by
Abel
2017/09/02
The new Vimle sofa might just be IKEA’s next biggest hit for the next few years to come. It’s simple, comfy, elegant and modular.
It blends well with many different looks and can be adapted into many different decorative styles for your living room, which makes it easy to pull off a different look for every season while still keeping the same sofa.
The Vimle has a versatile design with IKEA strongly featuring it in all their stores, website, and even the 2018 IKEA catalog’s cover page! ?
The Vimle design isn’t too risky, and that’s precisely why we like it. Every now and then, IKEA goes back to the contemporary look, making the Vimle perfect for a broad range of styles and personalities.
To give you a better idea on why you should get this sofa, here’s our in-depth IKEA Vimle sofa review just for you:
OVERVIEW
The Vimle sofa comes in a few different sizes and combinations. Here are a few options to choose from:
As you can tell, there’s quite a lot you can do with the Vimle. And since it’s modular, you can buy each piece individually and combine them to achieve the exact look you’re going for in your living room.
The Vimle is available in the following pieces: 1 seater module, 2 seater module, Chaise section, footstool, and armrest.
Although it doesn’t come with a sofabed, the Vimle makes up for it with its large size and storage space available in the Chaise Lounge, and Footstools.
COMFORT: 7/10
Have you ever sat on the IKEA Karlstad sofa? Well, the Vimle is very similar to the Karlstad in its depth and height but the Vimle is noticeably wider.
The Vimle might not look like the most comfortable or inviting sofa to rest on, but those assumptions go away the moment you start sitting on it.
It’s big enough to comfortably people (almost 6-feet tall), and the 3 seater Vimle is wide enough or a good nap.
Although we were initially quite surprised by the quality and build of the Vimle, one of the only drawbacks might be their armrests. They are tall and thin, making them a little difficult to sit on when you’re having a party with more people than cushion seats.
And since they’re thin and tall, resting your head on these armrests might not be the most comfortable things to do on the Vimle.
Though this could be easily dealt with by adding a few throw pillows or cushions, we feel that these armrests are the only drawback from this otherwise perfect sofa.
AESTHETICS: 8/10
One of the things we love most about the Vimle is its versatile design. It’s simple, yet elegant build can compliment almost any kind of look and style in your living room.
As we mentioned earlier, the design of the Vimle is anything but risky. It’s simple — and almost minimal — look, makes it easy for just about anyone to fall in love with.
What’s the catch? You can only get the Vimle from IKEA in just 9 plain colors:
Black, Dark Brown, Beige, Golden Yellow, Dark Grey, Dark Green, Medium Grey, and very dark Blue.
You can see all the color options for the Vimle sofa below:
PRICE: 7/10
The prices of the Vimle IKEA sofas are relatively standard. It’s certainly not one of IKEA’s most expensive range of sofas, and we think that the quality-price ratio is very acceptable.
What do you think?
Not in the mood to splurge on a brand new sofa? That’s okay! There plenty of ways to elevate your living room with a sofa that looks brand new, thanks to our sofa slipcovers.
Quite affordable?
Then take things to the next level by adding some personalized touches to your sofa with our custom covers that are handmade to order.
DURABILITY: 7.5/10
Just like any other IKEA sofa, the Vimle has a 10-year guarantee. But just because it has that 10-year guarantee, doesn’t mean that we didn’t pout it to the test.
That’s why we went to IKEA and tried in every way possible. We sat on it, laid on it, open and shut the Chaise Lounge and Footstool over and over again, and even tested the unions between different modules.
We tested it till our heart’s content, and we have to admit that once you actually sit on the Vimle, you can’t help but to trust in its comfort and support.
The Vimle does indeed have a solid structure, even when its combined with other pieces. The unions between the individual modules and legs of the Vimle are also strong and reliable.
It never fails to retain its solid and stable structure. It ensures a consistent level of comfort, making the Vimle an all-time favorite in our books.
VERDICT: 7.5/10
We’ve been having a lot of discussions among the Comfort Works team, and this is our overall score on the IKEA Vimle sofa:
- Comfort: 7/10
- Aesthetics: 8/10
- Price: 7/10
- Durability: 7.5/10
- Final Verdict: 7.5/10
The Vimle scores a solid 7.5/10 in our final verdict. It is a well-rounded sofa with a great design, and build quality to back it up. It checks all the boxes and has scored well in all the things we consider crucial in a good sofa.
And guess what? We loved the Vimle so much that we went ahead to include it in our roster of customizable slipcovers.
Add a personal touch to your Vimle sofa. Browse through our wide selection of fabrics and styling options that can help take your living room to the next level.
I’m wondering if you have any tips or tricks on taking the Vimle apart. I’m moving to a new apartment and would love to take the couch with me. But I am a little scared that I will ruin the couch in the process.
Hey Kellie,
Congrats on your move! Usually, we recommend following the IKEA assembly manual (in reverse) if you plan on disassembling the sofa. Here’s an example of the Vimle 3-seater assembly manual:
Frame – https://www.ikea.com/my/en/assembly_instructions/ratorp-frame-3-seat-section__AA-2060035-1_pub.pdf
Armrest – https://www.ikea.com/my/en/assembly_instructions/vimle-frame-armrest__AA-2104061-1_pub.pdf
You can find this on the IKEA Vimle page, simply click on “Product Details” and then “Assembly & Documents”.
Good luck!
Are the cushions fastened down to the bottom and back of the frame? Do they shift with normal usage?
Hey Ezra,
The cushions are not fastened down to the bottom of the backrest and frame in any way, but they are indeed ample and fill up the backrest/sitting space well. We do not have the Vimle in our headquarters, but from what we’ve seen (and felt) in stores, the cushions don’t really move around much when sitting on it. 🙂
Hope this helps!
Hi! I was wondering if you can remove the armrests all together without the sofa looking unfinished? (Ex. No exposed holes for screws etc.) Thanks!
Hi Amy!
That’s a very interesting question, I own a Vimle (2 seater + chaise) myself and while it is possible to leave out the armrests, you end up losing height because the legs are attached to the arms. Secondly, you may lose some structural integrity as the armrest basically secures the backrest and seating frame of the sofa.
As such, my general recommendation would be to keep the armrests actually 🙂
Hope this helps!
I just bought the Vimle for my summer house. I bought an extra cover in another fabric. My question is, does one have to take the sofa apart to change the cover?
Hey Eda!
I’ve got a Vimle for myself as well – assembling it was not the easiest so unfortunately you would have to take the sofa apart to change the cover.
Best to get a friend or two to help out, many hands make light feet!
Speaking of Vimle golden-yellow…I want to buy a Karlanda cover in this yellow color but you only offer it in a non-pet-friendly fabric. How about adding this color to your two more rugged fabrics? PLEASE.
Hey Candice!
We were thinking about it actually but with our rugged fabrics （I believe you’re talking about the Kino) we actually wouldn’t recommend it if you have cats that like to claw the sofa as the ruggedness turns it more into a giant scratching post for them. Our Shire (wool blend) Mustard fabric isn’t that pet unfriendly as well — if you have a small dog it’s actually quite alright 🙂
Hope this helps, let us know if you have any questions here: info@comfortworks.com.au !
Is there a limit to how big we can build with the Vimle series?
Also if I get the sections without arms will they be able to be stand alone? like the single seater and 2 seater and 3 seater can I place them on their own without the arms?
Hey Balraj,
There is certainly no limit to how big you would to make your Vimle sectional.
In fact IKEA as a planner tool on their website, which might be fun for you to use.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/tools/planner_vimle/#blank
The only issue with not getting the arms at the end of your sectional, is that there will be missing sections of the covers that allow for the attachment of the different pieces.
Hope this helps!
Any reason I can’t put together 2 loveseats?
Hi Steve,
You can definitely put two loveseats together!
That’s the beauty of IKEA module pieces like the Vimle, there are so many possibilities.
Hope this helps!
VIMLE has serious issue with arms. Screws are just on bottom side and arms are moving after few months of usage.
I have a Vimle ottoman, which has developed a problem after a couple months – it smells weird. I tracked the problem to its hardware. The plastic (rubber?) pieces seem to be off-gassing. This is terribly embarrassing and I may have to return the piece, even though I really like it. I’ve thrown out all the “connecting” hardware it came with, but the feet and other plastic parts are necessary to the ottoman. If there is any way to stop the smell, please let me know.
I aired 8 months for the Vimle to be available online. Wish I hadn’t waited and had chosen a different couch. I bought the loveseat with chaise and am so disappointed with having so much velcro, one arm has a flaw in the fabric, the chaise has a divet that is there whenever someone stands, one of the cushion covers doesn’t seem to fit properly and is wrinkled in the front. The back of the chaise where it connects to the loveseat do not match up, the loveseat is about an inch higher. I am forever fixing the material with the velcro, it stretches and becomes wrinkled. I do not advise anyone to buy this couch. On the flip side it would be a nice looking couch without all the wrinkles….and it’s comfortable. If I had a vehicle I would have taken it back….but I’m stuck with it.