My IKEA KIVIK Sofa Review {After 3+ Years}
Almost three and a half years ago, when we bought this home, we purchased an IKEA KIVIK sectional for our living room. It was a sofa we were already familiar with and knew we’d love, but it has continued to delight us with how great it is for our family! I figured it was high time I gave you an updated IKEA KIVIK review, now that it’s been used and abused for a few years.
Let’s just hop right to it, shall we?
Why the IKEA KIVIK?
If you’ve been around for a while, you might remember that Corey and I are big fans of IKEA couches. We had a KARLSTAD sectional in our living room for 6 years in our first house (and only sold it because we couldn’t fit it in our second house), and after having a Crate & Barrel sofa in our second home, we’ve gone back to trusty old IKEA.
What keeps bringing us back to IKEA sofas? A few things…
- They’re incredibly affordable, especially when you get into the world of sectionals. Plus, the quality for the price you’re paying is absolutely unmatched anywhere else.
- They’re comfortable, and only get more comfy cozy with time.
- The cushion covers are almost always washable. In your washing machine! At home! And, I’m not just talking about the cushion covers. You can remove the whole shebang if you need to, and it’s all machine washable. That’s a huge plus for us, and it really makes me worry a lot less about the general messes that come with life. I wasn’t even nervous about it being a light color, because I knew it would hold up great over time.
- And finally, they’re durable and can really stand up to the chaos of a family with young kids. We found out from our first time owning one that they hold up great to kids, dogs, messes, and just life in general. The sofa in our first home looked pretty fantastic after 6 years of chaos. That’s including two large dogs who slept on it all the time! Plus, it only got more and more comfortable over time.
In the end, it just felt right to go with an IKEA sofa again – we knew we could trust it to last!
When we were first shopping for a sofa, we debated for a long time about which IKEA sectional would be right for us. We narrowed it down to the VIMLE sofa (which doesn’t seem to be available anymore) or the KIVIK.
In the end, we couldn’t get over how much we love the modern lines and chunky arms on the KIVIK. So, that’s what we went with (and we’re so glad we did!). We actually had a KIVIK sofa in our first home for a few years when we used our garage as a media room. It was nice to know ahead of time that we’d be happy with the comfort level and style of it.
So, let’s dive right in to the details on our IKEA KIVIK sofa, why we love it, and how it’s working for us in this house.
IKEA Kivik Sofa Review
The IKEA KIVIK series comes in a lot of different configurations and with lots of different options. They also have a really handy tool on their website that allows you to design the perfect sofa for your space. So, you can play around with different styles before you make your purchase.
Which KIVIK Did We Get?
We got the 5 seater corner sectional in Hillared Beige. It looks like our exact fabric isn’t available any longer, but the Tresund Light Beige looks to be more or less the same. The fabric is a polyester and cotton blend, and it’s really durable and easy to clean.
I’ll also note – it’s called a 5-seat sofa, but it can fit than 5 adults. Depending on how comfortable you are sitting close to your friends and family, it’s easy to fit 6-7 adults, plus a kid or two. We regularly jam a ton of people onto this sofa without issue.
What Are the Other Options?
Here’s a rundown of the other readily available KIVIK sofa styles and sizes:
- A regular 3-seat sofa
- Loveseat
- Sofa with chaise
- 4-seat corner sectional (available with or without a chaise)
- 5-seat corner sectional (available with or without a chaise)
- 6-seat U-shaped sectional
- 1-seat sleeper sofa
- Standalone chaise
And, of course, since you can customize what you want, there are about a million other combinations you could go with. They even have a matching ottoman with storage!
A Few Features We Love
Let’s touch on some of the features of the IKEA KIVIK that really make it the right choice for us.
- We sat in just about every sofa in the IKEA showroom when we were shopping. We found that the KIVIK was our favorite in terms of comfort. The seat depth is perfect for lounging!
- We love the low armrests that are nice and wide. They’re flat so it’s easy to set a drink or a plate there if you’re eating on the couch. Our dogs even like to nap on them! Plus, if you prop a throw pillow up on them to lay down, it basically feels like a bed. The coziest!
- There are great color and texture options for the cushion covers! We love the thicker weave of the fabric slipcovers, and while they don’t have quite as many options today as they did back then, we loved the colors. Our cream sofa is exactly the color we were looking for, and the fabric is durable enough that we don’t have to worry.
- And, again, the price point is hard to beat! It feels like a high end sofa, but the price range is from $1,500-$1,600 for our exact sofa, depending on which fabric you choose.
- We initially worried a little about back support with the back cushions. They look pretty low and Corey was worried they wouldn’t be optimal for relaxation while watching television. But, they’re really the perfect height!
Is it Hard to Assemble?
If you’ve ever bought an IKEA couch, you’ll know that it does not come pre-assembled like many sofas do. As with most stuff from IKEA, you get to do it aaaaall yourself.
I took care of the vast majority of the sofa assembly by myself on moving day. The only thing I wasn’t able to do on my own was connect the sectional pieces. It’s really a two-person job. It wasn’t a fast process – it took several hour. But, overall I’d say it wasn’t terribly difficult. And for me, it’s worth it to assemble it myself when I’m paying such a great price for such a big sectional!
Is the IKEA KIVIK Comfortable?
We find it very comfortable, yes!
As with most couches, when it first comes out of the box it will be on the firm side – it’ll take a few weeks for things to soften up and get really cozy. But, we spend a lot of time lounging on this couch and have absolutely zero complaints. The cushions are all made with memory foam so it quickly adapts to your body and is very supportive. There have been many nights that I’ve almost ended up just sleeping there because I was too comfortable to move!
I love that we can easily fit 6 (or more) grown adults on our sofa and no one feels squished. I love that the arms are nice and low and wide so people can comfortable rest an arm, a head, or even a drink on it.
Is It Easy to Clean?
Yes, yes, yes!!!!
A small part of me started to hesitate about getting a light-colored sofa, but I knew that our last IKEA KIVIK held up really well so I figured it would be fine. Thankfully, I was right. This sofa has seen so many spills, dog pee accidents, crumbs, dog hair, and about a zillion other things. It always cleans right up!
I have good luck using Folex to remove most small stains. Then, once every couple of months I pull the cushions covers off and toss them in the washer! The kids love couch washing day because the seat cushions get tossed all over the living room and they turn it into their own set of Ninja Warrior.
I’ve never pulled the cover from the back and arms to wash them, but there is one spot on one of the arms that’s been bothering me, and it might be time to finally tackle it! It’s a simple process – just need to pull the sectional pieces apart and un-velcro it!
Will it Hold Up Over Time?
We’ve only had this particular couch for three years now, but based on our past experience with IKEA sofas, I feel really confident giving a resounding yes.
The interior of the sofa is well-constructed and very solid, and while not all IKEA products are known for their durability, their sofas are generally very well-reviewed and tend to hold up extremely well over long periods of time.
Our KARLSTAD sectional looked like a practically brand new sofa when we moved and sold it, and we had it for 6 years. This one is three years in and it really still looks like it could be a new couch too!
Our first KIVIK sofa saw tons of use and abuse in our media room – there were movie nights, video game marathons, and even a pee accident or two, and we loved it enough to come back to it all these years later.
The Bottom Line
I think it’s clear that this IKEA sofa review is a positive one. In our experience, we’ve found IKEA sofas to be of really good quality, they are comfortable, easy to clean, and durable. Plus, all of their sofas come with a 10-year warranty, which should give some peace of mind when you’re shopping!
I have zero complaints about our sofa, and I’d buy it again in a heartbeat!
Hi. Thank you so much for this review.
I had a couple of the armless Kivik armchairs some time ago. My two cats pretty much destroyed the cushions, but the bases were in perfect condition when I got rid of them as they no longer fit in my decor. Next, my daughter bought an Uppland loveseat. I loved the more classic lines of the Uppland with the high rounded arms. It was extremely cushiony and soft from the start. My daughter took it with her when she moved and I was left sofa-less for a little while. Couldn’t make up my mind what to get. My friend bought the Kivik sofa to stage her home for sale. She only used it for a couple of months in her new home and decided that she needed to upgrade to a Crate and Barrel sofa bed, so I bought the Kivik from her. I have only had it for a week, and have been a bit concerned because it feels very hard and I don’t have a lot of padding on me so it’s somewhat uncomfortable. I was considering buying a memory foam topper for it, but I though I’d end up with something that resembles a completely flat platform rather than a sofa due to the low profile of the arms. With your review in mind I will wait it out and hope that the cushions soften up. I don’t remember the cushions of my old Kivik armchairs being this hard but it’s been some time and I’m probably not remembering correctly. Thank you so much again for your thorough review. I agree that the fabric on the Kivik sofa is a more attractive than other Ikea sofas – the Uppland, for instance has a weave that looks a bit cheap when looked at up close. The fabric on the Kivik sofa feels and looks more expensive than it is. In fact, it is quite similar to my friend’s C&B which cost thousands more.
Hi thanks for the great and very helpful review. I am going to buy the same one but I am curious to know if the right and left sides are reversible. Is this something you could advise? Thank you.
Hi! I believe you can purchase it in either configuration!
Hello! Thanks for the helpful review. I currently have a karlstad sectional and it’s about 12 years old. I also agree it still seems brand new too! However the back cushions are just not tall enough for me anymore. When I sit down in my older age 🤣 I’d prefer to have somewhere to rest my shoulders back onto. The karlstad hits me mid back so I am always slouching so my shoulders can rest back. Can you tell me if you feel the karlstad has higher back cushions then the karlstad?? Thanks so much!
Hi! I feel like the Kivik is similar is size to the KARSLTAD. We had that one prior to this one and I do feel like you sit a little lower in the KIVIK, so you’re more supported, it does have a similar feel.
Really helpful review, Thank you. I’ve also been comparing between Vimle and Kivik.
what’s your opinion on the seating height of both? as kivik measurements is a bit lower.
Hi! I don’t have experience with the Vimle so I can’t speak to that, but we find the height of our couch to be very comfortable! We were a little worried about it before purchasing (because we have very tall ceilings), but it hasn’t been an issue at all.
Hi Amanda. Your living room looks great. Do you know if it’s possible to make one long sofa (e.g. make it a 4-5 seater) out of the KiviK without it being a sectional?
Yes, the setup is really flexible!
Hey! what cover do you have on this one?
It’s called Hillared Beige!
Have you ever had liquid seep through the cover to the cushion? How do you dry the cushions? We can’t seem to get the liquid off.
Hi! If that happens, I’d just remove the covers and let it all air dry!
Hi Amanda! Great review! I’ve been debating the KIVIK for months and am agonizing over the decision. My biggest concern is quality. I know IKEA is less expensive and I saw a couple of the reviews that said it looked 10 years old after 3 months. But then other reviews are glowing! I guess I’m mostly concerned about sagging cushions and/or fabric because I feel like that dates furniture. We are basically empty nesters (one kid in college and one going in the fall) with one dog who stays on the floor. The other sectionals I’m looking at are $5,000+ and I don’t even care for the look of them as much. How has yours been holding up? Thank you for the helpful info.!!
Hi Kelly!
We still really love our sofa. I feel like it still looks like it’s practically brand new (and that’s with two small kids and two dogs who DON’T stay on the floor, haha). I would still wholeheartedly recommend it!
Are the couch cushions secured to the couch in any way?
No, they’re not
I’m so glad I found your review, it’s helped us settle on the Kivik which was in our top 3. Now we need to decide on a color! How are you liking the Hillared beige? I was really hoping for white but alas, not an option… I worry that there’s a brown hue to the Hillared Beige, your thoughts? The only other light colored option for the KiviK is the light gray and that’s not the direction I want to go in our living room. We’re considering a custom slip cover but that’s down the road due to costs! Thanks much!
It definitely leans more white, less brown. It has a creamy/tan undertone to it but I would describe our couch as white.
I had this same question! I love the color in your photos, but not as much in the IKEA ones- it looks darker there!
Great review, ty for sharing!
Hello, I am very interested in buying this couch and I also have a dog to consider. How does the couch hold up in terms of dog hair/fur in your experience? Thank you in advance.
It holds up so great! Our dogs are both shedders, and I just vacuum the couch regularly, and I wash the covers about every 8-12 weeks.
No questions, I just wanted to agree with you! We used to have the smaller one in white because it was so inexpensive I went for it. That was maybe 5 years ago ( I ended up giving it away to a friend – which I learned was a bad idea because we missed it lol). Fast forward, we were in the market for a new one (new to us or completely new) and Ikea didn’t have the color I wanted (same color you have, I believe). My friend happened to see this couch on FB marketplace, not knowing what it was but liked the color and the price. She showed me and I said omg that’s the Kivik we loved so much. So, this used couch was in great shape only a couple years old and they sold it for only $200 (normally $849), we got the the one with the chaise. Took us 20 min to take it apart and fit it in 2 small vehicles with the doors SHUT! Got home, quickly washed all the covers before putting it back together. Perfect size! We were worried about having enough room for the dog to cuddle in between my daughter and I and she’s got plenty of room. Then the cat found his spot right away. Life is good! 🙂 I just wanted to share since I have the same opinion of the couch!!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience too, Becky!
Hi! Do you feel like the couch cushions stay in place?
Absolutely – we never have an issue with them falling.
Hi! I am thinking of buying this exact one, with the Skiftebo cover. I cannot find the answer to this question anywhere…can the shorter side of this sectional be placed on either side of the longer side IE- can this be a right facing OR left facing couch? Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi! I don’t believe it can be swapped around.
Yes it can indeed when I purchased mine that’s what I asked the ikea employee and said yes.
HI there – this was great! Thanks for the pictures. Is the Kivik modular, i.e. you can choose which side will be long and which side will be the short side? It looks like it is…. We still have a Karlstad 2×3/3×2 from 10+ years ago and that was one option we love about it. We can modify based on our room size.
Hi! I don’t believe you can change it up – I believe the way it’s pictured on their site is how it has to be configured.
Thank you for this awesome review!! What color are your walls? We have neutral/beige color walls and I’m worried about the couch blending in too much!
Hi! The walls are First Star by Sherwin Williams!
Thanks for the review! We just bought Kivik sectional in the same color. Hope we like it as much as you do! Can you please tell me where you got the rug in these pictures?
I believe the rug pictured is the same one I have in my living room: https://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-tracce-vintage-castle-medallion/Slate/200OWTC02A-406.html
I’m looking at buying the Kivik too. 🙂
hi we have a kivik and we are not too fond of the color. What is the color for the kivik that you have?
Hi! Ours is Hillared Beige.
Since the couch is not deep like you stated, are you not able to snuggle/cuddle on it at all even on the chaise portion?
I have loved the idea of that couch for a while, but our current sectional is super cuddle friendly on the chaise portion (once you remove the side pillows), and my hubby and I aren’t willing to give up being able to cuddle haha
We don’t have any issues snuggling up on it! We don’t fully lay side-by-side but in the corner it’s really easy to get cozy.
Hi! I was wondering if the armrests have to be on? We love the kivik but only want an armrest on one side… Can you tell if there was one without (holes/metal)?
Thanks!
I don’t know – they might offer it! Our does not have that option.
Hi and thanks for the great review. For Helen’s question, I don’t think that you can have the classic 2- or 3-seater without armrest, since there would be a difference in height (the main body of the sofa has no plastic feet underneath).
My question: I have a 3-seater sofa and think of adding a chaise next to it. Due to lack of space I was wondering if I could do that without having the armrest on the side that the chaise will be attached.
Thank you,
Manos
I love your review thank you!!!
Also where is the brown chair from in your living room???
It’s from Article!
Are you happy with your chairs from Article? The whole room is gorgeous!
Could not be happier. Considering buying a second one for my bedroom!