You’ve got 68 inches of sofa parked in your hallway. The box weighs 92 lbs. Assembly took 90 minutes, and your knuckles are raw. Now comes the first week — the part that decides if you keep it or drag it back to the store.
The decision that matters: cushion firmness. Not fabric color, not arm width. I learned that after swapping my old love seat for an IKEA Kivik two-seater. It broke in unevenly. One side sagged by the second month.
Measure Your Doorway Before You Believe the Box
IKEA’s site will tell you the sofa fits through any standard door. Don’t trust that. My hallway is 33 inches wide. The Ektorp love seat in its packaging needed 35 inches on the diagonal. I spent 20 minutes turning a light grey box like a Tetris piece. Point is, measure doorways, stairs, and elevator landings — not just the room where it’ll live.
Assemble On Carpet, Not Hardwood
Cramped living room? Assembling on hardwood scratches the floor when you pivot the frame. Use an old blanket or a cheap rug. Sounds obvious, but I have a visible crescent mark from the Soderhamn base. Don’t be like me.
The instructions say two people for the frame. Use two. One person can force it, but you’ll spend an extra 20 minutes fixing crossbars that don’t line up.
Seating Surface Height and Your Back
The typical IKEA love seat seat height runs 16 to 18 inches. If you are over 5'10", the 16-inch version makes your knees point at the ceiling. Adjust your cushions after a day. If the back feels too low for your neck, that’s not a design flaw — it’s a warning. You’ll be hunched by the fourth movie night.
The One Decision: Cushion Firmness
You want a cushion that keeps its shape over years, not one that feels “plush” in the showroom. IKEA offers cold foam (firmer, pricier) vs. fiber-wrapped standard (softer, cheaper). For a love seat you’ll sit on daily, the fiber-wrapped option sags in 6 months. I returned one. The replacement fell apart in my head after three weeks.
Spend the extra $100. Or buy a cushion topper for the first month so it settles evenly. Just don’t expect the $299 love seat to behave like a tempurpedic.
Fabric: Pick Based on Your Life
I’ve got a cat. My previous velvet love seat looked like a scratching post. This time I went with the heavy-duty “Gunnared” gray — it’s a woven microfiber that can handle claws. Big spills? The Beige covers are removable but shrink in the wash. Test the cover removal before you commit.
After Two Weeks: It’s Settled
Let the cushions settle. Flip them every other day. By end of week two, the foam has taken its shape. If it still feels lumpy, don’t wait ’til month three — take it back. IKEA’s return window is 365 days, so you have time.
My current love seat? Kept. The firm gray cushions survived two house moves and still look decent. For the money, it’s fine. Yes, fabric has snagged in one spot, but nothing a $10 repair kit can’t handle.
But if you wanted a mini-couch to sink into for weekend binges, skip IKEA’s budget love seats. They’re for people who sit upright reading, not for those who curl up for 6 hours straight. That’s what the Soderhamn sectionals with deep seats are for. Spend more if you actually live on it. I do.
For more on picking sofas that fit your space, check our More guides in Sofas & Sectionals. And if you’re rethinking your layout, read The IKEA Small Coffee Table Mistake: I Bought the Wrong Size Twice before you buy anything else.