IKEA LYCKSELE LÖVÅS: The compact furniture piece replacing the old sofa bed

An unassuming IKEA piece of furniture is now changing the game in compact homes.

Anyone living in a studio flat, or needing to turn their home office into a guest room in the evening, will recognise the issue: a conventional sofa bed is often too bulky, too heavy, uncomfortable and simply worn out after a few years. With the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS, IKEA offers an answer aimed precisely at these frustrations – and one that significantly changes how we think about multifunctional furniture.

Why this IKEA furniture piece is replacing the traditional sofa bed

Homes are getting smaller and rents are rising, especially in major cities. As a result, multifunctional furniture is no longer a nice extra; it is a genuine necessity. This is exactly where the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS comes in: fundamentally an armchair, it converts into a proper single bed in moments.

In everyday use, it appears considerably slimmer than a standard sofa bed. Its shape remains compact, without dominating the room. As an armchair, it does not consume half the floor plan, instead functioning like a conventional, relatively narrow lounge chair.

The major difference from a typical sofa bed: no weighty metal frame, no fiddling with flimsy mechanisms and no contorting yourself to reach concealed levers.

Turning it into a bed takes only a few seconds. Pull the seat forwards, fold down the backrest – and it is ready. The process is intuitive, requires no exertion and needs no YouTube tutorial. Anyone who has guests regularly, or has little space in which to unfold furniture, will quickly notice how much hassle this avoids.

Clean design rather than a bulky compromise

IKEA has taken a straightforward visual approach here: crisp lines, a low profile and no exaggerated design flourishes. This means the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS fits surprisingly well with a wide range of interiors, from a Scandinavian-minimalist studio to an eclectic period flat.

Crucially, this is not furniture designed as an “emergency solution for guests” and otherwise kept in the cellar. It is a seat intended for daily use that becomes a bed whenever required. It suits:

• Single-person households in studio flats
• Home offices that occasionally serve as guest rooms
• Teenagers’ bedrooms where friends stay overnight
• Holiday lets where every sleeping space matters

For anyone with very limited living space, it provides a convenient second bed without permanently sacrificing floor area.

Comfort without compromise: sitting and sleeping on the same furniture

Folding furniture has traditionally had a poor reputation: it is either reasonably comfortable to sit on or reasonably comfortable to sleep on – but seldom does both properly. The LYCKSELE LÖVÅS challenges precisely that assumption.

At its heart is a polyurethane foam mattress, designed to work in both seating and sleeping modes. When used as a chair, the seat and backrest combination supports the lower back noticeably better than many sofa beds. Anyone spending long hours in the armchair while working from home will quickly feel the difference.

When unfolded, you lie on one continuous foam surface rather than noticeable metal bars or hard folding edges.

The foam is comparatively firm: rather than sinking into it as you would with a sagging guest bed, you remain steadily supported. For visitors, this means they are more likely to wake up refreshed rather than with a stiff back. For people in small flats, it means this “spare bed” is suitable for several consecutive nights as well.

Customisable like a modular system: interchangeable covers

Another feature that makes this furniture practical for everyday life is that its covers can be fully removed and replaced. IKEA sells a choice of colours and fabric textures, ranging from neutral standard covers to more striking options.

This delivers several benefits at once:

• Washable covers: Stains, spilled coffee and cat hair can simply go in the washing machine.
• A new look without buying new furniture: A fresh cover is enough; there is no need to replace the chair itself.
• Easy seasonal changes: Choose lighter shades for summer and darker fabrics for the colder months.
• Suitable for families: The stress factor is considerably lower in homes with children or pets.

Looking after the furniture regularly can noticeably extend its lifespan. The foam core requires very little attention: vacuum it from time to time, turn it occasionally, and that is all. This combination of simple maintenance and intensive usability makes the model appealing in daily life.

Price, guarantee and sustainability: is the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS really worth buying?

At €249, the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS sits firmly in IKEA’s typical mid-range. It is not cheap, but it is also far removed from high-end designer sofa beds that can easily cost four-figure sums.

For city residents often paying extremely high rents per square metre, the purchase makes sense primarily because it combines two pieces of furniture in one: a proper armchair and a bed. There is no longer any need to accommodate a separate guest bed, saving both space and, ultimately, money.

The ten-year guarantee sends a clear message: this furniture is not intended as a disposable solution for two or three years.

The lengthy guarantee covers material and construction defects, among other things. Anyone who has had to throw away a cheap sofa bed after three years because its mechanism had become loose will understand how much trouble this can prevent.

Less furniture, less waste

The environmental aspect is compelling too. When one item performs two functions, fewer products need to be manufactured and transported, and fewer are eventually discarded. There is no need for an additional guest bed or folding camp bed that spends most of its time merely taking up space.

Its modular construction, with replaceable covers, reinforces this benefit: if the fabric wears out or your taste changes, a new cover is sufficient instead of replacing the whole piece. That conserves resources and is kinder to the household budget.

Real-world examples: where this IKEA furniture truly shines

The LYCKSELE LÖVÅS becomes particularly interesting when viewed in specific living situations. In a 25-square-metre studio, it can be a reading chair during the day and a proper bed in the evening. When visitors arrive, simply move it slightly, unfold it, and an extra sleeping space is available within moments.

In a home office, it works well as a quiet place for reading or making calls. When family comes to stay, the workspace becomes a guest room without a bulky sofa bed permanently blocking the desk. In teenagers’ bedrooms, this furniture replaces the usual “emergency bed” with substantially more comfort and style.

Scenario	Benefit of the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS
Small city flat	One seating item that easily accommodates unexpected overnight guests
Home office / guest room	Flexible change between working and sleeping modes, without losing space
Holiday let	More sleeping places without overcrowding the living area
Family household	Washable covers, robust enough for children and pets

What buyers should consider

Anyone considering getting rid of their conventional bulky sofa bed should review a few points before buying:

• Measure the available space: In both armchair and bed modes, it should not block doors, shelving or radiators.
• Check your sleeping preferences: Those who prefer a very soft bed may initially find the relatively firm foam hard – trying it in store can help.
• Plan for covers: It is often worth buying a second cover straight away, particularly in homes with children or animals.
• Consider how often it will be used: If it will be slept on every day, its comfort deserves especially careful consideration.

Anyone generally thinking about space-saving furnishings can extend the principle easily: stackable stools, wall-mounted folding tables and shelving that reaches the ceiling. Combined with furniture such as the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS, even extremely compact floor plans can be made surprisingly comfortable.

The trend towards more greenery in small flats is also worth noting. Plants such as monstera or herbs on the windowsill complement IKEA’s pared-back design and improve the feel of the room. Especially in very compact flats, a coherent overall look can be created from a few carefully selected elements: flexible seating and sleeping furniture, a slim table, plenty of daylight – and a little nature in a pot.

Ultimately, it comes down to a simple question: does a piece of furniture actively earn the space it occupies every day? The LYCKSELE LÖVÅS aims to answer that question clearly with “yes”: a seat by day, a bed at night, and easy to maintain with an understated appearance in between. For many small homes, that is all it takes to retire the old, bulky sofa bed for good.