Some living rooms seem to have been designed around a sofa; the rest of us are still negotiating with a doorway. A Kivik sofa slipcover can refresh the look, while moving the chaise to the other side can change how the whole room works. Happily, with Kivik, that choice is yours to make.
Choosing an IKEA Kivik cover need not involve a debate about a permanently left- or right-handed sofa. The chaise is a separate module that attaches to either side of the sofa section. You can decide where it belongs now and rearrange it later, whether you are moving house or finally admitting that the route to the balcony is a little ridiculous.
One sofa, two ways to stretch out
The construction is easy to picture once you think in separate pieces. There is the main sofa, which can be a two- or three-seat section, and there is the chaise with its own frame. Connecting hooks join the chaise to the chosen side of the sofa; the armrests finish the two outer ends of the completed arrangement. Those broad, low arms are separate parts too.
To change sides, you rearrange the modules and their connections, following the assembly instructions, and reposition the outer armrests. You are moving the chaise unit, rather than turning a long cushion around. IKEA confirms that the chaise can sit on either side and be switched later. It is a useful bit of flexibility hiding inside a very relaxed-looking piece of furniture.
The same logic applies to the covers: each part is dressed separately, including the armrests. Moving the chaise from one side to the other does not create a different sofa model or require a different-handed cover. Covereo's sofa-with-chaise covers accommodate both positions. What matters when choosing the set is the sofa configuration and the modules it contains.
Let the room choose the side
Start at the living-room door and look at the route you take most often. Perhaps it leads to the kitchen, the dining table or a pair of French doors. A chaise projecting into that route can make a generous room feel awkward. Put it at the quieter end of the sofa and the same furniture may suddenly seem much better behaved.
Imagine carrying a tray through the room while someone has their feet up. If your route involves a sideways shuffle between the chaise and the coffee table, the layout deserves another look. Sketch both arrangements or mark the proposed footprint on the floor with removable tape before moving anything heavy. Include the armrests and the chaise's full depth.
For a room used mainly for films, think about the view from the chaise itself: can you lean back and see the screen comfortably? In a room devoted to reading, you might prefer the end near a window, with a lamp for evenings. The attractive arrangement is the one that makes your ordinary Tuesday feel easy.
Give the long end a purpose
In an open-plan room, the chaise can help outline a sitting area beside a dining space. Let it define the edge while leaving a comfortable way around it. In a narrow room, placing the extended section towards a quieter corner may keep the centre feeling more open. Neither arrangement needs the sofa to be pressed against every available wall.
Then look at what sits beside it. A little round table near the chaise can be more useful than a large coffee table that everyone has to reach across. A floor lamp makes that end feel like a destination. Keep the light within easy reach, but leave enough room to sit down without performing a small ballet around its base.
A Kivik couch cover helps these separate elements read as one considered scheme. Repeat a tone from the upholstery in a picture or cushion, then introduce a different texture through the rug or throw. A few connections are enough; your living room can have a family resemblance without everyone wearing the same outfit.
Want to explore more about Kivik cover series? Check our Full Kivik Guide
A new layout deserves a fresh look
Moving the chaise often reveals how much the upholstery contributes to the room. A sofa that once sat quietly against a wall may become the first thing you see from the hallway. Its broad arms and long seat now occupy a different part of the view, so colour deserves another look alongside the furniture plan.
An IKEA Kivik sofa cover in a lighter shade can create a gentle contrast with dark flooring, while a deeper colour can give a pale room a clear focal point. These are styling choices rather than fixed rules. Look at the curtains, floor and pieces you already love before deciding whether the sofa should blend in or take the lead.
At Covereo, working with Kivik means paying attention to the individual frame sections, separate armrests and cushion shapes that give it its familiar outline. We specialise in fitted slipcovers for IKEA sofas, armchairs and sectionals, with more than 100 patterns and colours across our range. That understanding of the furniture matters just as much as an appealing swatch.
Choosing a Kivik Cover for real life
Picture the afternoon after your beautifully arranged room is finished. The cushions are straight, the lamp is in place, and the dog comes in from the garden to test the chaise with four muddy paws. You reach for a throw, drape it over the evidence and realise you have invented exactly the same sofa styling you were trying to retire.
That familiar scene is a good argument for choosing a cover with everyday life in mind. A well-fitted set lets the Kivik's shape remain visible, while removable pieces make fabric care part of the plan. Covereo's covers are machine washable on a delicate 30°C programme; follow the care guidance supplied with your chosen fabric. Select any protective properties by the named material, rather than assuming that every textile performs alike.
Order fabric samples and spend a little time with them in the new sofa position. Put them beside the rug in daylight, then look again under the lamps you use in the evening. Touch the surface as well as studying the colour. A shade that looks lovely on a screen still has to feel right when you settle in with a book.
Keep the pieces, change the picture
That late-night “Kivik cover sofa” search becomes easier once you can picture the room you want. Choose the cover set for your actual sofa and chaise combination; left versus right is a layout decision. A straight sofa, a sofa with a chaise and a larger arrangement with a corner section contain different pieces, even when they share the Kivik name.
When you swap sides, take the styling along with you. Shift the reading lamp, bring the little table within reach and see whether the rug still connects the seating area. Keep a favourite cushion or an old piece of art in the mix. Familiar things give the refreshed arrangement some warmth and stop it feeling like a showroom you are afraid to sit in.
A Kivik slipcover gives you room to change the colour story while the modular construction lets you rethink the furniture plan. The chaise can follow the quieter corner, the better view or a new home's floor plan. Choose the side that suits the way you live, pick a fabric you enjoy touching, and leave a comfortable place for your feet.
Explore our Kivik cover collection.