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Assembling Our Karlstad Ikea Sectional Sofa

Despite its original February 4th due date, our big bundle of sectional joy arrived ahead of schedule. Being our first Ikea sofa, we were a bit taken aback by how many different boxes our Karlstad came in.

the many boxes an Ikea sectional sofa arrives in when delivered

But since we’re no strangers to assembling our Ikea purchases we dove right in…and even made a time lapse video of the longer-than-we-expected process.

For those who can’t watch the video (maybe you’re being sneaky at work?) here’s the important stuff: the final pictures of Karl in place.

Ikea sectional sofa recently assembled in gray living room

dark gray Karlstad ikea sectional sofa recently assembled in gray living room with fireplace

We’re especially enamored with the fabric, which is nice and durable (it’s completely impenetrable to Burger’s claws, which is always the goal). And the dark color is perfect for hiding those spills and drool spots that happen with a dog and a baby around. Plus because the entire sectional is slipcovered (even the arms and the frame) we can always wash it if something crazy happens. Which is definitely a probability in our house.

close up detail of ikea sectional sofa fabric in dark sivik gray

Karl certainly is a big boy. It took us a couple of hours to adjust to how much more space he took up than our old couch – but it took almost no time for him to win our hearts. He fits the space really well, the dark charcoal color rocks our socks, he’s extremely comfortable, and he makes us want to schedule a huge friends & family movie night (although that might be more fun when we get a larger TV someday).

dark charcoal gray ikea sectional sofa in living room with yellow accents

Speaking of which, Karl’s presence really highlights the need for some other “heftier” items in the room (it’s a huge space, so larger items will make it look a lot more balanced and proportionate) – like a bigger rug, a new media cabinet, and lots of colorful art on the walls. Plus we need to make this space next to the window look more intentional. We plopped the little game table there because of the light that hangs above it, but we’re thinking that zone might be better served as a play / toy storage area for Clara (and future kiddos) down the line.

small seating area in living room where ikea sectional sofa was recently installed

We also want to add (maybe build?) a long narrow console table to go between the sectional and the wall to host a couple of lamps and act as a spot for drinks, etc. Especially since our current nailhead ottoman & faux sheepskin solution is great looks-wise (light and round ottoman + dark and square sectional = love) but it doesn’t really function beyond feet propping. But with a console table behind the sofa, that’s all it needs to do. Plus it’s baby-head friendly, unlike an angular coffee table. And with all the angles in Karl we were itching for something soft and round anyway.

large round upholstered ottoman with nail head trim atop yellow pottery barn rug

We also want to try a DIY upgrade to Karl’s legs. Ikea offers sleek metal ones (which take the look to über modern) but we wanna work with the chunky wood ones that came with Karl.

close up detail of ikea sectional sofa legs in unfinished blonde wood

Especially since the fancy pants sofa that we coveted from Room & Board (more on him here) has the exact same legs in a darker finish. And they look surprisingly sleek in that color, as opposed to cheap and birchy like Karl’s (no offense, man):

rendering of darkened legs of ikea sectional sofa

We’re thinking we might try to stain or paint them darker (maybe even with high gloss spray paint) to help them work better with Karl’s deep charcoal outfit, er slipcover. We considered swapping them out for tapered or round spindle legs, but Karl is a big dude. So we want him to remain as well-supported as possible. Which is why the legs that come with Karl (along with a 10 year warranty) seem like a smart thing to stick with.

Despite our still-growing to-do list, we’re loving our new spot to relax. I’ve got two directions where I can lie down completely (all 6′ of me), Clara’s got a couple of deep corners to be propped up in, and the chaise just happens to be perfectly Sherry sized. Accordingly, she’s been monopolizing it since Karl’s arrival. Good thing I’m not a jealous man.

chaise portion of ikea sectional sofa in dark sivik gray with yellow accents

Burger is basically nutty with options for curling up, jumping around, and perching upon every possible cushion and cranny. Here’s where we discovered him sit-standing yesterday. Yes that’s business in the front, relaxation in the back. What a weirdo.

chihuahua sitting atop ikea sectional sofa in sunlight

Apparently it’s a great vantage point to scope out squirrels in the backyard.

chihuahua sitting atop ikea sectional sofa Karlstad in sunlight

So yes, we still need to stain/paint the beams, get/build a sofa table for behind the sectional, get a larger rug, upgrade the media cabinet, remove the fans, add in a few lighting options, and possibly create a little play area for Clara behind the far side of Karl – but we’re happy to take our time and let things evolve instead of rushing into any big purchases we might regret (we have to replenish the ol’ bank account after buying Karl anyway). But I guess I could tackle those fans sometime soon. And Sherry claims to be saving up the energy to take on those beams (she says as she reclines on the chaise and lies motionless, closing her eyes as if to “charge”). Should be interesting…

UPDATE: We’re still loving Karl over a year later. Check out our little update post here.

Comments

  1. tanyad says

    Woohoo! Looks great guys! I’m just wondering if you had considered putting the seagrass rug you had in your old bedroom in here? I think it would look great against that beautiful dark sectional. Though I do love the yellow one in there at the moment, the seagrass may fit better?

    I’m curious as we have similar coloured sofas and I am thinking of buying a seagrass rug, though can only get it onling so can’t test it out first :( Would you recommend it for a living area, or is it too scratchy etc?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We have the seagrass one in the sunroom since it fits perfectly in there but it would be fun to switch things up so who knows where everything will end up! It’s not soft like thick dense wool, but it’s not uncomfortable either. Sort of rough but rustic like you’d imagine a wood hut in Bali would be.

      xo,
      s

  3. Katie says

    Love Karl! I just purchased a smaller sectional from Scandinavian Designs and it’s not pretreated with stain resistant. Do you have any suggestions?I have 1 dog and 2 cats so I’m a little nervous!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We actually prefer to avoid stain resistant treatments and sprays (since they’re full of chemicals that we’d rather avoid) but we had two light colored sofas (although we now have dark Karl) and we just swear by slipcovers since they’re washable. Maybe someone else can chime in with stain treatments they recommend since we’re not experts on that subject though! Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  4. Danielle says

    Sorry if this has already been answered, but what pieces from the karlstad collection does this include? I see a set with 2 chaise and a sofa but it doesn’t look like yours. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s actually two separate pieces that can be ordered and combined. The corner sofa and the add-on chaise (not the free standing chaise). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  5. Katie says

    Hi! I am brand new to your blog but it is so inspiring. My boyfriend and I are about to move into a new apartment so this is going to be my nightly reading for the next few nights! I love the rug in your living room. Where is it from?

    Reply

  8. Megan says

    My husband and I are getting transferred from the Midwest to England in July, so we are going to start fresh with all new furniture. This is the couch we have picked out to purchase once we get there! Even the same color! We’re just doing the 2-seat sofa with the chaise add-on, though. Its nice to see it in action.

    Reply

  9. Marsha says

    I love your sofa! I also really like the tufted version of Karl, but the drawback is that I don’t think I could change or wash slipcovers. After working with your Karl, if something bad happened do you think I could purchase regular covers & just hide the tufts if needed?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I wouldn’t think so. It would be all bumpy looking I think. The covers are pretty tight, so an untufted cushion under then would be ideal. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We ordered two different sofas that are meant to be combined to create the u-shape. We got the corner sofa and then the add-on chaise (not the freestanding one). You can call them for help ordering over the phone (same as ordering online) or just put both in your cart and checkout (which is what we did). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  13. Hanna M says

    We are thinking of adding a Karl to our new home as well. Is he comfy to sit and lounge on? How does he sit over all? Thanks (:

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Those are gorgeous! We’re actually planning to work with the legs that came with Karl (both for money-saving reasons and for warranty reasons) but they’re so pretty! And as for how we like him, we love him! We also really enjoyed our white slipcovered sofa (it was by Rowe, but the washable covers made it really easy to care for). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  15. Hilary says

    My husband and I plan to add Karl to our family in a few weeks. But, I am wondering how you are finding the comfort-level now that he’s been around for a few weeks? It is so hard to tell by sitting on the floor sample for just a few minutes whether a piece will be comfortable for long stretches of lounging.

    Thanks YHL!

    Reply

  16. manon says

    hey you two,
    i fell in love with the sofa, right when i saw it the first time. but as i already have an ikea sofa and my cushions (the ones that i am sitting on) are always slipping off it (which drives me nuts), I am kind hesitating to buy a new ikea sofa. have you experienced any problems with the cushions yet (meaning…do they slip of the sofa when you sit comfortably on them?) any info would be amazing.

    Reply

  17. laura in indy says

    Love your blog! Did you compare the different sofa lines at IKEA? What sold you on the Karl over the ektorp line? Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      They were both comfortable and highly rated (as well as recommended by at least a few of our friends) so it just came down to aesthetics. We liked the sleeker more modern look of Karl (Ektorp sofas have more of a traditional Pottery Barn look while Karl is a bit more West Elm/Crate & Barrel). But we’ve heard nothing but good things about both sofas, so it’s just about which look you prefer!

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yikes! I bet that was a slightly older model. Ours has more legs to prevent that sort of thing. We’ve had up to ten people on it and so far there’s not a smidge of sagging. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It probably took about an hour or so. The assembly of the large pieces wasn’t too hard, but stuffing all those slipcovers took a while!

      xo,
      s

  20. Karri says

    We looked a Karl this weekend, thanks to you. I would have *never* in a million years considered an IKEA couch. But after searching for The Perfect Sectional for 3 years now, we figured it wouldn’t hurt to check him out since you gave it a 2 thumbs up. We like him. I think we’ll take the plunge. And the best part is the price tag…Karl is by far the least expensive sectional we’ve ever come across. Thanks!

    Reply

  21. Emily says

    Hi!

    I’ve been meaning to ask how you guys are liking this couch, and have you had to wash the slip covers yet? I’ve had my eye on this couch but I am diggin the Isunda Gray, but I havent ever purchased a couch from Ikea and wasn’t sure about how they held up!

    Thanks,
    Emily

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yup, we’ve washed some of the slipcovers (probably should wash all of them, but we just did the ones we sit on most since they get more kid/dog “use” – haha). They turned out great and we’re still loving the sectional!

      xo,
      s

  22. Catie says

    So, not that we like to be copycats but this post has led us to go check out Karl for ourselves this weekend and maybe bring him home with us! We too have been hunting a sectional for our crazy family gatherings and with your “real-life,” non storefront looking photos + the fact that we also have a baby girl and small dog to consider, we’re thinking this couch might be just the ticket.

    I’m concerned about how to get it home though. Did you all just have it all shipped? Was that pricey?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It was around $89 to have the entire thing delivered. Their shipping costs depend on your location and the weight of the item you’re ordering, so we’d just recommend calling them to get a quote (and asking if they have any shipping specials, which they happened to be having when we called). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  23. Rachael R says

    Hi guys!
    I love your website and all of your DIY ideas :) I was just wondering how Karl is holding up now that he’s a couple months old.
    Thanks!

    Reply

  24. Steph says

    OK…..we are in need of a new couch, and have been eyeballing
    Karl since you posted about him. I love the u-shape. We have 4 kids and would love to a place where we can all plop down for movies at the end of a busy week. Are you still happy with him and is he holding up the way you had hoped? :)

    Reply

  25. ktgraham614 says

    I was watching the time lapse video at work sans the sound and could only imagine how differently the video would look if that were my hubby & me. I didn’t see any break-downs, crying or other fits of frustration that accompany furniture assembly at my house. :)

    BTW – I was too lazy to read through the 600+ comments, so don’t know if you’ve already mentioned it somewhere, but how did Karl get his name? I would have thought I’d see a “Karl” hyperlink somewhere, but haven’t found it yet. Thanks!

    Reply

  26. Katey says

    We just purchased Karlita (Karl’s female twin in white, minus the chaise) and we are kind of dumbfounded by all of the boxes. So glad to have your video to play in slow motion so that we can study the assembly. Did you wash the cover before dressing Karl? Karlita’s dress is surprisingly mostly wrinkle-free out of the box but we are wondering if a quick rinse would help get the new-dress smell off of her. Ideas?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We didn’t wash Karl’s clothes because they didn’t have any odor (and looked pretty great right out of the box) but if they even have a slight smell I’d wash those babies so Karlita feels fresh!

      xo,
      s

  27. Priscilla K. says

    Hi you two! I’m from Colorado and we just got a new IKEA store this week. I’ve been admiring your Karl sectional for quite some time. So after enjoying your sectional for half a year, how is it? Do you still love it? I’m short (5’2″) and my husband is 6′ tall. It’s hard to find a sofa that fits us both, and we certainly have been looking a long time. If you still love Karl, then we’re going to go shopping this week and order it. Thank you for any more information you can share with me, and thanks for your amazing blog!

    Reply

  30. Kate says

    We are thinking of getting a version of Karl from Ikea, and since you guys have been living and loving him for a few months now, honestly, how well is he holding up? Do you have to fluff or rotate the cushions a lot? How is the fabric wearing? Any pilling or pulling? Would you get him all over again? Thanks for your help! :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Karl is great! No complaints at all. The sivik gray fabric is almost like denim so it’s super durable (zero pills or pulls) and I probably fluff the back pillows once every few months when I feel like being an overachiever. Haha. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  32. Jana says

    Thanks so much…..just wasn’t sure how they would look on a sectional……since sectionals weren’t around when those legs were all the rage. Or at least I don’t think they made sectionals back then! ;) Just love the mid-century vibe they have.

    Reply

  33. Angel says

    Ok so, we are in the market for a new couch. We have two kids. I keep coming back to your hands Karl. Here is the trouble. We have family that are not exactly average size. Is that a nice way to put it? Since you have Karl at home how do you think that it would hold up to very large people a couple times a year? I’m a little nervous about the legs. We are so scared to get anything new because of this but we really need to get something and we don’t want to pay an arm and a leg. Anyway, thanks for the input if you get a chance to reply.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I would imagine that Karl would be great! Ikea is a wordlwide company and I can’t imagine their stuff is designed for frail people! We’ve had ten people piled on the sofa, and not a creak or a crack, so I’m sure it would be great! Maybe you can call Ikea and see if it has a weight limit just to be sure? Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  34. Jess says

    I just purchased the Karlstad sofa and am getting ready to put it together. I was wondering if you guys ironed, washed, or otherwise prepped your slipcover before assembling your Karl?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We had people coming over that morning so we rushed and just threw things together but it looked great without ironing! Then a few weeks later we washed all the covers just to see how they did (they did great!). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

    • Jess says

      Thanks! I skipped the washing. And I’ve been struggling with getting the covers onto the arm pieces for, oh… an hour. Aaargh.

  35. Adrienne says

    Ok, stupid Karl question. Is there a long side/short side? The ikea website shows 2 different “lengths” but it seems like the cushions are all equal sized… I’m confused. :)

    Also, does it matter if you add the chaise to the long or short side? Our wall where I’d like to park Karl is just barely long enough to fit the chaise + short measurement.

    Thanks for detailing your process with Karl so well. I have convinced my husband that this is the way to go for our living room via your site. Also, I think we’re going to get the back cushions tufted… Thoughts?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I think there is a slightly longer side and a slightly shorter side, but it’s close. You can definitely add the chaise to either side and it works!

      xo,
      s

  36. rachelle galloway-popotas says

    Thank you for this post- loved it. We’ve been considering a Karlstad for awhile and wondered about its durability, upkeep, look, etc. You answered the question about look (looks amazing in your space) but wondering now that it’s been over a year since you got it, how is it holding up? Cushions, slipcover (did you ever try to wash it? we tried that with one Ikea slipcover and it didn’t work so well), look/happiness factor of it still being in your room? Would love to hear more about the sofa as it’s such a major statement piece for any house, probably one of the biggest. Thanks for your blog, a huge favorite.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Still looks the same! It holds up great (to a messy toddler and dog) and still feels very comfy. The covers are easy to wash too! Very happy with our purchase. It looks so new we forget it’s over a year old!

      xo,
      s

  38. Hilary says

    We took the leap and purchased our own Karl this weekend. Couldn’t resist the 15% back. I put it together yesterday. Love him… we got a sofa w/ 2 chaises. One question – did your chaise cushion kinda pop ‘up’ at first? Like I can see the space between the cushion and bottom frame. Am wondering if it’s because the cushions are so stiff/need to be worn in… I did get them to align with the velcro, so that’s good I guess [I know that was in your follow up post… did you know there are 3 ‘settings’ to the chaise and that you can move that bottom piece to get the velcro strip to align better]? Anyway, just curious about the cushion! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We didn’t necessarily have an issue with the chaise cushion popping up. If anything, Sherry (who uses on the chaise the most) sits in some weird way that it gradually migrates off the end and we have to shift it back up every week or two so it doesn’t look like a tongue sticking out over the edge. But I blame that one Sherry’s weird sitting techniques, not Karl himself.

      -John

  39. Nicki says

    I am strongly considering purchasing the same sofa as you, except I am going to have two chaises right next to each other with a loveseat. Does that make sense? Anyway, the setup is perfect for our family of 5. I have always been leary of buying a sofa from Ikea, but when I saw that you had one, I have been reconsidering. I was wondering if you are still as happy with it as you were when you bought it? Is it comfortable? Is it wearing well? I have three children a husband, and a dog about the size of yours. I need something that is going to last me ten years or so!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes we love it and have no complaints. We even did an update post about it after over a year and said we would buy it all over again. No issues at all!

      xo,
      s

  40. Heather says

    Wow! I stumbled upon your blog when searching for ‘Karls’- I just ordered one and it is being delivered next Wednesday!! I’m so happy to have found your living room photos, as I’ll surely be using them for inspiration. I’m going to be painting our living room the same gray- it looks lovely, as well as painting karl’s legs!

    Reply

  41. Kandace says

    Hey guys! I know this is an old post but I had a question. Y’all have the sofa, loveseat, and chaise, correct? Do y’all know the dimensions overall off the top of your head? We’re trying to see if we have a big enough room lol!! Love this sofa.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We have the corner sofa and the add on chaise. I think if you scroll back through these comments we have listed the dimensions a few times. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  44. Elizabeth says

    I read your update on how much you still love Karl but was wondering about any regular maintenance type stuff you do? How often you flip cushions, wash covers, and what do you use to spot clean? We just bought the sofa version and I find myself wanting to flip cushions like every day to stay on top of the wear. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just spot clean with a damp rag and flip cushions maybe twice a year? The dark sivik gray fabric (the kind we chose) is amazing! It’s as durable as denim!

      xo
      s

  47. Elizabeth says

    I’ve got the Karl in my cart on IKEA.com. Now I just need to know if I should go ahead and order the slip cover or just take my chances, with two little kids and two dogs, and wash if need be?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  49. Stacey says

    Longtime fan of y’all! Do you still use this couch? How has it held up? Do you feel like it’s too low to the ground or just right? Sometimes I feel like Ikea furniture sits too low and my husband and I are both tall so I wanted to hear from someone who has if before we make the purchase! Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yup, still use it and love it! We have found it to be very durable with a kid and a dog, and very comfy (John’s tall and I’m short and it seems to work for both of us).

      xo
      s

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