Ikea Ektorp Sofa Review Part 2 {follow-up}

This is part 2 of my personal review of the Ikea Ektorp Sofa. To start with part 1, go here. I was recently asked by a reader to share a follow up from my initial review of the Ikea Ektorp sofa. Like I mentioned before, I love the look of the Pottery Barn Basic but I definitely don't love the price! The Ikea Ektorp sofa is a fraction of the price and after having sat on both, I really think the Ektorp is even more comfortable. We ended up purchasing the corner sofa 2+ 2 and it is very spacious for our family. The cushions continue to be cushiony but still supportive.

Now to a few of the cons. Assuming you are also interested in the Blekinge White slipcover and you find yourself {slightly} OCD about things as I do, you may struggle with the slipcover not looking perfect. It is bright white which means it shows everything - lint, hair, dirt, you name it! We have a no shoes policy on the couch but my three year old doesn't always remember that rule ;) I've learned to just spot clean with a damp cloth. For more stubborn spots, I've used a cloth dampened with my baby wipe spray. Thick baby wipes have worked in a pinch too! There have been times I thought the slipcovers needed washed but really they just needed rolled with one of those sticky lint removers (you'll need several of the sticky sheets for a couch this size).

Honestly, removing the slipcover is kind of a pain. It isn't difficult necessarily but it is kinda tedious to take off and put back on. Funny thing is one of my least favorite chores is putting pillows in pillowcases. The hubby normally does that for me because I seriously can't hardly stand it. Now I have the equivalent of fourteen "pillows." Not so funny, huh? After washing the slipcovers, I still struggle with finding a good way to dry all the various slipcovers quickly. I originally thought I would be able to dry them overnight but the thick material isn't usually dry by morning. Maybe that would work in a drier climate? Anyway, I really dislike that whole process. Plus, the slipcovers get very wrinkled after being washed. I know they don't have to look perfect, but I would be embarrassed to have them on my couches without ironing them a little. The main base piece is what needs ironed the most and, of course, is the most difficult to iron because of its size. To solve this dilemma, I bought a $25 steamer from Walmart. It doesn't get all the wrinkles out but it helped relax them a lot. I can handle these wrinkles...I think :)

As a side note, I haven't had the need to bleach it but I wouldn't be opposed to spot treating with bleach. I have used stain remover. If you remember from part 1, my three year old spilled orange juice all over the Ektorp Bromma footstool. I washed it right away with stain remover and it was fine.

I know that sounds like a whole lot of negative but I just want you to see the reality of a white, slipcovered sofa. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the look and the way it just brightens my entire room. If I had it to do all over again, I would buy the same thing in. a. heartbeat. I just wish I had read more reviews that would have given me more realistic expectations going into it.

I sure hope this helps. Please, please, please email me or comment with any questions. I love all of your sweet comments and try to respond back to each and every one. If you sign in with your email, I'll try to respond to you privately via email.






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Ikea Ektorp Sofa Review Part 1

I am so excited to share my Ikea Ektorp sofa review with y'all! Ikea doesn't have a clue who I am but I know that I would have appreciated more reviews from fellow bloggers when I was making my new home purchases. Our old couch was bought used and was close to nine or ten years old. The cushions were sinking in and it just wasn't the style I wanted for the new living room. What I wanted was this:

Source: potterybarn.com via Kristen on Pinterest

The PB Basic.
Love!
Unfortunately, the price was out of the question - at least $1,440.00. So I started searching for a similar slipcovered sofa to no avail. Why is this style so difficult to find?! Anyway, after searching online I found reviews for this:

Source: ikea.com via Kristen on Pinterest

The Ikea Ektorp Collection. Looks a lot like the PB Basic but the price for this one is $399. Sold! Well actually, after convincing the hubby we decided to go with the corner sofa 2 + 2.

Source: ikea.com via Kristen on Pinterest

I love the traditional sofa "look" better than a sectional but we are in a season of our lives where comfort and couch space are a must. As soon as I sat down to test it out I could envision our two sweet girls snuggled up on the couch with us watching movies :) And let me say, it is perfect for that! I really believe it is the most comfortable couch that I have ever sat on. It is cushiony but still firm.

We also purchased the matching Ektorp Bromma footstool:

Source: ikea.com via Kristen on Pinterest

I know I must seem crazy for choosing a white sofa. {Did I momentarily forget that I have two children under three??} The color is called "Blekinge White." It is very white - meaning it does show every little bit of lint, dirt, food, etc. that gets on it. Which reminds me of the not so funny story of the day we got our sofa. Ellie came walking into the living room with a full glass of orange juice and spilled it all over the top of the footstool! Fortunately, it all came out in the wash. I used a little bit of stain remover on it just in case. Nothing stays "new" around here for very long, that is for sure.

However, it has been fairly easy to "spot clean." I use a spray bottle with one tablespoon of baby wash mixed with one cup of water. Anytime I find a dirty spot, I just spray and scrub it with a cloth diaper. Like I mentioned, the slipcover is removable and can be washed and air dried. The only problem is I don't have enough space to dry all the slipcovered pieces! Something one ought to think about prior to purchasing a slipcovered sofa, huh? Putting the slipcovers back on isn't very difficult, just a bit tedious. It is worth the effort knowing that my sofa is clean and that I'm not sitting on mystery stains from many years past. We have made some changes because of the new white sofa. Like no shoes on the furniture rule...probably a good rule anyway. And we throw afghans and quilts over the sofa for our daily use. When company is coming over, I just fold up the throw blankets and enjoy our white sofa!

Here are some pics of ours. I apologize in advance for the poor picture quality. I'm decorating for Christmas now and can't get a better picture. If you read my blog much, you are used to this type of picture quality.

All in all, here are the pros:

• Machine washable
• Can be spot cleaned
• Cushiony but still firm
• Great for cuddling up with the whole family
• Size (not too big like our last overstuffed couch and love seat)

Here are the cons:

• Shows dirt
• Must hang dry....and find the space to do so!
• Maintenance is time consuming (i.e. removing slipcovers, washing/drying, putting slipcovers back on)

When it comes down to it, I LOVE my new sofa and I would purchase it all over again. White is definitely my color of choice right now and it just really brightens the whole room. I love the Pottery Barn look and feel of it...without the PB Basic price tag!  I titled this "part 1" because I plan to share with you an update after we have had several months to really enjoy the sofa and see how it holds up.

**For my follow-up review, read part 2 here