Trust me, I love IKEA as much as the next gal, but there is one IKEA purchase I would skip if you’re a long-term renter. This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to use my links to purchase certain items, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I appreciate your support.
Usually, I would say IKEA is a renter’s goldmine, but in this case, there is one IKEA purchase I’d skip if you’re a long-term renter: A sofa
If you’re furnishing your very first apartment, an IKEA sofa may make total sense. (Stick around for my first apartment IKEA sofa recommendations if you’re a first-time renter:) However, once you’re renting long-term, I think a sofa is worth investing in.
This post is all about the one IKEA purchase you should skip as a long-term renter.
3 Solid reasons you should invest in a good quality sofa as a long-term renter:
- Portability: A sofa is one of the few renter purchases that can realistically move with you from one place to the next. Hence, it is worth investing in.
- Elevates your space: After some time, you’ll be ready to make some changes to your rental. Depending on how long you’ve been renting, you may be craving to feel more grown-up. Investing in a good-quality sofa can bring a level of maturity to a space that may have been lacking.
- Common Ground: Many of your peers are likely buying and furnishing homes and having kids, something not all of us are doing. Investing in decent-quality furniture for your rental gives you something to talk about or recommend to your friends.
- This sounds a bit funny, but as an older millennial renter without children, I often feel I have very little in common with my peers, and it can be hard to find common ground or contribute to conversations with a solid leg to stand on. Maybe that’s just me…
Why an IKEA sofa is not what I recommend for a long-term renter
Affordability:
Years ago, IKEA sofas were more affordable than they are today. The last few times I have been to IKEA, I have noticed how expensive the sofas have gotten! 15 years ago, they may have been a good deal, but today… I’m not so sure they are. Currently, IKEA sofas, on average, range from $800-$2,500. Some sofas are creeping up to like $4,500. I just find that a bit ridiculous for an IKEA sofa, myself.
Quality:
I’m not calling IKEA sofas junk; there are some that are fairly decent quality. What I am saying is that for the same price, you can find better quality sofas nowadays. If you can get more for your money, why wouldn’t you?
Why I’d Buy an Article sofa over an IKEA sofa as a long-term renter
Simply put, the quality.
I feel that if you’re a long-term renter, you probably make a bit more money than you did when you first moved out. You’re likely looking for a sofa that costs a bit more than your first sofa. In my opinion, once you’re looking in a price range over $1,000, I would recommend an Article sofa over an IKEA sofa. Article sofas give off “elevation” rather than “budget find” and offer a better long-term value.
With time, durability becomes more important to us, and I have found my Article Sven sofa to have held up beautifully over the last 6 years.
Read my full unsponsored review of the Article Sven sofa.
As I mentioned earlier, I love that sofas can give a level of sophistication to a space that is usually lacking in first-time rentals. I always found it very hard to find good-looking sofas. They’re like noses, very hard to find a good one, LOL! That was until I stumbled upon Article. I love the style and quality of their sofas. They just feel way more solid than IKEA sofas, in my dinky opinion.
Tip: I love that Article makes sofas in different sizes. This allows us as renters to get the smaller size sofa while we’re living in a tighter space, and then we can get the matching longer sofa later if we have either moved to a larger space or purchased a home.
When a sofa may be a good IKEA purchase
So I still think that IKEA sofas could make sense for your first apartment. As I said, certain ones are a bit better quality than others. I like that you can test them out in the store. Honestly, the stores are so high in traffic that you can get an idea of how well they’ll hold up, or which ones do better than others. IKEA sofas can last a long time if you choose wisely and take care of them.
Another perk of an IKEA sofa is that they often have removable, washable covers.
Also, companies such as, Bemz, make IKEA sofa covers. These covers are a great way to upgrade an IKEA sofa down the line or spruce up a used one that you thrift or get for free.
My first apartment IKEA sofa recommendations:
For Nancy Meyer’s aesthetic try:
For traditional aesthetic try:
- EKHOLMA Sofa, Color: Hemmesta gray-green (I love this color green to bring in a pop of color. Of course, there are more neutral colors to choose from as well.)
- EKHOLMA Loveseat, Hemmesta gray-green
Of these options, I love that you can get a 2- or 3-seater, depending on your space. It is also nice that IKEA offers numerous colors for the cover of this sofa. You can easily wash the cover or switch it out for a new color, which is great if you cannot paint in your rental.
Though IKEA sofas can work, I still recommend checking out the Article website. They also have very affordable loveseat options that I do not find to be much more expensive than the IKEA recommendations I have below. And I’m pretty confident that the styles and the quality are better.
My First Apartment Article Sofa Recommendations
My sofa is the Sven 72″ Tufted Leather Loveseat – Color: Charme Tan. And I am OBSESSED with it 🙂 But I am keeping my first apartment sofa recommendations under $1,000, so I will not include this one.
For smaller spaces:
Ceni 61″ Loveseat – Denim Blue: I love the denim blue color as well as the walnut trim. It looks really high-end for an affordable price. Great for small spaces or studio apartments.
Rhett 63.5″ Loveseat – Pepper Ivory: I love this for a bit of a textured look and laid-back look.
For larger spaces:
Rhett 84″ Sofa – Pepper Ivory: This is the same as the one above, but a longer option, great if you have a bit more space and prefer a laid-back cozy style.
Hanson 80″ Sofa – Thistle Green: I love the color of this one! But there are a few other colors as well. Similar to the Ceni above, it reads high-end.
That’s a wrap on my one IKEA purchase I’d reconsider as a long-term renter.
Thank you if you made it this far. I hope this post was helpful to you, whether you’re a long-term renter or just moving into your first apartment. Both IKEA sofas and Article sofas have their place depending on where you are in life and what is more valuable to you at the time of purchase: budget, longevity, quality, and style elevation.
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This post was all about the one IKEA purchase you should skip as a long-term renter.
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