Welcome to the ultimate guide and resource for the IKEA Karlstad sofa – find sizes, dimensions, reviews, slipcovers, assembly instructions and more here.
Maybe you are searching for the perfect sofa and need a little help. Maybe you’ve already decided on the Karlstad and need more information. Or maybe you already own a Karlstad and your house guest decided to spill coffee on its hard-to-find slipcover. In this cheat sheet, we’ll help you with all of that.
Launched in 2008, The IKEA Karlstad are one of the longer running sofa series besides Klippan, Ektorp, Stockholm and Poang. Models include 2 seater, armchair, 3 seater, corner sofa, chaise longue and footstool.
As of 2015, the sofa has been partially discontinued in the US (replaced by the Landskrona) and only the 3-seater Karlstad remains for sale. The Karlstad is however still available in all of its configurations in many parts of the world.
If your questions aren’t addressed here, feel free to contact our support staff at info@comfort-works.com.
Status Check
Status: Sofas and slipcovers are still available from IKEA in some parts of the globe
Slipcover: Custom Karlstad slipcovers available from Comfort Works
Measurements:
- Karlstad Arm Chair, SMALL W- 69cm D- 87cm H- 80cm
- Karlstad Arm Chair W- 91cm D- 93cm H- 80cm
- Karlstad Chaise Lounge Stand Alone W- 74cm D- 137cm H- 80cm
- Karlstad Chaise Lounge, Add on Unit W- 74cm D- 137cm H- 80cm
- Karlstad Footstool W- 81cm D- 63cm H- 46cm
- Karlstad Sofa bed W- 223cm D- 90cm H- 80cm
- Karlstad 2 seater sofa W- 162cm D- 88cm H- 80cm
- Karlstad 3 seater sofa W- 202cm D- 86cm H- 80cm
Cool Factor: Good looking, sturdy and comfortable. All at a very competitive price.
Ugh Factor: Not the best looking legs, but easily replaceable.
Instruction Manual.
Want to know how to assemble a Karlstad sofa?
Click on the model below to download their Assembly Instruction Manual.
- IKEA Karlstad Sofa Bed
- IKEA Karlstad Armchair, 2 Seater and 3 seater
- IKEA Karlstad Corner Sofa 2+3/3+2
- IKEA Karlstad Chaise Lounge, add on unit
- IKEA Karlstad Footstool
- IKEA Karlstad Armchair
Our Review.
Retro looking and very minimalist of a sofa from IKEA introduced in 2008 to replace the Karlanda range – the Karlstad can be made even more Scandinavian with custom vintage legs, tufted cushions, or by giving it a long skirt. It truly is the ideal sofa for DIY hacking.
Interested in hacking the Karlstad? Design your own custom Karlstad today!
More Information.
OurMidCentury – Instructions and cost breakdown of getting your Karlstad’s seat and back cushions button tufted.
APARTMENT THERAPY – Opinions and reviews of the Karlstad sofa.
The Sweetest Digs – Review of the Karlstad slipcover in nice Taupe Gray.
dooyoo.co.uk – Some user reviews of the Karlstad sofa in general.
Young House Love – Review of the best looking sectionals, including the Karlstad.
IKEA Hackers – How to Petproof your Karlstad sofa using the ‘box-in’ method.
Productreview.com.au – Reviews of the IKEA Karlstad sofa.
120 Comments
by Chris
THANK YOU! even in 2019 this post helped me find comfort works and make my couch new again.
by Chuck
No worries Chris! Happy to help whenever possible 🙂
by Mandy S
Has anyone tried to see if a current Ikea sectional sofa is compatible with the Karlstad sectional? We want to switch our 2 + 3 sectional into two separate sofas, essentially losing the corner piece, but aren’t sure if this is possible. And also replace the cover.
by Ning Lim
Hey Mandy! That sounds really complicated but super intriguing. I would suggest for you to check in with IKEA directly to see if this is something that can be done – they would be able to advise on the actual sofa/sectional’s compatibility.
Once that is done and you’d like to get some covers, just come on by to http://www.comfortworks.com.au and we’ll get that sorted for you! 🙂
by frank
Hi Mandy, just saw your post and may be able to help – if you’re in Australia! Very unlikely current sectionals would suit due to different sizings. Karlstad series was pretty slimline, great space saver! I may have spare armrests – basically you’ll need another pair to make it work!
by Nuria
Hi,
We have a karlstad sofabed and I would like to add a chaise lounge to it. Has anyone done this before? I’m thinking that all I have to do is remove the arm rest and attach the chaise but will the chaise be able to support the sofa bed?? Do you guys think this is possible?
I would appreciate any advice. Thanks!
by Naomi
Hey Nuria,
Since the Karlstad is a modular sofa, you will need to disassemble the sofa bed on one side in order to connect the chaise to it.
Karlstad Sofa Bed manual – https://usermanual.wiki/Ikea/IkeaKarlstadSofaBedFrameCoverAssemblyInstruction.2097569238
Hope this helps!
by Jesse Morris
Hi our left side arm has broken on our Karlstad sofa , would I be able to buy another model like a love seat and use the arm for my current sofa?
by Naomi
Oh no! Sorry to know that, Jesse.
You may be able to do this, but just to be absolutely on the safe side, we would not recommend fixing the arm from the loveseat to your 3-seater as there is a 2-cm difference between both parts. However; if you’ve done this already, do let us know how it turned out! We’d love to know 🙂
by Alexandra F
Hi, we have a Karlstad sofa sleeper. Has anyone been able to convert this sleeper to a normal sofa (without the part hanging down or roll out legs)? Thanks!
by Naomi
Hmm, not too sure about this one, Alexandra.
Let’s take a look at make-up of the Karlstad sofa-bed (assembly manual here: https://blog.comfort-works.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/K20125909.pdf)
On steps 8, 9, 10, and 11, we can see that the sofa-bed compartment is really an additional component that is sort of placed under the sofa-bed and then kept somewhat in place with a small stopper, which keeps the sofa-bed from rolling all the way and away from under the sofa. This means that by simply removing this little “stopper” and taking away the roll-out bed compartment, you should be left with just the sofa on its own, right?
However; on steps 12, 13, and 14, we can see that the sofa base on its own is made up on a simple frame and some wooden slats put in place.
I personally, would feel just a tad bit insecure about this just because there’s essentially nothing keeping the cushions (and my butt!) away from the floor other than those slats in place.
But you know, if we never try, we’d never know.
Has anyone else tried DIY-ing this? Please feel free to chime in – we’d love to know!