KLIPPAN

A rock-solid classic.

The softly shaped sofa KLIPPAN is an eternal classic. First presented in the 1980 IKEA catalogue, it has since made an annual comeback in hundreds of different covers. But why is it so popular? One reason is that KLIPPAN was born out of necessity.

The young Product Developer Lars Engman had two children at home, and two expensive, high-end Italian sofas – a devastating combination that ended up with him still having two children, but only one expensive, high-end Italian sofa. The other one had to go to the junkyard. So he started thinking about a sofa that could take the rough everyday abuse of a family with bouncy children, one that had soft corners and covers that could be taken off and washed.

Greying man with glasses, blue jeans, black jacket and long-sleeved t-shirt sits in black and white patterned KLIPPAN sofa.
Former Head of Design and Product Developer Lars Engman developed the KLIPPAN sofa together with designer Noboru Nakamura. It has become a long-lived classic.

The job went to Japanese designer Noboru Nakamura, who had been with IKEA in Älmhult for a couple of years. His starting point was the existing sofa LAPPMON, but he pared down on everything unnecessary to produce a sofa with a distinct, timeless design. And in doing this, he also pared down the price.

Man with black hair, striped shirt and sweater, working at drawing board.
The Japanese designer Noboru Nakamura came to Sweden in 1970 to study furniture design. A few years later, he was employed by IKEA. Together with design director Lars Engman, he created the ever-popular KLIPPAN sofa, which was launched in 1980. He also designed one of the company’s most successful products ever, the armchair POEM (later renamed POÄNG), with its characteristic bent-wood armrests.

To make a removable cover, Nakamura had to adjust the size of the sofa to the width of fabric reels at the time, which were 150 centimetres. That way the cover could not only be taken off, but would also fit inside a household washing machine. IKEA also offered sewing patterns in case customers wanted to make their own covers from their own choice of fabric. KLIPPAN was launched in 1980. It was not a great seller to begin with, but it grew in popularity over the years and has been in the IKEA range ever since. The birth of a true classic.

2011, KLIPPAN/RANTEN, EUR 199.
2009, KLIPPAN/SKATELÖV, EUR 199.
2014, KLIPPAN/RANDVIKEN, EUR 199.
2019, KLIPPAN/VISSLE, EUR 169.
2019, KLIPPAN/MATTSBO, EUR 199.
2006, KLIPPAN/KOTTLA, EUR 219.
2012, KLIPPAN/DOTTEVIK, EUR 199.
2010, KLIPPAN/TRANÅS, EUR 249.
2018, KLIPPAN/VITTARYD, EUR 169.
2016, KLIPPAN/GLOTTRA, EUR 199.
1995, KLIPPAN/SINNA, EUR 299.
2017, KLIPPAN/AVSIKTLIG, EUR 199.
1983, KLIPPAN/DIDO, EUR 129.
2010, KLIPPAN/KORNDAL, EUR 249.
1980, KLIPPAN/BLOCKRAND/BLOCK, EUR 89.
1997, KLIPPAN/JULÅSA, EUR 289.
1989, KLIPPAN/buffalo leather, EUR 465.
2007, KLIPPAN/FRÄSIG, EUR 499.
2009, KLIPPAN/SKINNARP, EUR 249.
2008, KLIPPAN/KARRUM, EUR 199.
2017, KLIPPAN/ALVARED, EUR 199.
2007, KLIPPAN/VIMLE, EUR 189.
2012, KLIPPAN/MOLLARYD, EUR 199.
2011, KLIPPAN/NAVESTA, EUR 199.
1987, KLIPPAN/KULLAVIK, EUR 189.
1984, KLIPPAN/HALLSTA, EUR 199.
1982, KLIPPAN/LINAN, EUR 119.
2013, KLIPPAN/STORLIEN, EUR 199.
2003, KLIPPAN/INNEBY, EUR 259.
2001, KLIPPAN/FJÄRÅS, EUR 259.
2008, KLIPPAN/KORNDAL, EUR 249.
2011, KLIPPAN/KORNDAL, EUR 259.
2008, KLIPPAN/ANKARSVIK, EUR 189.
2009, KLIPPAN/GENARP, EUR 219.
2016, KLIPPAN/KIMSTA, EUR 299.
1994, KLIPPAN/ÅLEM, EUR 269.
1983, KLIPPAN/STUV, EUR 129.
2009, KLIPPAN/LAPPMON, EUR 199.
2010, KLIPPAN/KORNDAL, EUR 249.
 

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