My Honest, First-Hand Review of 7 IKEA Sleeper Sofas — Plus 3 Honorable Mentions That Score Points for Style

Ahh, IKEA. The inimitable smell of the showrooms. The ingenious, Scandi-inspired designs. The place has everything. But sometimes that's the problem — how is one possibly meant to determine what's actually worth buying? The best way is to try things in person, but if you can't get to a showroom, an online review — of which I have seven for you — is the next best thing. Today, I'm focusing on IKEA's sleeper sofa range, a collection that's equal parts affordable, convenient, and sufficiently Scandi in design.

All of the sofas listed below (save for those in the honorable mentions category) have been tested in person by me (or, in one case, by Livingetc's editor, Hugh Metcalf), so you can log onto IKEA.com armed with the right knowledge. While examining the sofas in person, I tested for things like seat pitch, seat depth, comfort, and ease of setup, all of which are measurements that the best couches and sofas do well. Later, safely back in my home office, I set to work scrolling through product reviews and identifying pain points from customers who had tested each product out much longer than I could in the store (without weird looks). In short: I sprawled across fabrics, bounced on seats, and at one point, I may even have dozed off a little. All in the name of testing, right?

Sleeper sofas, in particular, are a tough product to get right, and even harder to price affordably. Yet they're an indelible piece of the home design ecosystem, simply because they're so convenient. So, if you're going to take the plunge, you might as well buy a good one. And I think you'll find that IKEA sleeper sofas do a really decent job at making both price and utility work in harmony. In no particular order, let's get into it.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Brigid Kennedy

In her 12 months on the masthead at Livingetc and subsequent 12 months working as a freelance design journalist, Brigid has dedicated over 100 hours to researching, testing, and writing about couches. She has spoken with experts about what elevates a sofa from 'good' to 'great,' lounged and sprawled around many a sofa showroom, and toured couch factories as far away as Texas. Yes, she loves a good interior (don't even get her started on tablescapes), but her bread and butter, as it were, is the sofa. And yes, before you ask, she did pick out the sofa for the home she and her fiancé currently share. They receive compliments on it often.

FRIHETEN Sleeper Sofa

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If you've heard of or slept on any one sleeper sofa, it was probably the IKEA FRIHETEN Sleeper Sofa, amiddle-of-the-road best-seller that manages to nicely straddle the worlds of affordability and practicality. I tried it out in store and could definitely see the appeal. It's a pretty plain-looking couch as it is (although the leather upholstery is a nice upgrade), but it's stylish enough to add to a guest bedroom or office without worrying that it will throw off the room's design scheme entirely.

The biggest appeal here by far is the ease with which you can set up the sleeper; simply fold down the back panel and pull the trundle out from underneath the bench. As a bed, it was also pretty comfortable. I enjoyed sprawling out (albeit in-store) and liked that I couldn't feel annoying springs pressing into my back, as is often the case with pull-outs. The built-in storage for pillows/sheets was a nice touch, as well.

The one caution I will give: there is both a three-seat (shown above) and a sectional version of this product, and the three-seat is much better in my opinion. For one thing, the seat depth on the sectional is quite shallow, which wasn't very comfortable for lounging. And for another, I felt that I could feel the sectional's trundle extension shifting with me as I tossed and turned during my simulated, in-store sleep.

ÄLVDALEN Sleeper Sofa

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In my honest opinion, IKEA's ALVDALEN sleeper sofa may have been more comfortable as a bed than as a sofa; perhaps it was just the model I tried, but it felt like the sofa seats were pitched forward, and I didn't like that much. It's also a very firm, narrow sit— if you're tall or broad, or looking to fill a big space, I would not go for this one. It would definitely be better suited as an accent piece in a guest room or office, or as a space-saving option in a tiny apartment. But, much like the FRIHETEN, there is included storage space, too, which is always nice.

Set-up is beyond simple; you just turn down the back panel and voila, you have a bed. Overall, reviewers say that this piece works wonders in an apartment, but suggest adding some pillows, extra blankets, and probably a mattress topper into the mix to soften things up a bit. I can definitely square that recommendation with my brief experience trying it out.

And hot tip? Make this so much more stylish by adding a BEMZ sofa cover, specifically made for this model (and a lot of the others mentioned in this round-up).

MORABO Sleeper Sofa

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From a style perspective, the MORABO is no doubt one of IKEA's better options, thanks to its button tufting, metal legs, and light green sofa cover.

At least compared to the other options on this list, I found the setup to be much more difficult. First, you must pull the trundle frame out from underneath the sofa. Then, you have to remove the back cushions and fold the top portion of the bench seat onto the frame. It's not terrible to do — none of IKEA's sleeper sofas are that difficult — but I'd personally prefer to have to do as little work as possible when I'm making up someone's bed late at night.

When unfurled, the 'mattress' here was decently comfortable, but I didn't like that you could feel the springs through the fabric; that's a big turn-off for me. So, an additional mattress topper would be a must. Plus, when the mattress is tucked away, and you've converted back to couch mode, the bench seat is still relatively firm, so you're not getting that plush, cushy feeling you might want in a sofa, either.

The upshot: If you're more concerned with the look of your sleeper sofa (no judgment here) than its overall comfort, the MORABO could be the one for you. This IKEA sleeper sofa also only appears to be available in the US.

GRUNNARP Sleeper Sofa

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Could it be? A good-looking, minimalist IKEA sleeper sofa? Such is the promise of the GRUNNARP, quite possibly the brand's most modern-looking option and a high-earner in the style categories.

As for the sit, the couch cushions themselves are medium-firm — you are not going to be sinking into this bad boy (which seems to be the norm for sofa beds, anyway). Set-up is relatively simple: just pull the front legs forward so that the back panel drops down. There is no secret mattress that pops out — the sofa itself is the bed. It's a simple product, which definitely has its benefits. Still, it's probably not the most comfortable... I'd still recommend getting a mattress topper to pull out when you have guests over.

The other big draw, however, is hidden storage. So often, the reason we buy a sleeper sofa is to maximize space. With the GRUNNARP, you get the dual function of the bed and the stylish couch, plus some space-saving storage for blankets, games, pillows, whatever you want.

And finally, I will note that the GRUNNARP is pretty well-reviewed. The vast majority of its 82 reviews are four or five stars, and the phrases/words "easy to assemble" and "nice" really stick out.

HOLMSUND Sleeper Sectional

To Livingetc editor Hugh Metcalf, the idea of the HOLMSUND was a good one — perhaps the couch's linen-y fabric would work great in a room with a relaxed feel and scheme. But when he went to test it out in the store, he couldn't get past the look of the showroom model.

"It was overly wrinkled in a way that didn't fill me with faith it would look amazing day to day, but there's a chance that it just needs a good steam or iron," he said. As for the set-up and feel, "It opens much in the same way as the GRUNNARP, and is of a similar level of comfort, but a little bulkier in form. Whether that's for better or for worse is up to you."

The bottom line: We were not jazzed by the HOLMSUND, and it doesn't seem that customers are, either. The reviews and average customer rating here are much worse than the GRUNNARP or even the FRIHETEN, and I can't say that style is at least a trade-off.

BALKARP Sleeper Sofa

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For both its price and its design, the BALKARP should be considered a sleeper sofa for young adults' apartments. It's not exactly stylish (to put it mildly), but it's inexpensive and converts quickly — great for an on-the-go student or a new city-dweller. Although it felt pretty sturdy when I lay down on it (a shock, to be honest, considering the extremely bare-bones frame), I wouldn't say that I found it overly comfortable.

A little over a year ago, this sofa was $250, which felt relatively fair all things considered (you get what you pay for and all that jazz). Now, however, with the price having gone up by $100, I'm not totally sure I can justify the purchase. Yes, the benefit of something like this is that it's fabulous on the wallet, even if it's not fabulous on the eyes. But when you take that financial piece away, I'm not totally sure it's worth it anymore. This IKEA sleeper sofa also only appears to be available in the US.

UTÅKER Stackable Bed

To be fair, the IKEA Utaker Stackable Bed isn't exactly a sleeper sofa. It's more of a daybed than anything. But it is a strong option, and one recommended by Hugh, for those who don't want to sacrifice their minimalist taste for maximum function.

"I own the UTÅKER stacking daybed, and it's a good alternative for a room that needs dual purpose as a bedroom," Hugh said. "The two single, all-wood frames stack on top of each other in a way that's actually pretty aesthetic, and I swear by it as a good idea for your box room, but there are a few caveats."

"It doesn't set up into a full bed 'easily' — you'll need two people to lift the top bed off the bottom bed," he notes. "And, there's not a mechanism to keep the beds together if you want it as a double — sometimes I even zip tie it to keep them from moving."

He adds: "The mattresses that fit are better than most sofa beds, which is great, but be mindful of toppers; if you pick one that's too large, you might have a difficult time stacking them."

Honorable Mentions

As any avid shopper knows, IKEA's showroom doesn't have everything you might need to test out. As such, I've taken the liberty of highlighting a few 'honorable mentions, as it were, when it comes to IKEA's sleeper sofas. Keep in mind I haven't tried these sofas myself — but I wanted to shortlist them for earning some of my personal style points, as well as for their strong customer reviews.

How do I choose the right IKEA sofa bed for me?

Look and feel are a key piece of the sofa bed buying process, but nothing — and I mean nothing — is more important than size, because you cannot enjoy a sofa that does not fit through your doorway. So, as a first step, you should always measure, measure, measure to determine the right sofa dimensions for your space.

Next, I'd recommend visiting an in-person showroom, if possible. Sofa beds are expensive and difficult to return; as cumbersome as it may be, the afternoon you spend testing a purchase before you buy it can save you thousands in the long run.

And finally, as a matter pertaining solely to couches of the pull-out variety, I'd ask whether you prefer a certain type of sofa-to-bed mechanism, seeing as some are easier to convert than others. If comfort is your main priority, you will probably want something that converts into a full-on mattress. But if ease is your goal, an easier-to-navigate trundle would probably suffice.

What is the best IKEA sofa bed?

This is a frustrating answer from my end, but it is the truth: just as there is no 'best' sofa, there is no 'best' IKEA sofa bed. It all depends on your preferences and needs. That said, my favorite of those I tried was probably the FRIHETEN. It's well-reviewed, a best-seller, and decently priced. Hugh swears by it, too; he had one for years in his early twenties, he said, and told me it deserves more praise.

Which IKEA Sleeper Sofa is the Best Looking? 

In my opinion, the GRUNNARP is easily the best-looking option among IKEA's many offerings. The subtle curve of the side panels adds an elevated touch, almost as if it were purchased from a boutique, and it's a newcomer to the sleeper sofa range, according to Kimberly Kronberger, IKEA's home furnishing business leader for living room seating. That might not be very important to you, and that's okay... but as an interiors lover and design nerd, I love it when I can jump on a product before it becomes mainstream. For the GRUNNARP, now might be the time.

Are IKEA Sleeper Sofas Worth It?

Well, that depends. What are you using the sofa for? If you're hoping for a plush living room couch that doubles as the focal point of the space, I'd probably skip IKEA's offerings (or skip a sleeper altogether) and look elsewhere. There is only so much you can do to cozy up a sleeper sofa at this price point, and you wouldn't want to waste your money getting something you don't like if you can afford more.

But if you're looking for a sleeper for a small apartment that's short on space or a home office that doubles as a guest bed, an IKEA sleeper sofa is the perfect solution, and well worth it. In these instances, the value-for-price ratio that IKEA offers, especially with sleeper sofas, makes perfect sense.

The TL;DR — you can get almost anything at IKEA, but that doesn't mean everything is worth buying. If you're looking to get the biggest bang for your buck, I'd recommend sticking to one of the IKEA sleeper sofa models listed above. And if you're curious about other highlights worth shopping, check out our round-up of the best IKEA products according to interior designers.