The IKEA BACKSÄLEN Sofa with chaise is a $899, medium-firm chaise sofa aimed at apartments and small homes that want a deeper seat and a cover you can remove and wash. In our hands-on testing, it felt much more natural for lounging than for upright, formal sitting. IKEA keeps it approachable with flat-pack delivery and a long warranty, but the chaise connection takes patience and the low seat height will not work for everyone.
Table of Contents
Product Overview
| Sofa | Overall Score | Pros | Cons | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA BACKSÄLEN Sofa with chaise | 3.8/5 | Washable cover; deep lounge feel; strong warranty | Chaise alignment; low seat; runs warm for some | Renters, loungers, pet households |
Final Verdict
After a few weeks of use, what stood out most was how easy the BACKSÄLEN is to settle into. The deep seat and taller arms work well for movie nights, and the washable cover takes some of the stress out of daily life. It is not a cloud-soft chaise sofa, and the bracket connection can be fussy during setup, but once assembled it felt steady and supportive for long stretches.
Who It’s For
- People who lounge, curl up, and sprawl
- Pet owners who want a removable cover
- Couples who share a chaise for streaming
Who It’s Not For
- Shoppers who want plush, sink-in softness
- Anyone who needs a higher seat to stand easily
- People who hate multi-box assembly
How We Tested It
In our hands-on testing, we assembled the sofa in a 12' x 14' living room and used it for movie nights, laptop sessions, and short naps. We judged chaise alignment and hardware fit during setup, tracked heat in our two-hour sit sessions, and watched how it handled posture changes and two-person lounging. Durability, cleaning, and value came from cushion recovery over several weeks, cover wash cycles, and the warranty and return terms.
Our Testing Experience
IKEA BACKSÄLEN Sofa with chaise
Our Testing Experience
I started on the main seat with a laptop and kept shifting to the chaise once my back got stiff. The depth made it easy to sit cross-legged or stretch out, but I still wanted a small pillow behind my lower back. Marcus liked the firmer support for late-night gaming and was the first to call out the warmth build-up. Jenna and Ethan put it through the usual movie-night routine, and the cushions recovered better than I expected after each reset. Dr. Walker’s notes matched our take: it is comfortable when you lean back into it, less so if you want upright posture all evening. That trade-off matters if you already shop with back support in mind.
What we liked
- Deep seat and embracing arms
- Washable cover made messes easier
- Chaise fits one sprawled-out adult
Who it is best for
- Movie-night loungers
- Couples who want to share a chaise
- Renters who want lower-fuss upkeep
Where it falls short
- Upright sitters who prefer shallower seats
- People who run warm
- Anyone impatient with chaise alignment
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Deep seat and tall arms feel embracing; removable cover is backed by a 10-year limited warranty; support stays medium-firm and steady. | Chaise alignment can be fiddly; the 16 7/8" seat height feels low; the cushions can hold warmth during long sits; it is currently marked last chance. |
Key Details
- Price (Hallarp gray): $899
- Size: 92 1/2"W x 37"D; chaise depth 61 3/4"; H 33 1/2"
- Seat: 23 5/8" depth; 16 7/8" height; 6 3/4" clearance
- Feel: medium firm; foam seat cushions
- Cover: removable; machine-wash warm; no tumble dry
- Fabric: 80% cotton/20% polyester; back fabric recycled polyester
- Durability notes: 15,000 abrasion cycles; tested up to 242 lbs
- Assembly: 4 packages
- Warranty: 10-year limited
- Returns: 365 days unopened; 180 days opened
Review Score
| Metric | Score | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly | 3.6 | Manageable, but the chaise alignment is the slow step. |
| Cooling | 3.4 | The cotton blend helps, yet the cushions can still hold heat. |
| Comfort | 3.7 | Supportive for lounging; some people will want extra lumbar help. |
| Durability | 3.6 | Everyday-use fabric rating; warranty adds confidence. |
| Layout Practicality | 4.1 | The chaise supports real lounging, and the clearance helps storage. |
| Cleaning | 4.3 | The removable cover makes routine messes easier to handle. |
| Value | 4.0 | Strong feature set around $900 with a long warranty. |
| Overall | 3.8 | A practical, lounge-first chaise sofa with clear trade-offs. |
How to Choose the IKEA BACKSÄLEN Sofa
If you like a deep seat and often lounge semi-reclined or fully stretched out, BACKSÄLEN makes sense. If you sit bolt-upright for hours, pay close attention to the seat height and overall depth. Before buying, measure the room for a 92 1/2" width and make sure the chaise side works with your traffic flow. Homes with pets or kids get real value from a removable cover, especially if you already shop with family wear and tear in mind. If you want more modular reconfiguration, the Burrow Range is the more flexible direction. If you want a plusher deep-seat sprawl and can spend more, the West Elm Harmony is the closer match. For a more mid-century look with looser back cushions, the Article Sven is another path.
Limitations
BACKSÄLEN is tuned for lounging, not desk-chair posture. The low seat height and deep seat depth can push shorter users to perch or add a lumbar pillow. The 15,000-cycle upholstery rating is fine for normal household use, but not what I would want for unusually rough treatment, especially if you are comparing upholstery durability. IKEA’s testing references use by people up to 242 lbs. It is also currently marked last chance, which could make future cover matching less convenient.
IKEA BACKSÄLEN Sofa vs. Alternatives
Why choose these models
- You want a medium-firm chaise with a deep, hugged-in feel
- You care about removable, machine-washable upholstery
- You want a 10-year limited warranty around the $900 mark
Alternatives to consider
- Burrow Range Sectional: more modular reconfigurations
- West Elm Harmony Sofa: plusher, deeper sprawl
- Article Sven Sectional: mid-century look with loose back cushions
Pro Tips for IKEA BACKSÄLEN Sofa
- Tighten the chaise hardware only after everything is aligned during setup.
- Keep a small lumbar pillow nearby if you tend to slide forward and need extra lower-back support.
- Use low-profile bins to make use of the clearance underneath.
- Wash the cover warm and air-dry it to protect a washable cover.
- Rotate your main sitting spot weekly.
- Add a breathable throw if you run warm.
- Add a soft cushion if you lean on the arms often.
- Keep a lint roller nearby for quick cleanups.
- Give the chaise a clear stretch-out role when guests come over.
FAQs
Can I machine-wash the cover?
Yes. In our testing, the cover handled a warm machine-wash cycle well, which is one reason people look at a machine-washable sofa.
Is the chaise comfortable for naps?
For me, the chaise worked well for a 30–60 minute stretch-out. The medium-firm cushion kept my hips from sinking too far, which some shoppers want from a chaise sofa.
How annoying is assembly?
It is manageable with two people, but the chaise connection rewards slow alignment before you fully tighten the hardware. That matched what we look for in assembly testing.
Will it feel warm in summer?
The cotton blend breathes better than slick synthetics, but the cushions can still hold heat during long sits, which lined up with our cooling tests.
