I Look at Houses All Day, and I’ve Seen This IKEA Sofa in So Many Small Spaces (I’m Not Mad About It!)

As a House Tours editor, you can basically find me at any time looking through photos of gorgeous homes. I love seeing people’s creativity and thoughtfulness in their spaces. Of course every now and then I’ll see the same product in different homes, but there’s one IKEA find that’s been popping up over and over again in small homes; It’s IKEA’s JÄTTEBO sofa, and if you have a small home it should definitely be on your radar. 

What makes IKEA’s JÄTTEBO sofa special is that it comes in a variety of configurations, which allows it to fit in almost any room. However, it works best in smaller spaces, thanks to the cleverly hidden storage underneath the seat cushions. The couch comes in three colors: gray, dark green, and beige. The covers are washable. Another bonus? Because it’s modular, you can add more pieces if you move into a bigger space or when your needs change. 

If your local IKEA doesn’t have the JÄTTEBO in stock, don’t fret: There are other options available that are super similar. For example, consider Wayfair’s Clarington storage sofa. While it’s a different material than IKEA’s (corduroy vs. polyester), it has ample storage space underneath the cushions. And unlike the IKEA option, the cushions have pockets on the back for extra storage. 

West Elm also offers storage sofas, like this gorgeous Marin Storage Sofa. Just like the other two sofas, the seats lift to reveal ample space to hold seasonal blankets or other items. (If you live in a New York City apartment like me, it might become a second closet.) What makes this sofa special is that it doesn’t necessarily look like it has storage; the pull tag is expertly hidden away, and the seating looks so plush. 

If your heart’s still set on IKEA’s JÄTTEBO sofa (I understand why!), then you should see how real people display the couch in their homes. 

Remember how I mentioned that the formation could be customized? Well, that’s displayed perfectly in Savanna Fernandez’s home (pictured at the start of this section), which she shares with five other people (a husband and four children). The mid-century modern apartment has a reasonable amount of square feet, but there’s always a need for more storage when you have kids. The family uses the extra space for storing toys and blankets. 

To see more of this moody home, visit the full House Tour. 

Work often influences how people decorate their homes. For Clariza Abad, it meant avoiding a sterile, white color palette, like the one she sees in the hospital all day. She chose the IKEA JÄTTEBO sofa not just because of its storage, but also because the green adds a pop of color. As a renter of this Japandi-style apartment, she’s focused on getting her security deposit back, and so this couch adds vibrancy without requiring painting. 

Visit the full House Tour to see more of this wonderful apartment. 

If you’re looking for a more neutral version of the IKEA JÄTTEBO sofa, look no further than Geoff and Neah Hutchinson’s organic modern Seattle apartment. When the couple moved in, initially they thought it’d be best to have smaller furniture to make the space look less cramped. They ended up purchasing the beige IKEA couch that anchors the space and blends in seamlessly to avoid crowding the room. 

See more of this gorgeous apartment in the full House Tour.  

One of the most impressive uses of the IKEA JÄTTEBO sofa was how Cleveland Braswell, III, made it work in his 378-square-foot rental apartment. Figuring out storage options was design challenge number one in his new apartment, but a wise couch choice made all the difference. “My sofa actually has hidden storage under the cushions — perfect for sweaters and extra blankets,” he said at the time of the tour. 

Check out the rest of this cleverly designed apartment in the full House Tour. 

The IKEA JÄTTEBO sofa is clearly a fan favorite, regardless of the home’s size. Its best feature, IMO, though, is the secret storage compartments. If you need to store a few items but don’t want to purchase an additional piece of furniture, such as a dresser or armoire, you should consider this product.