Thanks to the beauty of owning neutral furniture pieces, we’ve been able to mix up the furniture from our old house in new ways without having to buy much for our new house. But one purchase we couldn’t avoid is a new living room sofa. We didn’t want to spend a lot of money and had narrowed down the possibilities to the IKEA EKTORP sofa and a few other inexpensive sofa options that I blogged about {here}. The EKTORP seemed like the best option for us but we wanted a sofa that was longer than the EKTORP’s 86″ because our living room is so long and narrow. The solution? We figured out a way to create an EKTORP sofa that’s over a foot longer than the standard EKTORP:
How can you create a supersized IKEA EKTORP sofa? Start with the EKTORP loveseat and chaise lounge:
*Remove the long chaise cushion, which has an attached skirt that covers the chaise.
*Pick the chaise cushion back up, fold the attached skirt under it, and place it on the seat of the sofa so that it serves as both the center and a side seat cushion. It’s a perfect fit 🙂
OK, I know what you’re saying. That looks weird! One short seat cushion and one long one?! All it takes is a strategically placed throw and no one will ever be the wiser:
Or you can hit the IKEA “As Is” section and you just might luck into an extra seat cushion and cover. I did 🙂
Update! We’ve had our EKTORP sofa for three years now and love it!
Linda {Calling it Home} says
January 24, 2014 at 8:21 amThat is one long sofa…very smart. I probably would not have noticed the cushion issue. Great job.
Carla @ Inside Home Living says
January 24, 2014 at 8:50 amI love it! Doesn’t even look like Ikea that way! The whole room looks beautiful too Kris x
Lisa @ Shine Your Light says
January 24, 2014 at 8:51 amKris, I can’t believe you figured that out – so smart! And it looks so pretty and cozy all styled! Plus when you move in a few years you still have the option of using the chaise.
Bonny Neiman says
January 24, 2014 at 8:58 amBrilliant!
stephanie at Stephanie Kraus Designs says
January 24, 2014 at 9:00 amSo clever and looks beautiful!!
Robin @ Happily Home, After says
January 24, 2014 at 8:31 amClever solution, stealth shopping (hope you don’t have to pay to park at IKEA, still shaking my head on the Tar-Jay situation), and a lovely room. I also have the same shape ottoman / coffee table with my sofa but I haven’t accessorized it … your styling is wonderful and inspires me, will definitely “borrow” your ideas.
SHERRY HART says
January 24, 2014 at 10:09 amBrilliant! The room looks great!
pam {simple details} says
January 24, 2014 at 11:09 amYou smart cookie!! Love your pretty table styling, too! I never leave Ikea without checking the As-Is section, it’s crazy what you can find there!
Cyndy Aldred says
January 24, 2014 at 12:52 pmWow! Smart cookie girl! Everything looks so beautiful. I used the Ektorp sectional in my office/studio and was so impressed with how comfy it is. It was my first IKEA purchase. Your sofa is making me wonder if I should switch out in my living room… Hmmm. Thanks so much and have a great weekend Kris!
therelishedroost says
January 24, 2014 at 6:31 pmGreat idea and would expect nothing less from you!!Rooms looks great!! I love those beads on table too!
Stacey says
January 26, 2014 at 8:59 pmI just want to dive into that sofa! It looks so comfortable! I absolutely love how you styled the ottoman too! Fabulous space.
Ashley Jo says
January 28, 2014 at 1:39 pmWell, aren’t you smart! That’s amazing and so thrifty.
Vel Criste says
February 3, 2014 at 3:02 pmCan’t believe it! IKEA should pay you for all the updates you’ve been doing to their stuff!!!!!
tsizemore says
April 13, 2014 at 9:55 pmI want to know if it’s possible to just purchase the chaise part to attach to a normal ektorp? The ektorp with chaise is 99” long and I need something 98” or under but love the chaise!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
April 14, 2014 at 10:59 pmAs far as I know there isn’t an option to buy just the chaise – the chaise cushion wouldn’t fit the regular EKTORP sofa because the seat cushions aren’t as wide on the regular one as they are on the sofa/chaise. Wouldn’t it be nice if IKEA sold the EKTORP pieces as individual components where you could build the sofa in the size and style that works best for you?
Anonymous says
May 21, 2014 at 3:10 pmYou have no idea how happy I am I found this post. I purchased the sofa and chaise combo a couple of years ago, but have been wanting to get rid of the chaise to open up the room. I never even thought about flipping the long cushion.
Seriously, saved me the cost of having a new pillow made and ordering a whole sofa worth of svanby grey covers $$$!!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
May 22, 2014 at 10:18 amI’m so glad that you found it helpful! I don’t understand why IKEA doesn’t tout the fact that you can do this as being a benefit of getting the sofa with chaise! I figured it out just by accident!
Rachel P says
February 7, 2015 at 4:27 pmHi! Everything looks beautiful!! Can you possibly tell me paint color, and where you purchased the curtain panels?
Kris @ Driven by Decor says
February 9, 2015 at 12:10 amHi Rachel – thanks so much for the sweet words about our living room. I’m happy to share the paint color – it’s a slightly tweaked version of Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray. This post has the exact formula (it’s the same color we have in our dining room): http://www.drivenbydecor.com/house-tour-dining-room
As far as the curtain panels, I had those made from a Lee Jofa fabric that’s been discontinued for several years now.
Lauren says
February 25, 2015 at 1:14 pmThis is great! Just went to ikea yesterday to do the measurements in person for the sectional but it’s a little small. Do you think this would work with the sectional? IF we bought both the sectional and the chaise and combined them? Also, how does your bottom slipcover still fit even though it is longer?
Kris @ Driven by Decor says
February 25, 2015 at 11:49 pmHi Lauren, I think you’d have a hard time combining the loveseat/chaise with the sectional just because of the arms. I’m thinking it would look awkward. The slipcovers fit because we bought the slipcover for the loveseat/chaise not the one for the regular sofa. You can’t tell in IKEA’s picture, but the slipcover for the loveseat/chaise has a continuous skirt all the way across the front that doesn’t stop in the spot where the chaise would normally be.
Leigh says
March 14, 2015 at 7:31 pmLove this idea. I can’t find this information anywhere online and I’m four hours away from an Ikea store. Is there any way you could tell me the seating length? I know the exterior measurements are around 96″ long, but how much actual space do you have for bottoms? I want to go with the Ektorp loveseat/chaise for our smallish living room, but some in my family of five are concerned it will be a tight squeeze compared to some bulkier and less timeless (to me) options like Kivik. I especially love the idea of removing the chaise attachment if I get tired of it!
Kris @ Driven by Decor says
March 24, 2015 at 9:27 amHi Leigh – sorry I’m so late replying to your question but I just measured our sofa and the seating length is right about 80″. Hope that helps!
Judy says
May 17, 2015 at 6:52 pmWhat a great idea! I would never have thought of it which, is why I love Pinterest.
After shopping around and putting our backsides on a number of sofas we continued to return to Ikea and the Ektorp sofa series. It was always the one we were drawn back to because of it’s style, cozy look and size. The depth was perfect for those of us a bit shorter in stature!
Purchased both units and the covers in a brown during Ikea’s buy one and get the other for 1/2 price. Moved them to our retirement home and love them. Now the search is on for a sofa bed for our narrow den.
Enjoy,
Kris @ Driven by Decor says
May 17, 2015 at 10:05 pmSo glad that you found a solution that’s going to work well for you Judy! Good luck with your sofa bed hunt!!
Jennifer says
May 18, 2015 at 3:40 pmThanks so much for this information! Do you know if the seat cushions for the loveseat/chaise are a different size than the cushions for the 3 seat sofa? I’m wondering where the added length is coming from- is it seating area or in the general frame? Thanks!
Kris @ Driven by Decor says
May 18, 2015 at 8:19 pmHi Jennifer,
Yes, the seat cushions for the loveseat/chaise are a different size than the 3 seat sofa – the loveseat/chaise cushions are each a bit longer!
Tori says
June 1, 2015 at 3:14 pmI’m sold on the idea of being able to change up the Ektorp sofa!! What a brilliant idea! I’m wondering about your super cute side chairs??? Where did you find those? Are they IKEA as well? Did you make those covers? I’m in love with them!!!
Kris Jarrett says
June 1, 2015 at 9:48 pmHi Tori! I saw this comment at the same time that I saw your comment on my other post. Yes, my side chairs are from Lee Industries but I’ve had them for several years so I’m not sure if they sell the exact chair in that fabric anymore or not. I can tell you that Serena & Lily currently has a chair that looks almost identical to it (it’s pretty pricey though!).
Rosie says
July 31, 2015 at 4:32 pmFor anyone wanting a couch and loveseat, I have a suspicion that the chaise cushion would fit perfectly on the Ektorp love seat. Then you could use one of the loveseat cushions on the oversized couch, and have a spare. I will be trying this at the store next time I go. Great idea! Thanks!
Kris Jarrett says
August 16, 2015 at 9:43 pmThat’s so smart Rosie – thanks for sharing your idea!!
Susan B. says
January 23, 2016 at 9:24 pmWhat a great idea! I’ve been looking at the Ektorp sofa but wanted it a little longer, so glad that I came across you’d blog. I was wondering which color your cover is?
Kris Jarrett says
January 23, 2016 at 9:41 pmSure Susan – our sofa has the Blekinge White cover!
Hope says
January 24, 2016 at 10:23 pmGenius! It looks fantastic! I have a question. I’ve been scouring the web trying to find out the dimensions of the sofa cushions for EKTORP. It’s driving me crazy and I don’t live anywhere near an IKEA. Any chance you would share? 😉
Love your living room!
Kris Jarrett says
January 26, 2016 at 3:53 pmHi Hope – the two cushions on ours (remember, it’s not the normal EKTORP sofa – it’s the one originally with the chaise lounge) are about 25″ deep and 26″ wide give or take 1/2″. I don’t have the measurement for the chaise cushion since we have that packed away in storage. Hope that helps!
Hope says
January 27, 2016 at 9:16 amThank you so much for the reply! I have been scouring the Internet trying to find this answer. I’ve contacted IKEA and several other retailers that sell covers for EKTORP, but haven’t gotten anywhere. I live 500 miles from the nearest IKEA, or I would just go there. I’m hoping to retrofit a few of these covers to fit a Bassett sectional. The price is great even if it only gets me the cushion covers. I’m worried that the Bassett cushions will be too deep. I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness, but if you feel like letting me know how thick the cover for the seat cushion is, you would be helping me out big time. If not, no worries. Thanks for all you help so far! ????
Kris Jarrett says
February 1, 2016 at 9:21 amThey are a little under 4 1/2″ thick!
Anonymous says
February 2, 2016 at 6:08 pmThanks so much!
Susi says
March 5, 2016 at 12:45 amThis is so very clever
I have the same sofa and having just moved into a cottage the chaise style doesn’t fit well with the room, I was planning to sell it and buy the normal 3 seater, I love the Ektorp range for style and comfort and the ability to buy a new set of slip covers and of course they wash soooooo well in the machine. We have 2 sets of covers as with several spoiled indoor cats I need something I can wash when they get too furry.
I can wait to try this and what is great is the choice to recreate the chaise if I move everything around.
We also have a single Ektorp chair and footstool which I have used next to my fireplace to create a big cosy reading/relaxing spot…..well that was the plan, it’s become a giant cat bed for 6 cats to snooze now
Kris Jarrett says
March 8, 2016 at 11:49 pmSounds like you’re as big of a fan of the EKTORP as I am! Glad that this idea is a great solution for your situation!
Chris says
March 14, 2016 at 5:16 pmI love it and I actually like that it has the longer cushion. Give’s it a nice personality. I have an Ektorp love seat with chaise and going to remember this in case we can use this in the future. Thanks so much!
Tracy says
July 23, 2016 at 10:18 pmHi love your suggestion about the cushion from the chaise. Just wondering if the base of the chaise was able to be used separately to the lounge ? Would that original cushion have fitted the chaise ? Still dreaming of this sofa ????
Kris Jarrett says
July 29, 2016 at 1:20 pmHi Tracy – unfortunately the base of the chaise doesn’t have four normal legs – it has two normal legs on one side and two metal legs that hook onto the sofa on the other. Also, the slipcover only comes down to the ground on each side so you couldn’t use it separately for lounging. Sure would be nice if you could!
Elissa says
February 18, 2017 at 1:18 pmIs it possible to buy an additional cushion for the ektorp or only if you find one in the as is section like you did? I love the idea of the extra length. That was the only think holding me back from buying this sofa…it was a bit small for our needs. I want to do two face to face….so if I buy two with the chaise and do your fix that should do the trick…maybe the long cushion won’t bother me…
Kris Jarrett says
February 20, 2017 at 12:33 pmHi Elissa,
Unless things have changed since the time that we were on the hunt for an extra cushion, unfortunately you weren’t able to buy an additional one from IKEA. Hope you’re able to luck into some!
Gina says
June 21, 2017 at 1:12 pmBRILLIANT! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have two ektorp chaise lounge sofas and was trying to figure out a way to find a replacement cushion on one or both of them and gave up. Your idea just solved all my problems! Thank you again.
Kris Jarrett says
June 27, 2017 at 10:42 amSo glad this post helped you out!
Crystal B. says
August 20, 2017 at 12:21 pmLOVE this living room look!! Can you please tell me where you found your ottoman/cocktail table, I’m looking for something pretty much identical???!! Thank YOU!! 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
October 21, 2017 at 9:05 pmHi Crystal! It is made by Lee Industries which sells only to stores and the trade. If you go to their website, you can search for a store near you that carries their products and if it’s still a current product they could give you a quote and order it for you!
Dana says
October 21, 2017 at 10:19 amAlso love this! Thanks so much for posting! Would love to know more about the 2 chairs with linen covers! Where did you find those! Would love a set for my very own!
Kris Jarrett says
October 21, 2017 at 9:10 pmThanks Dana! I got those many years ago – they’re made by Lee Industries (you can find stores that carry their products on their website). I did link up some very similar ones in my living room tour post here: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/house-tour-living-room/
Gia Frank says
March 29, 2018 at 7:42 amI read your blog a while ago and was so inspired by your innovative hack!! I have dogs, needed a slipcovered couch. Didn’t want to spend the money on new couches (with dogs!), but I yearned for a slip covered corner sofa with 2 8 foot sections that would fit the awkward corner in my living room. Finally I had time to puzzle out a design with your description as my template. I got my ektorps with chaise, one for free and one for $85 on OfferUp. For the corner, I thrifted and found a crate and barrel corner section with loose back pillows for $30, which gave me a corner for my Frankenstein sofa!
How I did it: I took both chaise cushions and cut them in half with an electric bread knife and sewed the padded insert lining down those cut sides . The chaises on both couches had little use so the cushions were plump where the other seat cushions were somewhat worn. With the chaise cushion cut in half, I now had 4 seat cushions for each sofa but needed only 3. Taking each chaise’s 4th cushion’s padded insert, I added them to the 3rd cushion, giving them equal squish to the 2 new ones made from the chaise cushions. I went with the lofallet beige covers as they were the cheapest, bought 3! 2 for the chaises and 1 for the Ektorp corner sofa. I needed the 3 covers for the extra square back cushions for the longer couch as well as the shaped covers for the crate and barrel corner sofa back cushions (that fit the Ektorp cover perfectly). I didn’t want to alter the structure of the couches in case I wanted 2 8 foot couches facing each other some day. So to make up the gap where the chaise arms used to be, I had to pad out the back of the seat base of the crate and barrel corner section with cut pieces from an extra sofa seat cushion I had laying around. I covered that section with the corner sofa cover, tucking the excess under the couch. Eventually I’ll alter that cover but for now it works. I needed 2 square back pillow forms but luckily found the back cushions shaped for the arms of the ektorp where pliable enough to fit nicely in the square sofa back covers, giving me enough cushions all around. I haven’t attached the 3 pieces together structurally as they are heavy enough to stay in place .
It’s not perfect but close and it fits in the corner of my split level living room exactly! It’s also so comfortable and finally my family has enough room to stretch out.
With the cost of slipcovers $99 x3 and the $85 cost of the 1 sofa, plus $30 for the corner section, I now have a smart looking, 16 foot corner sofa with washable slipcovers for less than $450. Thanks so much for your inspiring posting!!!
Kris Jarrett says
March 29, 2018 at 5:47 pmOK, your Frankenstein sofa sounds totally and completely amazing!!! Love that you were able to figure that out for such an ridiculously low price!
Lori says
April 7, 2018 at 9:39 pmHello! Love the look!! Currently ordering this sofa with lounge and cane across your page researching. Where did you find your side chairs? So adorable!
Kris Jarrett says
April 14, 2018 at 1:39 pmThanks! Those swivel chairs were a splurge but I love them – they’re made by Lee Industries – there is a direct link to them in the source list at the end of my room tour post here: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/house-tour-living-room/
M Rhodes says
May 12, 2018 at 7:52 pmNice IKEA-hack! I want to share a similar solution. Originally the chaise sofa slip cover came with a separate base cover for the added chaise. My husband and I bought the chaise sofa and loveseat together. We moved the long chasie cushion to the loveseat and it’s 2 cushions to the couch and a newly created ottoman. (We just put the chasise attachment brackets on backwards to make back feet for the ottoman). There is one wrong side on the ottoman, but it just faced the wall. After we updated the set with the new skirt attached slip coves, the ottoman doesn’t match the other pieces, but is still useful in another room. We are still using all the pieces successfully!
Kris Jarrett says
May 13, 2018 at 11:46 pmThat’s so smart!!!
Becca says
September 23, 2018 at 7:14 pmTHANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! My SO and I ended up with the chaise-version of the EKTORP and realized today while cleaning we preferred it sans-chaise, which led me on the search to figure out this exact problem! YAY! THANK YOU!! And thank you for the pillow inspiration, too!
Zoe says
April 29, 2019 at 11:00 amSuch a smart idea! I’ve been looking for solutions to changing our ikea sofa with chaise into a simple 3-seat due to our new living room layout, and thank god I read your post! Now I realize we can do so by simply repositioning the chaise cushion! No extra purchase needed!