If you just unboxed an IKEA corner couch, skip the manual for now. The first week isn't about which cushions to fluff or how to angle the chaise. It's about one decision that will drive you nuts if you guess wrong: where does the corner actually go?
The One Decision: Left or Right Corner?
Yeah, that's it. The corner module can flip either way, and every other piece hangs off it. Measure your room before you even open the boxes. I've seen people set up the L shape, then realize the TV wall is on the wrong side and they have to slide the whole thing around a 40-pound module at 10pm.
Use painter's tape on the floor. Mark the footprint. Sit on a dining chair in the middle of it and pretend to watch TV. If you can't see the screen without turning your head, flip the corner.
First Week Setup Order That Doesn't Suck
Don't follow the manual's order. It's designed for factories, not living rooms.
1. Dry-fit the modules on the floor, no bolts. Push the back sections together. Slide the chaise on. This takes 15 minutes and tells you if the layout works.
2. Lock the corner first. If you tighten the other modules first, you'll fight the angle.
3. Level the feet before adding cushions. Seriously, a 0.25-inch tilt shows up as a sag in the seat.
4. Let the back cushions sit out for a day. The fiber filling settles. If you put the covers on right away, they look lumpy.
I did this in a rental with a narrow hallway. Took two trips to get the boxes in, but the setup itself was under an hour.
What the Cushions Actually Feel Like Week One
The seat base is firm. Not hard, but it's not a sink-in-and-binge sofa either. After three nights of sitting with a laptop, I noticed the foam compressing but bouncing back fine.
One thing I didn't expect: the back cushions have a break-in period. The first two days they looked like they'd been stuffed with wrestling mats. By day four they relaxed into shape. If you're returning the couch because of that, give it a week.
The Corner Chaise: Useful or Couch-Wasting?
A chaise eats floor space but it's the best spot for reading or naps. If you need to fit a coffee table close, measure the gap. A Lift Up Coffee Table IKEA works better than a standard one because you don't have to slide it out to use it.
I found the chaise depth makes a standard 40-inch table too far away. You'll want a narrower option, or one you can pull closer.
Related: if you're worried about weight, each box runs 80-120 lbs. Grab a friend or a dolly. I carried them upstairs alone, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Other IKEA corner couches vary. Some have a ship-lap look, others are plain. If you're shopping, check the IKEA Manstad Sofa for a different take on the same footprint.
Room Layout: The Corner Changes Everything
Once the corner is in place, you're anchored. The couch defines the walkway, the TV angle, even where the rug sits. I moved my dining chairs in and it felt like a different apartment.
For the coffee table, measure clearance. If you have a chaise on the left, the table should slide between the chaise and the TV stand. I swapped to a Lift Up Coffee Table IKEA because the top flips up.
And I'll say this: buying a couch is one thing. Setting it up right is another. The IKEA corner couch is just modules, but the layout is permanent.
The First Weekend After Setup
Rearranged the living room to point at the TV. Took the corner module and rotated it so the chaise faced the window. Sat down, feet up. The fabric started to relax.
One mistake I almost made: I put a tall plant right next to the corner, which blocked the view from the chaise. Moved it to the opposite side.
That's what the first week is about—not perfection, but getting the orientation right. Once you do, the couch becomes the center.
So What's the Concrete Step?
Before you attach the back sections, take a photo of the room from the doorway. Sit on the floor where the chaise will be. Face the TV. If you'd rather look out the window, flip the corner. The one decision is the corner side, and you can't fix it after the bolts go in.
I promise it's worth the ten minutes of tape and staring at an empty floor.
For more on sofa setups, check out Black Couch With Chaise for another take on the first week, or A Plain-English Look at Double Decker Couch if you're exploring fill types.