Friends, I’m calling on you. The husband and I are at a standstill over which sofa to buy for our family room. If you would, scroll through our thoughts on each of the contenders, check out the mood boards we put together, and weigh in with a comment about which choice you would vote for.
In his corner, Vimle by Ikea: 
The Lowdown on Vimle:
- Cost (in the configuration shown): $799
- At this price, if it gets destroyed (by boys or dog or act of God) in the next couple of years, it’s not as big of a deal.
- Material: machine washable slipcovered polyester.
- I’m gonna be honest with you, I am absolutely NOT on top of getting dirty slipcovers (or anything else…) in the wash in a timely manner. This is a negative for the Vimle.
- At around $200, a back-up cover is super affordable.
- It could be hacked with some new legs to make it sleeker.
- A color this neutral really would go with anything.
- My husband: “It’s not very expensive. We have three small boys (a.k.a. Destroyers of Furniture, The Three Reasons Why We Can’t Have Nice Things, The Mess-Bringers) and are soon (apparently??) getting a puppy (!), who maybe will shred everything we own. And it’s cheap. Also you can store stuff in the chaise! Also, it doesn’t cost much.”
In my corner, Sven by Article:
Arguments for Sven:
- Cost: $2999
- While this may not be a lot for a leather sofa of this quality, it’s still more than double anything we’ve paid for a sofa before. And certainly a lot if it gets ruined in the next couple of years and we have to replace it sooner than we’d like.
- Material: Full grain Italian leather
- Beautiful, soft, buttery, WIPEABLE leather.
- Reviews say it’s dreamy and comfortable.
- Me: “It’s so pretty. I just really like it. And in case you missed it when I mentioned it before, YOU CAN WIPE SPILLS (or whatever) OFF OF LEATHER. It makes me happy to look at it. It’s the correct choice for our family — wait, for my heart.”
So with that said, here are the mood boards I created as mock-ups of our family room.
With Ikea’s Vimle sofa:
With Article’s Sven leather sofa:
So what do you think?? I promise not to try to get (too) upset if you don’t side with me. Give me your best thoughts and opinions — we’re moving in 10 days and I need to get this settled ASAP!
As someone who has the sven sofa I’m saying GO FOR IT!!! the ikea ones are so much cheaper feeling and looking hands down.
Which one do you have Amber?? I’m assuming from your go for it you must like it — tell me all of your thoughts on it! I need some details! 😉
I vote Sven ! The brown leather will hide stains so much better and like you said – so much easier to wipe up !
Yes, cleanable is always the best choice in a household with kids!!!
Hello!! I say get the expensive leather bc it will make you happy every time you sit on it or look at it…. and see if you can buy a guardsman warranty or something similar that is it gets chewed by dog or children they will come and fix it!
Hmm…I never thought about checking for a warranty against that kind of thing, great idea!
Definitely sven! We have an ikea one similar to your photo and I hate it! Just a hassle to clean! And I would never in a million years be able to pull off a beige sofa with kids LOL! My vote is sven + it’s so prettyyy 🙂
You’re absolutely right Amanda — I can’t pull it off either, I know if we end up with the Ikea sofa it will look gross in the first few days, lol! I’m Team Sven all the way, except for the part of me that is a little terrified our puppy will chew it to bits before our eyes…
Okay I LOVE the sven sofa. It’s basically what my sofa dreams are made of. That said, the dog we adopted just prior to our little one being born ATE THE COUCH – like literally distroyed the thing. We were able to curb that behavior, and eventually crate trained the pooch, but still. I have no idea what kind of pup you are gonna get and wether chewing will be a thing or not, but it is something that I would certainly keep in mind.
Thanks for the comment — even though it bums me out so much! Haha, but really — you’re confirming some of my worries. We’re getting a German Shepherd, and from what I’ve heard they are chewers. I have a friend who said she went through three (!) Goodwill couches when her German Shepherd was a puppy before he quit destroying them. I’m not sure I can handle buying a Sofa Of Dreams and watching it get eaten.
Ill be odd man out and vote Ikea! I like the look better and of course it’s cheaper! I’m all about a bargain! <3 Good luck with the move!
Thanks!! It really doesn’t look bad does it?? And with new legs added I think it would look pretty sharp even. I do wonder how comfortable it is, although I’ve heard some good things about Ikea couches.
I’ve heard good things about IKEA furniture too. And I think it looks great!
Im in the middle of looking for a new lounge for our house now so its good to see these styles etc to think about 🙂
Which style would you choose between these two?
I think i’m the only one who says- I LOVE the ikea couch!!! It’s a perfect neutral and at that price? GO FOR IT! Maybe even buy 2 (incase washing covers is just too hard- cause that’s how I roll)
My vote is for the sven! It is alot easier to clean something that is a wipeable leather then on a washable slipcover… this is coming from a mom with her 4th kid on the way and has a puppy that shes and has had accidents on our suede couch 🙁