Ikea LYCKSELE LÖVÅS: the compact alternative to the old sofa bed

A modest-looking Ikea piece of furniture is changing the game for compact homes.

Anyone living in a studio flat, or needing to turn their home office into a guest room in the evening, will know the issue: a traditional sofa bed is often too large, too heavy, uncomfortable and simply worn out after a few years. With the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS, Ikea offers an answer to exactly these frustrations – one that noticeably changes how we think about multifunctional furniture.

Why this Ikea furniture replaces the old sofa bed

Homes are getting smaller and rents are rising, particularly in major cities. Multifunctional furniture is therefore no longer a pleasant extra; it is a necessity. This is precisely where the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS comes in: fundamentally an armchair, it converts into a proper single bed in moments.

For everyday use, it has a far slimmer presence than a standard sofa bed. Its outline stays compact rather than dominating the room. In armchair form, it does not consume half the floor plan; instead, it functions like a conventional, fairly narrow lounge chair.

The key difference from a typical sofa bed: no weighty metal frame, no fiddling with flimsy mechanisms and no wrestling with concealed levers.

Turning it into a bed takes only seconds. Pull the seat forwards, fold down the backrest – and it is done. The process is intuitive, requires no strain and does not call for a YouTube tutorial. Anyone who regularly hosts guests, or has little room for unfolding furniture, will quickly appreciate how much effort this avoids.

Simple design rather than a bulky compromise

Ikea has kept the look deliberately straightforward: clean lines, a low profile and no excessive design flourishes. As a result, the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS works surprisingly well with a wide variety of interiors, from a Scandinavian-inspired minimalist studio to a colourful period flat with an eclectic feel.

Crucially, this is not intended as an “emergency solution for guests” that otherwise sits in the cellar. It is an everyday chair that becomes a bed whenever needed. It suits:

• single-person households in studio flats
• home offices that occasionally double as guest rooms
• teenagers’ bedrooms where friends stay overnight
• holiday lets where every sleeping space matters

For anyone living in a particularly limited space, it offers a comfortable second sleeping place without permanently sacrificing living area.

Comfort without compromise: sitting and sleeping on the same furniture

Folding furniture has traditionally had a poor reputation: it is either reasonably comfortable for sitting or reasonably comfortable for sleeping, but rarely does both well. The LYCKSELE LÖVÅS challenges that assumption.

Its central feature is a polyurethane foam mattress designed to work in both seating and sleeping positions. When used as a chair, the combination of the seat and backrest provides noticeably better lower-back support than many sofa beds. Anyone spending long hours in the armchair while working from home will soon notice the difference.

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

The foam is relatively firm: instead of sinking into it as you might with a sagging guest bed, you remain securely supported. For visitors, this means they are more likely to wake up refreshed rather than with an aching back. For residents of small flats, it means this “spare bed” is suitable for several consecutive nights too.

LYCKSELE LÖVÅS covers can be changed like a modular system

Another feature that makes this furniture practical for daily life is that the covers can be removed completely and swapped. Ikea sells a selection of colours and fabric textures, ranging from neutral standard covers to more distinctive options.

That offers several benefits at once:

• Washable covers: Stains, spilled coffee and cat hair can simply go into the washing machine.
• A fresh look without buying new furniture: Rather than replacing the chair itself, a new cover is enough.
• Easy seasonal changes: Light shades for summer and darker fabrics for the colder months.
• Suitable for family life: The stress factor is noticeably lower in households with children or pets.

Regular care can significantly extend the furniture’s lifespan. The foam core needs very little attention: vacuum it now and then, turn it occasionally, and that is all. This combination of easy maintenance and intensive use is what makes the model appealing in everyday life.

Price, guarantee and sustainability: is it really worth buying?

At 249 euros, the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS sits firmly in Ikea’s typical mid-range. It is not cheap, yet it remains far removed from designer sofa beds that can easily run into four-figure sums.

For city residents paying exceptionally high rent per square metre, the purchase pays off chiefly because it combines two pieces of furniture: a proper armchair and a bed. There is no need to find space for a separate guest bed, saving both room and ultimately money.

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

The lengthy guarantee covers, among other things, defects in materials and construction. Anyone who has had to dispose of a cheap sofa bed after three years because its mechanism became loose will understand how much frustration this can prevent.

Fewer pieces of furniture, less waste

The environmental angle is also noteworthy. When one item serves two purposes, fewer products need to be made and transported, and fewer need to be discarded in the end. There is no need for an additional guest bed or folding camp bed that spends most of its time getting in the way.

Its modular construction and replaceable covers reinforce this benefit. If the fabric wears out or tastes change, there is no need to replace the whole piece; a new cover will do. This saves resources and is kinder to the household budget.

Practical examples: where this Ikea furniture truly excels

The LYCKSELE LÖVÅS becomes especially compelling when viewed in specific living arrangements. In a 25-square-metre studio, it can serve as a reading chair during the day and a proper bed at night. When visitors arrive, simply move it slightly, unfold it, and an extra sleeping place is ready within moments.

In a home office, it creates a quiet spot for reading or making calls. When family comes to stay, the workspace turns into a guest room without a cumbersome sofa bed permanently obstructing the desk. In teenagers’ bedrooms, it replaces the usual “spare bed” with considerably more comfort and style.

What buyers should consider

Anyone considering getting rid of a traditional bulky sofa bed should work through a few points before buying:

• Measure the available space: In both armchair and bed mode, it should not block doors, shelving or radiators.
• Check sleeping preferences: Those who prefer a very soft mattress may find the comparatively firm foam hard at first – trying it in store helps.
• Plan for covers: Taking a second cover home straight away is often worthwhile, especially in a household with children or animals.
• Consider how often it will be used: If it will be slept on every day, comfort deserves particularly close attention.

Anyone considering space-saving furnishings more broadly can easily build on the same principle: stackable stools, wall-mounted folding tables and shelving that reaches the ceiling. Combined with furniture such as the LYCKSELE LÖVÅS, even exceptionally small floor plans can be made surprisingly comfortable.

The trend towards adding more greenery to compact homes is also interesting. Plants such as monstera or herbs on the windowsill complement Ikea’s restrained design well and improve the sense of space. Particularly in very compact flats, a harmonious 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, the question is simple: does a piece of furniture actively earn the space it occupies every day, or does it merely take up room? The LYCKSELE LÖVÅS aims to answer that question clearly with “yes”: a seat by day, a bed by night, and easy to care for and visually understated in between. For many small homes, that is enough to retire the old bulky sofa bed for good.