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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. Shannon says

    PS. Found it! The tricky thing is, here in Canada the exact same sectional and chaise from ikea is $1928, instead of $1298 in the US. How frustrating. That’s a difference of $630 – perhaps worth crossing the boarder and taking a weekend trip away!!

    Reply

  2. Sara T. says

    Karl looks great! Seeing the sunlight hit the dark grey fabric in some of those shots made me wonder: Are you planning to Scotchguard the slipcovers? I’ve never had big accident on my furniture, but I always spray any new fabric to give me piece of mind. It’s supposed to repel spills from seeping into natural fibers and prevent fading due to sun exposure. I’ve even used it on some silk pillows and it worked great, leaving no liquid stains or watermarks. Make sure to test a small swatch beforehand!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We actually prefer not to use Scotchguard (it has chemicals in it that we’d rather not expose Clara and Burger to) but thanks to the dark color of the fabric and the almost denim-like thickness, we have high hopes for long term durability. We’ll report back on how it goes over the years for sure though!

      xo,
      s

  4. Courtney says

    Karl looks great! We recently got a chair/ottoman (the Ektorp), and we love it as well. Isn’t it wild that something you put together from a box could look/feel so sturdy and comfy!?

    Quick question: Our chair/ottoman have a strange chemical smell. I think it’s the fire-resistant foam. I’ve done some research and supposedly it will fade away soon enough, but I just wanted to know if you noticed the same thing with Karl. Of course, the Ektorp has more cushy/rounded arms, which is the primary source of the smell, so maybe Karl doesn’t have that issue…

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s so odd! Our Karl is totally odorless. So sorry about that smell of your Ektorp though. I’m super sensitive to those things so it would have driven me crazy and I probably would have put Karl out in the sunroom with the door open to air out for a few days. Hope it goes away soon!

      xo,
      s

  6. Crystal says

    Have you ever purchased any other furniture from Ikea that is heavily used? We’re contemplating buying a dresser from there but I’m not sure how well a dresser would hold up. The price is great but we don’t want to have to replace it in a year. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, our old Malm bed (which lasted over 4 years and then was sold with our last house) was awesome and so far our new bed (the Edland) has been awesome too. We’ve also had a Malm dresser for 4+ years (still going strong). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  7. stacy says

    The new sofa looks amazing! Speaking of media center, I do believe Ana White is building one right now…time to break out the old tools?? =)

    Reply

    • Tanya says

      I’ve just built one of Ana’s designs – It’s the first time I have ever used a saw or drill and it looks freaken AMAZING! So proud of myself! Definately recommended.

  13. stephanie crochet says

    I LOVE your videos–you guys always look like you’re having a great time; and you have the perfect taste for the music of each video.

    Any chance you can include the song titles in your videos or the post as well? For example, i went to violamusicclub.com and there are SO many songs on there so i’m not sure which one you guys used for your video.

    thanks, much love and appreciation for filling my days with your projects :)
    -Steph Crochet

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      This song is called Popsicle Summer. So sorry there were too many to hunt through! Great suggestion for future videos. We’ll start listing them that way moving forward!

      xo,
      s

  14. Cara says

    I have a Karlstad couch in the light blue (which they no longer sell). I take the whole couch apart and wash it every 6 months. Just a warning if you do something similar, fill the washing machine, add soap, then add the fabric. I made the mistake of pouring soap directly on the fabric, and now there are streaks of a lighter blue all over the couch….

    Reply

  17. Christine Schwalm Design says

    It fits the space really well–perfect scale. And I like the grey/yellow combination. I think building a console behind the sofa would be an excellent idea. Probably something like what you did with the desks in the old house? I wonder if you can do something with reclaimed lumber–add a little twist to the look.

    Reply

  19. Kristen says

    looks great! i will say, that i am glad to read you’re planning on updating the legs. they really stand out right now as not being as sleek as the rest of karl. maybe some paint that resembles a stainless steel finish or a dark stain. looking forward to seeing what you come up with, as always.

    Reply

  20. Renee says

    I thought your overhead beams had recently been painted dark grey… is my screen fooling me? This looks fabulous, by the way… if we ever get a larger living room, I think we might have to convert our Karl sofa to the super sectional like you have. Cheers!

    Reply

  21. Regan says

    love the new sectional! My 90 pound golden retriever does the same sit-stand thing as Burger, but on a slightly larger scale! Her feet will be on the floor and her tush is on the couch. I don’t know how it’s comfortable! I do love your mullet reference to it, though. I can wait to use that!

    Reply

  23. Sayward says

    I’ve seen Lack Shelves installed right behind a couch to act as a spot for drinks, books, lamps, etc. It might be an easy alternative to building/finding a table.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s so funny! That was actually my first idea but John thought a table that’s not attached to the wall might be easier for lamp cords and things like that. Who knows where we’ll end up though!

      xo,
      s

  24. Sarah says

    It looks fabulous! I adore it! I love grey and yellow together! Watch out for the chaise- my husband and I fight all the time over the chaise in our sectional :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s my favorite rug so we hope to find another place for it. As for where we got it, it’s from Pottery Barn a while back (called the Moorish Tile Rug). Maybe try ebay?

      xo,
      s

  27. diana says

    Great investment, just perfect for the space! But, of course, you two have this charming habit to do perfect things. (and people, hi, Clara!)

    I didn’t have time to go through comments, and, of course, there may be plenty of suggestions, but your idea of a console behind his Greatness Karl made me think of this:
    http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80109421
    And I think that a version of this can be DIY-ed!

    Reply

  29. Audrey says

    Oh my god, I LOVE it!!! This was definitely the perfect choice for the space. It really works so well with the wall color, etc. I liked it at Door Sixteen…I LOVE it here.

    I kept looking at your old sofa in that space and going, “Really? This is what the Youngsters’ new house looks like? ….Really?” Lol. I was so disappointed that nothing flashier had been done in that room. Now I see I should place more faith in you guys!! Y’all keep rocking! :)

    Reply

  30. Susann says

    Hey

    funny video

    could you do one post for how to do a time laps video? Especially knowing that you guys work with Apple Laptops as well …

    Thanks

    Reply

  31. Audrey says

    PS – I agree with the reclaimed wood idea! I would love to see something kind of rustic/vintage-y in your home this time around. If anyone can balance that “new-and-fresh-outta-IKEA” look with that “wow, that table is a grade-A antique”, it’s you guys!!

    Reply

  32. Meredith Toraason says

    Cutest family ever! Cutest couch ever!! Cutest color combo ever! Love the gray and yellow! We have a sectional (white) that my hubby and I got before we had kids…what were we thinking…now with two boys (2,4) I am day dreaming about the “brown” Karl! How is the sturdiness of the couch? is it comfortable?? Looks amazing!

    Reply

  33. Jennifer says

    Karl looks fabulous. I agree with you about the legs – they will look great stained or painted. I am salivating over the large wall behind the sofa.

    Along w/ a table and lamps, how about a gallery of Ikea Ribba frames in silver? I see a series of two rows of 3 – 4 frames. Maybe you could frame some graphic wrapping paper or fabric to add lots of yummy color and interest for not a lot of money. Your progress in such a short time (w/ a baby) is impressive.

    Reply

  36. Holly says

    I’ll be honest, I was dubious about an Ikea sofa, but it looks absolutely gorgeous! Love the grey and yellow color scheme you have right now. Great job!

    Reply

  39. Harinee says

    Looks great guys!

    So, are you planning two console tables? One between the wall and sofa and another between the future play area and the sofa?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      For now we’d love one between the wall and the back of the sofa. And sometime down the line if we make that area where the table in into a play area we’d love to add a little cubby bookcase or something to that effect behind that part of the sofa that juts out (so it’s hidden but full of storage).

      xo,
      s

  40. Meredith Toraason says

    I was also wondering if you are concerned about the sun changing the color of the fabric on the couch? did you scotch guard it at all? is there a special treatment for it? Do you think the sun could actually do that? Just wondering! we have lots of natural sunlight in our family room too….

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Meredith,

      We actually prefer not to use Scotchguard (it has chemicals in it that we’d rather not expose Clara and Burger to) but thanks to the dark color of the fabric and the almost denim-like thickness, we have high hopes for long term durability. As for fading, we’ll report back on how it goes over the years for sure though! We’re comforted by the fact that springing for a new slipcover is only a few hundred bucks if we need to upgrade things down the line.

      xo,
      s

  42. wilma says

    Hi,

    The sectional looks great. On a completely unrelated note, may I ask where you purchased the yellow rug? I love it!

    Thanks!

    Wilma

    Reply

  43. Loquaciouslaura says

    We’re saving up to buy the exact same sectional! (But possibly without the chaise, we’re not sure.) I apologize if someone already asked, but how long did it take to assemble Karl?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      About an hour or so. Putting the sofa or chaise together would have been fast, but assembling two sofas and connecting them along with adding the chaise seemed to take a while.

      xo,
      s

  44. Jaimie says

    Wow that is a HUGE couch. I love the color you went with. I’ve always liked IKEA’s Karlstad couch, especially the fabric they use. We probably would have gone that way if we hadn’t inherited our vintage MCM couch.

    As for the turned legs, I saw someone who had custom MCM-style turned wood legs made by an Etsy seller for her Karlstad. Wish I had a link, sorry. They looked awesome though, and made the couch look so much more upscale.

    Reply

  46. Emily says

    Looks awesome! Love the video and pictures. PS my daughter has the same outfit. So cute. PPS my husband’s building a long skinny table out of 2x4s for our computer and sewing machine. All the lumber fit in our Honda Civic. :) Just a thought for that console table. . . .

    Reply

  48. KK says

    LOVE IT! I love the color. I love the size. I love the shape. It’s perfect in that room! Not too big at all! And I love the charcoal with yellow combo. Bravo, S&J!

    If you want inexpensive sofa table, I used two of the MALM occassional tables from IKEA behind my super sofa. Inexpensive, not too wide and definitely easy to put together. ;) But I’m sure you have something even better up your sleeves . . .

    XO

    Reply

  49. Stephanie J says

    I used to be a huge Ikea skeptic but the more I see you do fantastic things with their pieces the more I think I need to stop by the store. Karl is a handsome boy and his sister canopy is a beauty! Btw, I’m just dying over that yellow rug. It would be so perfect in my bedroom (Wedgewood blue, yellow, and heirloom white color scheme) but Alas! Pottery Barn no longer stocks it. If you ever get that new rug and need someone to take the old, I’m willing!

    Reply

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