Ikea sofas - easy to assemble?

snowleopard61

I'm thinking of buying an Ikea sofa, probably Ektorp - the most traditional-looking type - and wonder what sort of assembly is required. Has anyone got experience of this?

It's a bit different from a flat-pack wardrobe or bookcase! Not that I'm any good at those either ... the point is that I would probably have to get someone in to do those - whereas if this is really really basic, just putting the cushions and covers on, I would be able to do it; on the other hand, if it's practically making a sofa from scratch - eek!

If I don't reply for a few days, it means I'm just not near a computer - thanks in advance.

t_obermory

We've got an Ektorp sofa and it does come flat packed - the back hinges down into the base and you screw the arms on to fix it into place. The benefit of it being flat packed it that it can fit through the doors a lot easier than a conventional sofa.

The only thing that really needs screwing onto it is the arms and the feet but its not difficult work. It took an hour or so to do from start to finish to construct and I wouldn't say it was particularly difficult.

It is also really comfy, by far the comfiest sofa I've sat on!

megc_2

I'm so glad to see this as I was wondering exactly the same. I sat on one of these soafs at a freidns home and it was so comfy, that I was thinking about getting one too, but was also having second thoughts about the flat packed thing. Glad to hear it's fairly easy- you've put my mind at rest too!

snowleopard61

Thanks t_obermory, that's well worth knowing. I hadn't (stupidly!) thought about the fact that it's actually an advantage in terms of getting the sofa into the house. And good to know it's comfy, as the one I've had for the last ten years (from Kirkdale) isn't particularly - the seat cushions slide forward every time you sit on it, so as soon as you get up you have to take it all apart to tidy up. Very irritating.

I just have to think of a way to protect the new one from the attentions of my three cats. Perhaps keep a throw/cover on it all the time, or get those sticky strips that they don't like the feel of. Any other bright ideas in this regard gratefully received!

searchlight123

interesting to read this as it must be a fairly recent thing that these sofas are flat packed.
i bought an ektorp brown leather 3 seater some years ago for my tv room. it was delivered by them fully assembled. it is still superb to sit on and looks like new. far more comfortable than my main suite that cost about 3 or 4 times as much!!