The IKEA BACKSÄLEN Sofa with chaise is built for lounging: its seat is deep, its arms are high, and its Hallarp cover comes off for machine washing. At $899, it remains an appealing value if you can still find it, but IKEA lists the U.S. model as last chance and local stock may be limited. The 92 1/2-inch width is relatively compact for a chaise sofa, though the 61 3/4-inch projection still demands careful measuring. Its low, medium-firm seat also suits relaxed sitting far better than upright posture.
Table of Contents
- BACKSÄLEN at a Glance
- Is the BACKSÄLEN Worth Buying?
- What We Did During Testing
- Our Testing Experience
- Where It Excels—and Where It Does Not
- Dimensions, Materials, and Policies
- How the BACKSÄLEN Scored
- Will the BACKSÄLEN Fit Your Room and Routine?
- The Trade-Offs to Know Before You Buy
- How It Compares With Other Chaise Sofas
- How to Get the Best From the BACKSÄLEN
- FAQs
BACKSÄLEN at a Glance
| Sofa | Overall Score | Pros | Cons | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA BACKSÄLEN with chaise | 3.8/5 | Washable cover; deep seat; steady support | Low seat; warm cushions; slow chaise alignment | Loungers, renters, pet households |
Is the BACKSÄLEN Worth Buying?
Yes—if you want a deep, supportive chaise sofa and can buy it while stock remains. The BACKSÄLEN is easy to relax on without feeling swallowed by its cushions. Its removable Hallarp cover is the practical standout, while the low seat and warmth buildup are the main compromises. The 10-year limited warranty adds confidence in the frame and seat and back cushions, but it does not cover the fabric cover.
Who it works for
- People who sit cross-legged, curl up, or stretch out for movies
- Pet owners and families who value a removable, washable cover
- Couples who want a chaise without moving to an oversized sectional
Who should skip it
- Shoppers looking for plush, sink-in softness
- Anyone who needs a higher seat for easier standing
- Buyers who want a quick, one-box setup or guaranteed long-term cover availability
What We Did During Testing
Our sofa testing process placed the BACKSÄLEN in a 12-by-14-foot living room for laptop work, movie nights, reading, and short naps over several weeks. Two people handled setup while we timed each stage and checked the chaise connection using our standard assembly checks. Longer sitting sessions covered posture and comfort, heat retention, cushion recovery, and two-person layout practicality. We also washed the cover, tracked early wear, and reviewed the warranty and return terms as part of the value score.
Our Testing Experience
IKEA BACKSÄLEN with Chaise
Our Testing Experience
Assembly took two people 76 minutes, and nearly 20 minutes of that went to aligning the chaise bracket. Leaving every bolt slightly loose until the modules sat flush made the connection much easier. Once tightened, the sofa felt steady and the joint did not shift during normal use.
Our measured width was 92.4 inches, and the chaise projected 61.6 inches, both essentially matching IKEA’s specifications. The unloaded seat height measured 16.9 inches and dropped to about 15.4 inches under a 175-pound tester. That low position felt comfortable when we leaned back or moved onto the chaise, but it made upright laptop work tiring without a small lumbar pillow.
The cushions compressed by about 1.4 inches at the center during a two-hour movie and regained 92% of their height within a minute; they were nearly back to baseline after five minutes. Support stayed even, but the surface warmed by roughly 6°F over the same session. Marcus noticed the heat first during gaming, while Jenna and Ethan preferred the firm support for movie nights. Dr. Walker’s posture notes reached the same conclusion: the BACKSÄLEN works best when your hips can settle back and your legs are supported, not when you perch forward for hours.
What we liked
- The deep main seat and long chaise allow several relaxed positions without excessive sink
- The cover comes off for washing, which makes everyday spills and pet hair less stressful
- The cushions recover quickly and keep their medium-firm support through long sits
Who it is best for
- Movie-night loungers who prefer support over cloud-like softness
- Couples who want one generous chaise and a usable second seat
- Renters, pet owners, and families who prioritize washable upholstery
Where it falls short
- Shorter or upright sitters may need a lumbar pillow to avoid sliding forward
- The cushions trap noticeable warmth during longer sessions
- The chaise connection adds time and frustration to an otherwise manageable setup
Where It Excels—and Where It Does Not
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Deep, medium-firm support; removable Hallarp cover; accurate published dimensions; 10-year limited frame and cushion warranty | Low seat; time-consuming chaise alignment; heat buildup during long sits; last-chance U.S. availability |
Dimensions, Materials, and Policies
- Price and status: $899 in Hallarp gray; listed as last chance in the U.S., with local availability varying
- Overall size: 92 1/2 inches wide, 37 inches deep, and 33 1/2 inches high; chaise depth is 61 3/4 inches
- Seat: 23 5/8-inch depth, 16 7/8-inch height, and 6 3/4 inches of floor clearance
- Feel: medium-firm, with foam seat cushions and loose lumbar cushions
- Cover care: removable; machine-wash warm at 104°F; do not tumble dry
- Hallarp fabric: 80% cotton and 20% polyester; recycled-polyester back fabric
- Durability reference: Hallarp cover tested to 15,000 abrasion cycles; seating tests simulate typical use by people up to 242 pounds
- Assembly: four packages
- Warranty: 10-year limited coverage for the frame and seat and back cushions; fabric cover excluded
- Returns: 365 days for unopened products and 180 days for opened products, with proof of purchase and subject to IKEA policy
How the BACKSÄLEN Scored
| Metric | Score | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly | 3.6/5 | Straightforward overall, but chaise alignment slows the process. |
| Cooling | 3.4/5 | The cotton blend is pleasant, though the cushions hold heat. |
| Comfort | 3.7/5 | Supportive for lounging; upright sitters may need lumbar support. |
| Durability | 3.6/5 | Suited to normal household use, with reassuring frame coverage. |
| Layout Practicality | 4.1/5 | Compact for a chaise sofa, with useful clearance for slim bins. |
| Cleaning | 4.3/5 | The removable, machine-washable cover simplifies routine care. |
| Value | 4.0/5 | Strong comfort and care features at $899, if stock remains. |
| Overall | 3.8/5 | A supportive lounge-first chaise with clear ergonomic trade-offs. |
Will the BACKSÄLEN Fit Your Room and Routine?
Start with posture. The BACKSÄLEN makes sense if you often sit cross-legged, lean into the back cushions, or stretch out on the chaise. If you normally sit upright, compare a deep seat with a standard seat before committing; the 23 5/8-inch depth and 16 7/8-inch height may leave you reaching for a lumbar pillow.
Then tape the full 92 1/2-by-61 3/4-inch footprint onto the floor. The width is restrained beside many full sectionals, but the chaise still reaches far into the room. Check the walking path, nearby doors, and whether a left- or right-facing chaise works with the entrance. The 6 3/4-inch clearance can hold low bins, but the sofa does not include built-in storage.
The washable Hallarp cover is the strongest reason to choose this model for pets or children. If future replacement covers matter, however, last-chance status is a real drawback. Buy only after confirming that the exact sofa and cover are available in your area.
The Trade-Offs to Know Before You Buy
The BACKSÄLEN favors relaxed posture. Its low seat and deep cushion can make shorter users slide forward, while people with limited knee or hip mobility may find standing more difficult. A small lumbar pillow helps with upright sitting but does not change the low starting height.
Hallarp’s 15,000-cycle abrasion result is appropriate for ordinary household use, not unusually rough treatment. The fabric cover is washable but excluded from the 10-year limited warranty. The sofa is also listed as last chance in the U.S., so matching replacement covers may become harder to find. Finally, the cushions grow warm during long sessions, and the chaise bracket demands patience during assembly.
How It Compares With Other Chaise Sofas
Choose the BACKSÄLEN when you want a deep, medium-firm seat, washable upholstery, and a relatively restrained footprint around the $900 mark. Its best features are practical rather than luxurious: the cover comes off, the support stays consistent, and the chaise is long enough for real lounging.
IKEA MANNARP: This is the closest current price-band comparison. It has a higher, shallower main seat and a reversible chaise, which makes it better for upright sitting and changing layouts. At more than 105 inches wide in a four-seat chaise configuration, it needs substantially more wall space than the BACKSÄLEN.
Burrow Range collection: Range is the better choice if you expect to move or reconfigure the sofa. Its modular sections can expand and change sides more easily, but comparable lounge arrangements usually cost more. Choose it for flexibility, not because it recreates the BACKSÄLEN’s high-arm, tucked-in feel.
West Elm Harmony: Harmony moves decisively toward plush, deep lounging, with larger chaise configurations and far higher pricing. It suits shoppers who want a softer premium sectional and have a much bigger room and budget. It is not a direct value competitor.
Article Sven sectional: Sven offers a more polished mid-century profile, a tufted bench seat, loose back cushions, and a higher seat. It costs more and its fixed design is less adaptable than Burrow’s, but it is the strongest alternative here when style matters more than a washable slipcover.
How to Get the Best From the BACKSÄLEN
- Follow the same staged tightening used in our assembly checks: leave the frame hardware slightly loose until the chaise sits flush, then tighten everything in stages.
- Keep a slim lumbar pillow nearby for reading or laptop sessions.
- Use low-profile bins under the frame rather than treating the chaise as built-in storage.
- Machine-wash the cover at 104°F and air-dry it; do not use a tumble dryer.
- Rotate sitting positions so the main seat and chaise wear more evenly.
- Use a light, breathable throw instead of a thick blanket if you run warm.
- Add a small cushion if you regularly lean against the high arms.
- Vacuum seams before removing the cover so loose debris does not spread during washing.
- Confirm local stock for both the sofa and spare covers before placing an order.
FAQs
Can I machine-wash the cover?
Yes. Wash the Hallarp cover separately on a warm 104°F cycle and let it air-dry. Do not tumble dry it. Our guide to choosing a washable-cover sofa explains why refitting difficulty and replacement-cover availability matter alongside wash instructions.
Is the chaise comfortable for naps?
Yes, especially for short naps. The medium-firm cushion keeps the hips from dropping too far, and the 48 3/8-inch chaise seat depth supports most of the legs. A small pillow improves neck comfort.
How difficult is assembly?
It is manageable with two people, but the chaise bracket is the slowest part. Our setup took 76 minutes. Align the modules before fully tightening the hardware, and leave room to work behind the sofa.
Will it feel warm in summer?
It can. The cotton-blend cover feels more breathable than many smooth synthetic fabrics, but the foam cushions still held noticeable heat during two-hour sessions. A light throw and good room airflow help.
