RELAX INTO YOU2

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RELAX INTO YOU2

A Warm, Easygoing EKTORP Refresh in Portland

In Claire Bennett’s Portland living room, nearly everything has a history. The birch table has followed her through three apartments, the red rug came from an estate sale, and her cat, Milo, has claimed the desk as his afternoon sleeping spot.

Claire is a residential photographer, but her own home is arranged for living—not for the camera. “I like when you can tell that someone actually reads the books and sits on the sofa,” she says.

Meet Claire

Claire, 36, photographs homes and small creative businesses. Her apartment reflects what she notices on the job: good light, natural texture, and the personal objects that make a room feel inhabited.

The living room is where she drinks coffee, edits photos, sews, and catches up with friends. Pale wood and plants keep it light, while burgundy checks and the faded rug add warmth. Most pieces arrived slowly because they were useful or loved—not because they completed a look.

Why She Refreshed the Sofa

Claire’s IKEA EKTORP loveseat had been in her home for years. Its compact size fit the apartment, and the cushions had softened in all the right places. The original white cover, however, showed the evidence of coffee mornings, cat naps, and countless evenings under a knit throw.

“The sofa itself was completely fine,” she says. “It was still the seat everyone chose. I didn’t want to get rid of something comfortable just because the surface looked tired.”

Claire tries to buy less and keep furniture longer. A replacement cover felt like the right-sized change: enough to refresh the room without discarding what already worked.

Choosing a Beige EKTORP Loveseat Cover

Claire kept returning to beige—a warm neutral that sat easily beside the pale wood, green leaves, red textiles, and pink flowers already in the room.

“I wanted something calm enough to live with every day,” she says. “The rug and pillows already have personality. Beige lets those pieces speak without making the sofa disappear.”

A Small Change That Rebalanced the Room

The old white cover felt stark against the red rug. Beige softened that contrast and connected the loveseat to the wood, baskets, linen, and ceramics around it. The burgundy pillows looked richer; the plants looked greener. Nothing else had to move.

“It wasn’t a dramatic reveal,” she says. “It was more like the room exhaled. The sofa belonged again.”

The frame and cushions stayed. Rather than starting over, Claire gave a familiar piece another chapter.

Keep the Sofa You Love

A sofa holds conversations, quiet Sundays, and the corner where the cat always sleeps. When the comfort is still there, renewal can mean more than replacement.

Claire’s living room did not need a new identity. Her EKTORP loveseat simply needed to feel at home again. Softcover Pro helps familiar furniture stay part of the story—even when the room is ready for a change.

Shop IKEA Collection

At Home With Claire: A Short Conversation

Learn More

Why did you choose a sofa cover instead of replacing the loveseat?

“I still loved the shape and comfort, and it fits this room unusually well. Replacing it would have solved a problem I didn’t really have.”

How does the fabric feel in everyday life?

“It has texture but still feels comfortable. The natural folds make it look like fabric in a home, not upholstery in a showroom.”

What made you settle on beige?

“Beige gives the wood, plants, and warm reds some breathing room. It also changes with the light—muted when it rains and warmer in the sun.”