is… It is way to stiff for me. I feel like laying on a concrete floor may be softer. That’s way I will be exchanging it for either the Kivik or the Nockerby,.. Still not sure which one to pick.
I agree that it looks very versatile, but why is it so unattractive? It just looks so uncomfortable and stiff.
I bought this sofa in February. The off-gassing smell is so disgusting, it is literally making me sick. I have had my windows open as often as possible, but the smell will not go away. I am hoping that I will be able to return it. I love the sofa, but I am afraid that a replacement will have the same problem.
Sorry to hear that Margaret,
I don’t think I’ve heard of these issues about IKEA before, but I’m quite sure they have a 14 day return policy so you should be able to return it as long as you have the receipt with you.
Good luck!
I’ve skipped past the Vallentuna (just got the “fishy” line!) on IKEA’s website, each time I’m dreaming of a new couch. Today I was perusing through the physical catalog, and the versatility of the pieces jumped out at me for the first time. I think I was still viewing it as a sectional, but like most sectionals, still fixed. It hadn’t occurred to me that I could move things around as the needs of the day change. We live in an apartment, and have two small children, so I like the idea of moving things around. I would definitely have to take time to try them out at the store. I have short legs and those seats look uncomfortably deep.
[…] I use the word “almost” because I’m still refusing to sit on the hideous Vallentuna. The foam insert was already flat – how is that even possible? We can only hope that the […]
I’m very tempted by this series as we live in a flat with two small children and every piece of furniture has to work very hard for us. I’m ditching the traditional sofa we have ASAP and hoping to invest in this sofa. I figure I can get some great cushions and a soft throw to ease up the angles.
Not sure I understood why this useful system was so heavily lambasted. I love design and I appreciate the utilitarian design greatly.