The ultimate IKEA armchair review!

Looking for an IKEA Armchair but not sure which will be the one?

Ideally this is the armchair that’s comfy enough when you want some alone time at the corner of the living room. The chair that doesn’t let you powernap for way too long, and would allow you to get back to your laptop right away.

You are in midst of a long-term commitment and like everyone of us, you wouldn’t want to settle for anything less than perfect. You want the armchair to be aesthetically pleasing, affordable and as durable as possible.

Let’s see which ones are worthy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Stockholm Swivel Easy Chair
2. Poang Armchair
3. Strandmon
4. Mellby
5. Ekenas
6. Ystad
7. Skogaby
8. Ekero
9. Ektorp
10. Tullsta

Stockholm Swivel Easy Chair

First impressions

This cute little piece is something you feel like hugging. It reminds me of the Jetsons actually – something somewhat retrofuturistic.

The Test

After taking a seat on it, this 67cm wide chair did not disappoint. The back of the Stockholm keeps your own back in a comfortable position, while making rotating easy. Its 76cm height fits well with a coffee table, allowing the simple introvert who stays in on a Sunday night to order pizza and chill at home.

Pros

• Comfortable
• Good-looking
• Flexible (swivel easy)

Cons

• The towel-like velvet might attract fuzz
• Pretty pricey at $399

 

Poang Armchair

First impressions

The Poang is hands down one of the most popular chairs of IKEA or any living space. Simple and reminiscent to that of a traditional rocking chair, it just feels that this slightly leaned shape promises to take care of you by keeping your back in place while the pillow keeps your neck relaxed.

The Test

The Poang is as comfortable as it seems – with its soft padding and well-positioned pillow, the Poang will accomodate you through the entire evening show. I wouldn’t be surprised if you fell asleep during commercial breaks even.

Pros

• Comes in 11 colors
• Value for money at $69

Cons

• The armrests aren’t very comfortable
• Not exactly pretty to look at

 

Strandmon

First impressions

Meet the Godfather. The Godfather sits next to the family. You might find him in the living room, in front of a fireplace accommodating a reader or a sleeping granny in front of the TV. As with many wingback chairs, the Strandmon just looks cozy and welcoming.

The Test

Needless to say I went straight in and boy was it soft. Not “So-Fluffy-I-Am-Going-To-Die” soft, but your back won’t hurt if you fall asleep through the whole movie. The armrests are pretty okay, but the wings aren’t my favourite I suppose. I shall dub this Grandpa’s chair.

Pros

• Comfy
• Decent fabric quality

Cons

• Only three colors
• Not cheap ($279)

 

Mellby

First impressions

Mellby looks nice, but I can’t shake the nagging feeling that the skinny armrests just wouldn’t feel as nice. The design is incredibly modern, something that will look good in your home 5-10 years from now even.

The Test

It’s actually quite comfortable, more fluffy than I imagined. I have a weird habit of curling into a foetal position so one head rests on an arm, and my feet hanging over the other armrest. This got me a little numb after 5 minutes, but the armrests are made for arms afterall. The Tullsta armchair (reviewed below) was a lot better for this purpose.

Pros

• A design to last
• Pretty comfortable

Cons

• Rather pricey for some ($249)
• The original fabric doesn’t seem very durable

 

Ekenas

First impressions

Probably because of the grey and the bulky shape, the Ekenas reminds me of the Stonehenge. I don’t know how I feel about it, and I don’t know if I should feel anything about it. It’s fairly safe I guess – would probably put it in an office waiting room.

The Test

Better than I thought – it actually feels soft and cozy, even the armrests are ergonomic. This chair at $299 is not too bad.

Pros

• Very comfortable
• Nice design
• Feels solid

Cons

• For an armchair, the price could be better
• Not slipcover-able!

 

Ystad

First impressions

The price makes it the king of all chairs ($699), probably fit for a King too. In a small sense, it does kind of look like a leather throne.

The Test

Because of the leather, you can easily slide in it and if you want to place your feet over the armchairs, you will have no problem hanging like that forever. The leather seems easy to clean but some IKEAs may have actually discontinued this sofa unfortunately. Gumtree might be your best bet now!

Pros

• Comfortable
• A classic (worth a very long-term investment)

Cons

• Comes in only one color
• Expensive

 

Skogaby

First impressions

It looks better on pictures than it does in real life, the wrinkles caused by many people sitting on it over time isn’t something I wish to see everyday. If it’s leather (or faux leather), it’s just a general rule of thumb that it should remain snug and wrinkle free as much as possible.

The Test

It’s actually more rigid than the Ystad, but the armrests are lower and keep the hands in a natural position. Not a 100% convinced overall.

Pros

• Good design
• The leather feels very soft
• More than averagely comfortable

Cons

• Pretty expensive ($399)
• Poor color variety (only two dark colors)

 

Ekero

First impressions

Retro-futuristic in a way, innovative in another, the Ekero waits for a young-hearted owner. It can perfectly fit an office, a living room or a waiting room. Pretty, but you can’t help but notice how skinny those arms are.

The Test

It’s just as expected – it’s not uncomfortable but it isn’t a chair you can sit on for long either. The armrests are too tall but in a mysterious way, cosy. For it’s price ($129) I wouldn’t complain too much about it actually.

Pros

• Modern design that catches attention
• Easy to fit in a small space
• Lightweight and easy to move around the house

Cons

• Might not be structurally strong
• Not comfy to sit for long periods of time

 

Ektorp

First impressions

Ektorp is the definition of a classic armchair, easily found on American sitcoms in the 90s and we see it today in many Victorian homes still. The design is arguably classic or boring, but people still love it.

The Test

Unfortunately, the Ektorp can be quite disappointing especially in the armrest region. It’s not padded so it does feel a bit stiff and I can’t say that the seat and back cushions are as comfy as they look.

Pros

• Stable and solid
• 12 colors to choose from

Cons

• Rather uncomfortable armrests
• $399 is quite expensive

 

Tullsta

First impressions

You’ve seen the Tullsta in your neighbourhood, probably at that coffee shop around the corner. The Tullsta isn’t extravagant in any way but it is a very versatile or safe option to put in a living room. The best part is that it’s reasonably priced at $99.

The Test

The chair is a very budget piece of furniture if you’re a student or just starting a new family or living space. When you get bored of how it looks or when the covers have worn their years – you can always get a new Tullsta slipcover to spice up its look.

Pros

• Good price
• Quite comfortable
• Hackable

Cons

• Keeps the back rather stiff
• Very limited colours at IKEA

But hey, don’t take our word for it – hop down to IKEA to try them out yourselves and see what you think. Let us know what your favourite armchair is! 🙂

Beautiful slipcovers for my armchair