We purchased our Ikea Froslov sofa three years ago, and since then I have received a lot of questions about how well the sofa has held up. We all know that IKEA sofas are a great bargain, but do they stand the test of time? In this post, Review Of The IKEA Froslov Sofa Three Years Later, I address the many questions my users have asked about the longevity of the sofa. Do the cushions sag? Does it wear unevenly? Is it hard to clean? Is it a good sofa if I have pets? Can it stand up to young children or a large family? Can I purchase a slipcover for it? Well, I do have answers to all these questions and I hope you’ll read the post to find out my thoughts.
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I love affordable, stylish décor, and have purchased several pieces of IKEA furniture, including the Froslov sofa and the Farlov loveseat. My original Froslov sofa review can be found here. And my more recent Farlov loveseat/sofa review can be found here. IKEA has proven itself as a favourite source for affordable and durable sofas. And some of their sofas are truly iconic, like the Ektorp sofa. The Farlov is also rapidly becoming a classic for those who love casual, modern, laid back decor. In case you’re not familiar with the Froslov sofa, it is a little more compact and refined in appearance and is well suited to traditional or modern décor.
This post provides a complete and unbiased review of this sofa after three years of daily use in our busy house of five. I hope this IKEA Farlov sofa review will help potential buyers decide if this is the right sofa to purchase.
Why Purchase The Froslov Sofa
The Froslov has clean lines, a compact yet comfortable size, and neutral fabric choices. It is neither too boxy and modern nor too frumpy and overstuffed. The style is sleek and clean, with a few special details to keep it interesting. The sloped arms and tufted back are great details. The current colour options are great neutrals that will suit many homes. The fabric also has a lovely fine weave that resembles natural linen. The width is just over 89”. The arms are low and narrow (only 4 ¾”), which means that this sofa has more seating area than you might think. It seats three adults comfortably.
Summary Of My Original Review With Updates
Before we move on to my review of the IKEA Froslov sofa three years later, let’s review my initial thoughts on the Froslov sofa. I will provide a summary of my first impressions and then my updated impressions after three years of usage.
Seat Depth
The sofa has a moderate seat depth which is the perfect depth for sitting and chatting. I prefer a sofa where my back can be supported by the sofa back and my feet can comfortably touch the floor (for reference I’m 5’8” tall) and this meets that requirement perfectly. It’s less of a curl-up-under-the-blankets-and-get-lost-in-the-pillowy-softness kind of sofa, so if that’s your jam then this might not be the sofa for you.
Update- I’m a bit of a convert to deeper sofas now, but I still really appreciate the smaller footprint of this sofa as it opens up our small family room. After three years of use, I can confirm that it is still comfortable.
Cushion Firmness
The Froslov doesn’t have that sink-into-it feeling, which is usually accomplished with feather-wrapped cushions and, of course, a big price tag. However, while the cushions are firm, they are quite comfortable. The Froslov cushions are definitely not too firm and are comfortable to sit on for many hours. For its sleek and refined appearance, it is quite comfortable.
Update- It’s still very comfortable. The biggest advantage to the firm cushions is that they have maintained every ounce of spring and support as they did on day 1. The cushions haven’t sagged at all and structurally they look brand new.
Stationary Cover
Ikea refers to the cushion style of the Froslov sofa as a “Stationary Cover”. This means that the seat and back cushions are attached to the sofa body so that the cushions never shift around. Shifting and sliding cushions have always been a little annoyance with all our previous sofas. And our three boys cannot remove the cushions for fort building.
Update- I love this so much! I don’t think about it often, but cushions that stay in place are a big plus. If you’re a perfectionist or get easily irritated by crooked or sliding cushions, then you will love the stationary cushions. Note- my boys have not suffered from a lack of cushions to build forts since we have three other sofas/loveseats in our home. In case you were wondering.
Durability
The fabric is a synthetic that looks and feels like a linen-poly blend. It is soft, pliable, and looks and feels like a high-end fabric. After three months, the sofa seemed quite durable with no signs of damage.
Update- I have been very impressed with the durability of the fabric. I became slightly worried when I noticed some slight pilling of the fabric on one cushion after about six months of usage. I’m happy to say that the pilling never developed any further. Pilling has not been an issue. There have also been no fabric snags or runs. It is a very durable, hard-wearing fabric that has retained its original appearance after three years.
Washability
The sofa cushions are attached to the sofa and the cushions do not have removable cushion covers. To keep all our sofas clean, we live by a few rules. No food in the family room, except for popcorn on movie nights. The children wash their hands whenever they come in from playing outside and after mealtimes. These synthetic cushion covers clean up pretty well with spot cleaning. You could add a scotch guard finish to the sofa if you are concerned. If you like to eat meals in your family room or have pets, this might not be the sofa for you.
Update- My worries have come to fruition on the washability issue. Even though we are quite careful, dirt and grime do build up over time. Given the light colour of our sofa, the dirt becomes noticeable after about six months of daily usage. I have had to steam clean the sofa cushions about every six months to keep it looking fresh. This hasn’t been too big of an issue, but a mini carpet/upholstery cleaning machine is a must-have item, particularly if you choose a lighter-coloured fabric option. WARNING- the following photo shows the griminess of 6 months without cleaning. Look away if you don’t want to see it.
Pets
We don’t have any pets, but one of my readers has indicated that the fabric on this sofa is a magnet for dog hair. If you have pets and don’t want to be constantly cleaning up, this might not be the sofa for you. The fabric is quite durable and I think it would likely hold up to the increased wear and tear from pets. As mentioned earlier, the sofa does not have removable covers or slipcovers, making it fairly impractical for dog owners.
Updates On Sofa Availability At IKEA
The Froslov sofa is still currently sold on the IKEA website for $999 CAD (The same price as 2019). The colour options have changed slightly. The colour I have is not currently available. Perhaps IKEA has realized that a light coloured sofa without removable cushion covers is not the best idea. The two current colour options are hyllie beige and hyllie dark grey. These seem to be good colour options for a sofa that doesn’t have slipcover or cushion covers that can be removed and washed.
It’s important to note that IKEA has had some pretty significant supply chain issues in the past two years. In our city, both colours of the Froslov sofa are currently sold out. I find that checking back often or signing up to receive product notifications are good ways to find out when products are restocked. Products are being restocked often, it just requires a little patience if you’re looking for a specific item.
Review Of The IKEA Froslov Sofa Three Years Later
In this section, I’m answering my most commonly asked questions about this sofa. These are my honest opinions and I am in no way being compensated by IKEA. My goal in writing this post is to provide useful information to those looking to purchase this affordable sofa.
Do the cushions sag?
No, the cushions have not sagged at all. We sit on this sofa every day for several hours (for three years). My husband even sits in the same place all the time, and it looks no different than the rest of the sofa.
Does It Wear Unevenly?
The fabric/appearance of the cushions is still good and does not appear to have worn much at all. There was some slight pilling of the fabric on one cushion after about six months, but it never progressed any further.
Is It Hard To Clean?
Yes, since it does not have removable cushion covers. It is necessary to have a small carpet/upholstery steamer to keep it clean. I clean ours about every six months. I use the Bissel Little Green Cleaner.
Is It A Good Sofa If I Have Pets?
The fabric seems to be quite durable and doesn’t snag or run, so it might be ok for pets. The cushions are not removable so it wouldn’t be suitable for pets that spend a lot of time outside. I think it would be fine for indoor cats, and likely outdoor cats also, since cats are very particular about cleanliness and grooming.
Can It Stand Up To Young Children Or A Large Family?
Yes, as long as there are a few simple rules in place. We have relaxed our rules on eating in the family room (we allow all snack foods, and even ice cream as long as it’s not chocolate!) and it has held up fine.
Can I Purchase A Slipcover For It?
Unfortunately, because of the nature of the attached cushions, it’s not possible to purchase or make a slipcover for this sofa.
Summary
Thank you for reading my post, Review Of The IKEA Froslov Sofa Three Years Later. The real test of a sofa is in the answer to this final question, would I purchase this sofa if I could do it all again? The answer is definitely yes! If I had a larger budget at the time, then no, I would not have purchased it. Rather, I would have purchased a similar sofa with washable slipcovers. However, at the time, the only sofa I could find that met that criterion was three times the price. The Froslov is a really solid, affordable sofa with style that holds up well to daily usage. As long as you are willing to regularly use a steam cleaner to keep the sofa clean, this is a great purchase.
Interested in some of my other IKEA posts?
Home Office Organizing Tips With IKEA Hacks
IKEA Pinboard Hack For A Home Office
Farmhouse Christmas Bedroom and an IKEA Hack
Can you sit in the corner with your feet up? I didn’t try that in the showroom, and now I’m kicking myself. Our current sofa has slightly higher arms. Thanks so much for this review?
Yes, but you need a pillow or two for proper support/cushioning.
Very helpful review! Please share ur thoughts about the armrests too! Is it comfy? Also pls share the height of the back cushions.
The armrests are pretty firm, so I use a cushion for lounging on it. The height of the back cushions is to the top of my shoulders (I’m 5’8″ for reference). I hope that helps.
I was so sad to find out that the buttons on the froslov start to rust after it’s been steam cleaned, l eaving huge rust spots on the back cushions. A design flaw if there ever was one. My husband and I are currently in the middle of removing the buttons to soak in rust remover and have the whole couch professionally cleaned.
A tip to anybody removing buttons. They are held in place with hooks on the back of each button attached to thread loops. Through a very finicky process, it is possible to detach the hook and hold the thread in place with a wooden peg to keep it from sinking into the cushion.
Just a hassle but yes it’s an attractive sofa otherwise. Next couch purchase we make will be rather removable cushion covers or a model that has a slip cover available for it.
IKEA was no help on this issue either, since the problem occurred out of warranty.
Thank you for sharing your experience- hopefully it can help others who may have purchased this sofa. I have also steam cleaned ours and didn’t have this unfortunate occurrence. Maybe my machine uses less water or your sofa had a bad batch of buttons.
I am having the same problem after steam cleaning this sofa. I am very dissatisfied and shocked this occurred. I thought the sofa was headed for the dump but now I will try to remove the buttons.
I hope you’re able to remove the rusty buttons. IKEA should make an effort to resolve this issue both with previous buyers and future models of this sofa. They could simply use hard plastic, glass, or stainless metal buttons. Thank you for sharing your experience.