IKEA VÅRKUMLA chair-bed: the 70s comeback for modern homes

Soft curves, deep-blue upholstery and a low-to-the-floor profile are quietly returning to living rooms this season, albeit with a recognisable twist.

As the weather turns colder and nights become longer, people are increasingly looking for living areas that feel comfortable, spacious and simple to rearrange. IKEA has responded by revisiting its archives and bringing back a 1970s piece that design enthusiasts have been watching for years. The relaunch is a confident answer to today’s enthusiasm for modular furniture with nostalgic appeal.

IKEA’s 70s revival: why the VÅRKUMLA chair-bed matters today

At the centre of this moment is VÅRKUMLA, a low, chunky chair-bed first created in 1973 by Gillis Lundgren under the name TAJT. It has returned through IKEA’s Nytillverkad collection, a limited range that refreshes archive designs with contemporary materials, colours and comfort requirements.

VÅRKUMLA sits at the crossroads of three big trends: compact living, modular layouts and a renewed appetite for 70s design.

The model is already attracting attention on social media and design forums from both collectors and younger renters seeking more personality than a conventional sofa bed can offer. VÅRKUMLA is a hybrid piece: part easy chair, part occasional bed and part visual centrepiece.

A denim-covered tribute to the 1970s

Its cover is the immediate standout feature: a rich blue Vansta denim-look textile. It recalls the era when jeans evolved from practical workwear into an everyday staple, bringing that informal spirit into the living room.

Visually, the shade works much like a neutral navy while offering more character than grey. It works particularly well with:

• warm timbers including oak, walnut and teak
• terracotta or rust-coloured cushions
• cream rugs and off-white walls
• brass or black-steel metallic details

The tightly woven blend of cotton and recycled polyester feels soft yet lightly structured, more like good-quality denim jeans than a delicate loose cover. Its texture connects directly with the 1970s look people are seeking: tactile, informal and slightly unrefined.

Why this VÅRKUMLA reissue matters to vintage enthusiasts

For design lovers, this is more than another product launch. IKEA’s archive designs trace the development of democratic design, from early flat-pack experiments to intelligent answers for smaller homes. TAJT, the original VÅRKUMLA, represented that approach through straightforward cushions, a steel frame and adaptable functionality.

Having VÅRKUMLA back in stores gives access to a piece of IKEA design history without the hunt for a worn second-hand model.

Collectors regularly search resale sites for comparable 1970s modules, where prices can be unpredictable and foam is often worn out. Through Nytillverkad, IKEA effectively makes this retro aesthetic more widely available, now with modern foam, recycled materials and a long guarantee. For many customers, that turns a potentially risky impulse buy into a more considered purchase with an element of nostalgia.

More than a sofa: modular comfort for everyday homes

VÅRKUMLA is especially distinctive because it can take on several jobs in a compact home. Rather than filling a room with a heavy sofa, it provides a lightweight, low-level piece that can change with the day’s needs.

How it changes from chair to bed

The design is made up of two principal cushions which unfold into a single mattress measuring approximately 220 cm long. As a seat, it occupies about 91 × 90 cm. Opened out as a bed, its dimensions become 220 × 91 cm.

It takes only a few simple movements to convert it. There is no concealed metal mechanism and no weighty backrest to manoeuvre. For students and renters who often change their room layouts, that practicality can be just as important as its appearance.

Ideal uses for VÅRKUMLA

Its format is aimed at homes needing adaptable seating as well as an occasional place for someone to sleep. Typical arrangements include:

• a studio flat, where it serves as a daytime sofa and a guest bed
• a teenager’s bedroom requiring an extra sleeping space for friends
• a home office that also functions as a spare room
• a television corner, where lounging close to the floor feels easier than sitting on a firm sofa

VÅRKUMLA suits people who want freedom to reconfigure a room without investing in oversized furniture.

The single-bed format is more suitable for occasional guests than for everyday sleeping. It provides a full adult-friendly length, though its width is closer to a spacious single mattress than a small double. Buyers expecting regular overnight visitors may prefer to place two modules next to each other.

Materials, longevity and the 10-year commitment

Behind its casual denim-like finish, the chair-bed reflects IKEA’s recent focus on sturdier, more clearly specified materials. Its frame is made from steel, while the high-density foam contains a substantial proportion of recycled material. Full-grain cow-leather components reinforce key pressure points and should age more gracefully than synthetic substitutes.

Care is straightforward: vacuum it regularly and wipe it occasionally with a damp cloth. The cover cannot be machine-washed, which may give households with young children or pets pause. In daily use, many owners are likely to add a lightweight throw or protective blanket.

A 10-year guarantee underpins its long-term proposition. At a price of around 279 euros in continental Europe, that period suggests a move away from disposable furnishings towards slower, more intentional buying decisions.

Who this retro chair-bed is really for

The reissue has broad appeal, although it is particularly well suited to certain types of buyer.

• Urban renters who move regularly and do not want a bulky corner sofa
• Young professionals furnishing their first “adult” living room with a carefully managed budget
• Vintage enthusiasts wanting a 1970s feel without repairing a delicate original
• Hosts needing an additional bed a few times each year rather than every week

In larger homes, VÅRKUMLA may work best as supplementary seating: in a window-side reading nook, a games room or a relaxed space outside bedrooms. In smaller properties, it can become the main seating piece arranged around a low table.

Strengths and limitations to consider before buying

Its advantages are easy to identify:

• a distinctive 1970s-influenced design that looks contemporary rather than costume-like
• a comparatively accessible price for a branded piece based on an archive design
• straightforward conversion from a seat into a single bed
• a low height that preserves sightlines in compact rooms
• a style that works with both minimalist and maximalist interiors

There are some limitations to bear in mind too:

• space for one sleeper only, making it better for guests than everyday use by a couple
• a fixed, non-machine-washable cover that requires careful use day to day
• a strong denim shade that may not suit highly formal or ultra-minimal spaces

70s style, 2020s needs: bringing it into your home

VÅRKUMLA sits naturally within the broader return of 1970s interiors, alongside corduroy, curved lighting and low coffee tables. To prevent the look becoming too themed, interior stylists generally balance pronounced vintage references with quieter contemporary elements.

A few simple styling options include:

• team the blue denim seat with a neutral wool rug and an oak shelving unit with clean lines
• introduce one or two patterned cushions in mustard, burnt orange or chocolate brown
• soften the area with a simple rice-paper lamp or mushroom-shaped light
• keep technology understated with a compact speaker instead of an oversized sound system

The goal is a relaxed, layered room where the retro note feels natural, not theatrical.

In particularly small rooms, the low profile also alters the sense of space: eyelines travel over the furniture, making the room appear less congested. In a 25 m² flat, this effect can be as important when planning a layout as storage space or the number of available seats.

Beyond VÅRKUMLA: what it reveals about furniture trends

The return of this chair-bed points to a wider development in mainstream furnishings. Major retailers are now drawing on their own histories, much as fashion brands revive archive trainers and handbags. For customers, this has two practical effects.

Firstly, design language becomes more recognisable. Forms that once appeared niche, such as low modules and monobloc cushions, are now reaching mass-market shops. This makes it simpler to combine second-hand finds with newly bought furniture without creating a visual clash.

Secondly, modularity is moving from specialist retailers into the everyday market. Furniture that works as a seat, lounger and bed responds directly to uncertain housing arrangements, including house shares, frequent moves and multi-purpose rooms. Rather than purchasing separate guest beds, armchairs and daybeds, people can choose one item that adapts alongside their lives.

For anyone considering an update to a small living room, VÅRKUMLA provides a useful test case. It is possible to plan a room around a pair of these modules, a low table and a slim shelving unit, then compare it with a conventional sofa-and-armchair arrangement. Beyond the visual difference, that exercise can reveal alternative ways to use the room: more floor-level seating, more informal get-togethers and easier rearrangement for yoga, gaming or working from home.