(Check out my four year Ikea KIVIK review here!)

It’s been one year since we bought our KIVIK sectional from Ikea. And, well, we still have it! In fact, I’m sitting in it right now as I type this up. I love our KIVIK, but was super concerned about how it would keep up over the years. “You get what you pay for” is an expression for a reason, and I think a lot of us have been conditioned to believe that Ikea and other affordable furniture is affordable because it’s cheaply made or not meant to last. If our couch only lasts another year, I would be okay with it because it was so affordable. But I don’t think that will be the case, the KIVIK is going strong.

A Year in the Life of our KIVIK

I’m no skinny-mini, and I’m not very gentle with my couches. I love to plop on them, wiggle around on them, eat, sleep, and couch on them. So does my husband, and so does my dog. My sixty-some pound greyhound-beagle mix is allowed on our furniture, and her favorite place to chill is the KIVIK.

Living in Minnesota, our Spring season is super muddy. All the snow is melting, and the backyard is basically just one giant puddle. Lola runs outside and while we do wipe her paws off when she comes in, the couch is oftentimes her first pitstop. Here and there she gets dirt on the couch, but it always washes out.

Holding Shape (7 Points)

Holding shape is the one area that the KIVIK loses points. Because of how we slunk into the couch, the back pillows kind of end up looking slouchy with the seams sinking in towards the couch rather than being at the top of the pillow. One way I fix this is by flipping the pillows every time it gets like this and kind of smooshing the pillow around. I do this with each pillow about once every few weeks.

The other issue with shape is the corner seat cushion. You can clearly tell that that is the preferred spot to sit for both Ryan and myself, because it’s sunk in a little bit! Again, one way to counter this is to flip it over and massage the cushion for a while while whispering nice, encouraging words into it.

Comfort (8 Points)

The comfort of the KIVIK has not changed since the day we bought it. It might even be just slightly comfier, actually.

One of the reasons we got this couch as opposed to others was how stiff it is. Is that the right word? Hardy? No. Firm. Firm is the right word. The seat cushions are firm, and you don’t fall into anything you can’t get out of. Firm, yet comfortable. And the seats are deep, so you can lay down comfortably with your dog (hi, Lola) or significant other next to you. Plus the deep seats allow you to add a lot of pillows pretty comfortably, and I love me some throw pillows.

I love sleeping on this couch, couching on the couch, or sitting up doing work. Temen loves sitting in the corner with a few toys and hanging out. This is the definition of a family couch. My whole family, dog included, can be on it at the same time while we watch a movie or TV show.

Material / Stain Resistent (10 Points)

First, the color we have is Orrsta Light Gray. It’s the perfect color for our living room. The gray is both light enough to keep a space from feeling too crowded, and dark enough to conceal small stains here and there. So I acknowledge that the color could have a lot to do with why I gave it 10 points.

No  material, no matter what it says, is totally stain resistant. That includes the KIVIK. But it’s damn close. After a year of daily use by me (a self identified sloppapotomus), my husband, and our dog, and I only know of just a few very small imperfections. One of those is actually on the matching ottoman, and is because I spilled Temen’s medicine on it. But there has been (warning: TMI) food, drink, urine, vomit, and poop on this couch that we have washed out successfully. All of the cushion covers, the seats and the backs, are removable so you can wash them. Holler. 

Even with the cushions being removable, we’ve only washed them like twice. That’s because most things can be easily removed from this sturdy material with a damp cloth or wet sponge. (No, seriously, I spilled salsa all over today and it all came out with a damp cloth and dab of dish soap.) Plus, you don’t want to wash it too much and wear the fabric out. But if you do, IKEA sells additional covers so you’re covered!

Overall Score After One Year: 8.3 Points

I would definitely get this couch again. Yes, it’s IKEA. But, yes, it’s holding its own! In fact, the material is holding up better than a few other couches we have in our living room that were definitely not bought at IKEA.

(Check out my four year Ikea KIVIK review here!)