It's a cover-up

Designer sofa at a third of the price

We recently noticed that Habitat has introduced the Miller sofa, a sleek and contemporary grey three-seater with a removable linen cover that comes with five scatter cushions in assorted colours.

Reminiscent of Italian designer pieces, it is molto favoloso, no doubt about it. Unfortunately, so is the £1,700 price tag that comes with it. Sigh. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to bring that kind of designer wow into your home at a slightly more affordable price?

Enter Bemz. With a sofa cover from Bemz you can get this look for a fraction of the price. It's as easy as choosing a contemporary number from our favourite Swedish furniture giant, say a Klippan sofa, which will set you back about £150, if you're buying brand new.

Then order your Medium Grey Rosendal Pure Washed Linen cover from Bemz (£309), plus cushions in Burnt Orange Tegnér Melange (£25), Crimson Red Raffia (£25), and Bamboo Green Panama Cotton (£15), that'll bring you up to a total of £524 (including shipping). The same look for less than a third of the price!

Bemz cover for Klippan sofa in Charcoal Grey Woven Whimsy by Katarina Wiklund from the Bemz Designer Collection

Nice to know is that Bemz offers more than 180 colours and patterns, with our wide range of greys currently being the most popular for sofa covers, and Absolute White, Teal Blue and Bamboo Green growing in popularity. Also nice to know is that all Bemz covers are 100% machine washable. Happy shopping!

Enter the fold: Söderhamn, Mellby & Bemz Artist Series

Following up on our recent post on the chic Monochromatic trend, we thought you'd like to know that Bemz has added a number of exciting new covers to our product range to enhance your monochromatic interior. These include stylish covers for Ikea’s gorgeous Söderhamn sectional sofa, the Mellby chair and our one-of-a-kind exclusive Artist Series cushion covers.

Söderhamn modular furniture grouping in Silver Grey Panama Cotton covers from Bemz. Cushion covers in Yellow Fiskis and Orange Fiskis from the Bemz Artists Series cushion cover collection.

The Söderhamn series is based on durable and comfortable modules that can be combined in a myriad of ways. Its design and size are the perfect complements for a trendy monochrome scheme in your home, and the modern, square Mellby armchair fits right in.

Mellby chair in a Silver Grey cover from Bemz. Brown Kvarter and Silver Grey Vallsta and more from the Bemz Artist Series Cushion Covers.

Bemz has also introduced an Artist Series of digitally printed and specially designed cushion covers. Created by our in-house designer Katarina Wiklund, they’ll add the perfect splash of colour and interest to your stylish monochromatic interior.

Bemz Artist Series cushion covers in Brown Kvarter, Beige/Orange Stockholm Stripe, Silver Grey Vallsta, Rose Dellen, Jet Black/Pink Stockholm Stripe, Orange Fiskis, Pink Fiskis, Orange Kvarter, and Yellow Fiskis

Bemz Artist Series cushion covers in Pink Fiskis, Orange Kvarter and Brown Kvarter

Available in neon, bold and retro, you can’t help but fall in with the stunning motifs, striking colours and exclusive piping details of these fab covers, made in all natural materials.

Bemz artist series cushion in Chocolate Brown/Bamboo Green New Baroque

Mix and match these unique cushion covers with a Bemz sofa cover on your sofa and chairs, decorate your bed with them or make a statement with a gorgeous mound of cushions on the floor.

DIY: interactive inspiration from the new Ikea catalogue

At Bemz, we’re all about personalisation and regularly feature fab Design-It-Yourself tips we come across for inspiration. This time around we’re featuring the new Ikea catalogue, chock full of super ideas. What’s more, this year’s catalogue is literally alive, with Ikea taking inspiration one interactive step further!

Us die-hard Ikea fans can now revel in additional features through an interactive “extra content” symbol  on many pages, which brings the page to life, unlocking films, interactive experiences, photo galleries and more.

One example is page 75 of the catalogue, featuring the Tarva chest draws. Clicking on the blue "extra content" button on the top right hand of the page takes to you a photo gallery of fun ways to tag up this this rather plain Jane piece of furniture into unique statement piece.

All you need is a bit of paint and your own special brand of creativity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have fun!

Designer armchair without the designer pricetag

We recently read in Livingetc that the UK based furniture company Multiyork has introduced new easy living “linen-effect” slipcovers for their sofas and armchairs that look just like the real deal.

Currently on sale, the Multiyork Vouvray chair and "linen-effect" cover pictured below can be yours for a total of £645.

Now, wouldn’t it be wonderful to get the same look at less than half the price with real linen to boot! Enter Bemz. This sweet number: a Karlstad armchair from Ikea with a Loose Fit Urban style cover in Soft White Rosendal Pure Washed Linen from Bemz will set you back just £130 for the chair and £189 for the cover.

I can think of quite a few things to do with that extra £326. And the beauty of this solution, you don’t have to buy the chair – just cover the one you already have (but if you do buy the chair, you might want to know that you can buy it without the Ikea slipcover and save a few bills there too.) What's more, our lovely Rosendal Pure Linen comes in 13 lovely colours and patterns including some by Designers Guild from the Bemz Designer Collection.

Karlstad not the armchair model you have? No worries. There are over 20 different armchair styles and models to choose from at Bemz.

If your a regular reader of It's a cover up you'll know that we do this kind of comparison quite often. Check out two other thrifty designer furniture alternatives here and here. Or you may also be interested in playing our which of these is more expensive game! Check it out here.

Top five covers at Bemz for discontinued Ikea sofas

It’s Ikea catalogue time of the year again, bringing exciting news and re-launched classics. At Bemz, we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate the top 5 best selling covers at Bemz for beloved favourites no longer available at Ikea.

Although the catalogue may not have dropped through your mailbox yet, you can take a sneak peek at it here thanks to the online pdf version of the US catalogue.

And here's the list of the top five Bemz covers for discontinued Ikea favourites that you, the great majority of our customers buy.

Bemz cover for Nikkala sofa in Sand Beige Belgian Linen Blend. Bemz cushion covers: True Blue Panama Cotton

Nikkala sofa
The Nikkala sofa is a discontinued model from Ikea. Nikkala is also a town in Northern Sweden, where the designer's family had their summer home. Works well in contemporary interiors with a Bemz cover. Available in three styles for this model: Regular Fit, Loose Fit Country and Basiq.

Ektorp in Light Denim Blue True Rose from Bemz by Katarina Wiklund from the Bemz designer collection

Ektorp sofa
Ektorp is one of Ikea’s most popular sofa series of all time. Ektorp is also a commuter town located outside Sweden's capital city, Stockholm, home to Bemz. Yay! The Ektorp 2 seater sofa bed is the perfect companion for any Compact Living home. Add understated elegance to our room by upcycling your Ektorp in a Loose Fit Country linen cover or a stylish Designers Guild fabric from the Bemz Designer Collection.

Bemz cover for Karlanda sofa in Mineral Blue Tegnér Melange. Bemz cushion covers: Dusty Rose Panama Cotton, Straw Yellow Panama Cotton, Soft White Belgian Linen Blend, Sand Beige Raffia

Karlanda sofa
With its straight lines and modern expression, the Karlanda has become a timeless classic that suits almost any home. Choose between Regular Fit covers,  Basiq or Loose Fit Urban for an edgier look. Scandinavian simplicity – what’s not to love?

Tomelilla sofa in a Bemz Basiq Unbleached Cotton sofa cover

Tomelilla sofa
Sold between 1993 and 2005, the Tomelilla series was one of Ikea’s longest running favourites. Don't you simply adore this comfy, sink-down-into sofa with its generous deep seat and loose cushions. Up the wow factor even more with a designer cover from Bemz, available for Tomelilla sofas in Regular Fit, the shabby chic inspired Loose Fit Country and our low-cost Basiq model. And buy separate Bemz covers for the loose cushions to create a chic mix and match effect.

Bemz cover for Göteborg sofa in Eggshell Blue Prisma Stripe by Katarina Wiklund from the Bemz designer collection

Göteborg sofa 
There's a whole lot of love out there for Ikea’s discontinued Göteborg sofa – an old family favourite. Fit your whole world into this large, comfy sofa, with its deep seating and characteristic square legs. If your Göteborg sofa is looking sad, cheer it up with a designer cover from Bemz, available in Regular Fit and Basiq for this series.

So why not cover your old Ikea sofa with some love from Bemz? We have a multitude of different fabrics and patterns to choose from including iconic patterns from world-renowned textile houses and cutting-edge flair from new designers on the block. Read more about our designer fabrics on the Bemz Designer page.You can also order free fabric samples to see your favourites up close.

Bemz News: Vanvik makes the cut

Elle Decoration recently featured a line up of the best upholstered beds for a blissful night’s sleep and the Vanvik bed frame from IKEA made the cut. All you Vanvik owners out there will be happy to hear that Bemz recently added the Vanvik bed frame to our bedroom series, allowing you to further personalise your bed with a designer cover from Bemz.

The Vanvik bed frame cover is available in two sizes, 160 cm and 180 cm and with or without a bedskirt. Choose between a host of machine washable fabrics made in 100% natural fibres available in a myriad of colours and patterns to add your own personal touch to your bed.

For more inspiration read our recent blog post on how to decorate your bedroom, looking at five distinct styles and stay tuned for more on the essentials of creating your dream bedroom. Sweet dreams!

New lines at Bemz: Beddinge, Hagalund and Skruvsta

At Bemz, we're all about personalisation. With Compact Living being one of the hottest trends right now in the run up to back-to-school, we’re expanding our product range and introducing covers for three more Ikea lines. This time we’re launching covers for the Beddinge and Hagalund sofa beds, both with built-in savvy-storage for bedding, as well as for the Skruvsta Swivel Chair that doubles as an office or armchair and is adjustable in height.

Bemz cover for Skruvsta Swivel Chair in Mandarin Orange Panama Cotton. Bemz cover for Pällbo footstool in Absolute White Panama Cotton. Bemz Daybed cover in Black/White Salamander by Bantie from the Bemz Designer Collection. Bemz cushion covers in Cloud Brera Quadretto by Designers Guild, Straw Yellow Panama Cotton as well as Silver Grey Gotland Stripe and Mandarin Orange Gotland Stripe by Katarina Wiklund


Bemz cover for Skruvsta Swivel Chair in Mandarin Orange Panama Cotton and a Nils footstool cover in Woven Whimsey Cloud Grey by Katarina Wiklund.

All three pieces are perfect for optimizing small dwellings such as dorm rooms and studio apartments. They are also ideal for making the most of difficult-to-use space in your home such as large landings, hallways and basements.


Bemz cover for Hagalund 2-seater sofa bed in Dark Denim Blue Piper Twill. Bemz cushion covers in Jet Black Stockholm Stripe by Katarina Wiklund and Straw Yellow Panama Cotton.

So instead of getting rid of that Beddinge, Hagalund or Skruvsta, now’s the time to upcycle it into a fun and stylish new piece for grown up kids starting university or moving into their first apartment.

Bemz cover for Beddinge sofabed in A Paler Shade of Grey Panama Cotton.

These covers are available in 160 different colours and patterns from the Bemz standard range of fabrics as well as some designs from the Bemz Designer Collection, including the likes of British Designers Guild and Finnish Marimekko. All cover models are easy to put on and remove and are completely machine washable.

Bemz cover for Beddinge 3-seater sofa bed in Black Unikko by Marimekko. As well Pällbo footstool cover in Absolute White Panama Cotton.

With so many fabrics to choose from, deciding on what fabric to go with can be daunting. So why not order some swatches of the fabrics you like best. You can also stay tuned and check out our weekly customer feature, where you can how Bemz covers work in real homes. Happy Shopping!

Top 10 at Bemz - discontinued and discounted

At Bemz, we offer covers for over 20 models of Ikea sofas and within each of those models there are any number of styles: two seat sofas, three seat sofas, corner sofas, modular sofas, chaise longues and sofa beds. And that's just the sofas! We also sell covers for over 15 models of Ikea armchairs, a dozen or so models of footstools, dining-room chairs, day bed covers, cushion covers, bed skirts, bed frames... Phew! 

But this is not about an exhaustive list of what we sell. This is about what you, the great majority of our customers buy. What are the top 10 products sold, by model, at Bemz? To stay true to a top 10 list, we will countdown from number ten:

(drumroll please)

Number 10: The Ektorp armchair

Even though you can still get covers for this comfy number at the giant furniture retailer, it comes in as the tenth favourite product for Bemz customers. The Ektorp armchair is available in made-to-measure and shabby chic inspired Loose Fit Country styles.

Join the Prime Minister of Great Britain and get in at number 10 with your Ektorp cover.

Number 9: The Nikkala three seater sofa

The Nikkala is a discontinued model from Ikea. At Bemz, covers are available as regular, made-to-measure fit, in our exclusive Loose Fit Country style and as low cost Basiq fabric for our number nine spot, the Nikkala. Nikkala is also a town situated in Norrbotten, the most northerly region of Sweden.

Nine means long-lasting and harmonious. Perfect! One Number nine Nikkala cover, please.

Number 8: The Ektorp two seater sofa

The two seat Ektorp sofa, available from Bemz in made-to-measure and Loose Fit Country styles, ranks eighth on our top 10 list. Ektorp is a commuter town located outside Sweden's capital city, Stockholm, also home to Bemz. Yay!

Good fortune and prosperity go hand-in-hand with number eight. Better order your Ektorp two seater cover today.

Number 7: The Tomelilla three seater sofa

The Tomelilla is also a discontinued model from Ikea but its namesake is situated at the very south of Sweden in the Skåne region. Covers for the Tomelilla three seater are also available as regular, made-to-measure fit, in our exclusive Loose Fit Country style and as low cost alternative Basiq.

Seven is a lucky number for relationships - better get your lucky Tomelilla cover.

Number 6: The Klippan two seater sofa

 

This is one of the most iconic and longest standing sofas Ikea has ever offered. It was launched back in 1979 and is still going strong. For some, that's reason enough to get a unique and personalised cover, in made-to-measure or Loose Fit Urban style, from Bemz. Did you know that Klippan means cliff in Swedish?

Six is happiness! And good for business. If only you could order those as easily as your Klippan cover.

Number 5: Ekeskog three seater sofa

The Ekeskog is another discontinued line from Ikea with covers available as made-to-measure, Loose Fit Country style and in Basiq from Bemz. The town of Ekeskog is located between Sweden's two largest lakes: Lake Vänern and Lake Vättern.

Five is for the five elements. Oddly fabric is not one of them so complete the circle with an Ekeskog cover!

Number 4: The Ektorp three seater sofa

This is still a popular sofa at Ikea - one of many you can buy without any slipcover and save yourself a few clams to be put toward your stunning individual cover from Bemz, whether made-to-measure or Loose Fit Country style.

The number four represents solidity, calmness, and home, much like the Ektorp three seater sofa.

Number 3: Goteborg three seater sofa

Goteborg is Swedish for Gothenburg, the second largest city and home to Volvo. It is also a discontinued sofa model at Ikea with covers available in made-to-measure and Basiq.

Coincidentally, number three is associated with birth and your Goteborg will be a brand new baby with its new cover.

Number 2: Karlanda three seater sofa

The Karlanda is discontinued at Ikea but that doesn't mean you have to get rid of it. And many of you don't! This second most popular model's covers come in made-to-measure, the new Loose Fit Urban style and in Basiq. 

Lucky number two can be yours - get your Karlanda cover.

(one more time...drumroll please)

Number 1: The Ektorp two seat sofa bed

This item from the Ektorp collection, now discontinued at Ikea, is the most popular item among Bemz customers. With over 180 fabrics to choose from, you can rest assured that your much loved Ektorp sofa bed need not be kicked to the curb and better yet, look like no other Ektorp sofa bed in the world.

Are you number one? Yay! Get your Ektorp cover - and join our other number ones.

As a special celebration of spring and the renewal it brings, we are going to knock 10% off* your favourite model from our Top 10 list so you can make a renewal of your own. These discounts will be for one day only though. To take advantage of this promotion, all you need to do is 'like' our Facebook page so that you can stay tuned for the daily updates. The offers are going to crop up like spring flowers!

*promotion will run from April 18 through to April 28, 2012. Each promotion will be valid for one day only. Each of the top 10 products listed above will be discounted individually. To participate, 'like' our Facebook page, stay tuned and get ready to order your favourite from our top 10!

Which is more expensive: can you tell the difference?

Just as it says in the title - here are some photos of sofas grouped into pairs that look quite similar. Which of the two do you think is the more expensive version? Don't forget to check out the price differences after the photos! 

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Pair 1: £1412 vs £269 (excl. sofa). On the left, Arco in chartreuse polyester from BoConcept; right, the now discontinued Kramfors sofa from Ikea with a Bamboo Green cover in Tégner Melange textured cotton from Bemz.

Pair 2: £674 vs £6,624. On the left, the Kivik sofa (£375) with a Light Olive Green cover in Belgian Linen Blend (£299) from Bemz; right, Neo Wall in Tosca 45 cotton linen mix at Geoffrey Drayton.

Pair 3: £3785 vs £149 (excl. sofa). On the left, Petal in velvet from Rume; right, the discontinued Stromstad sofa from Ikea with a Bemz cover in Real Red. 

Pair 4: £379 (excl. sofa) vs £4999. On the left, the discontinued Stromstad sofa from Ikea in Unbleached Linen from Bemz; right, the Crescent Corner sofa in linen from John Lewis.

Pair 5: £1624 vs £439 (excl. sofa). On the left, Slim Suzie from Sofa Workshop in wool mix; right, the discontinued Tylosand from Ikea in Zinc Grey Tegner Melange textured cotton from Bemz.

These sofas are a selection from interior design go-to guide House to Home's very own 'Pick of the best modern sofas' which I then paired with an Ikea / Bemz version to match. It is true that many of the Ikea models are now discontinued but that's the point - you don't need to get a new sofa. Recovering your existing one is enough to get the look of the best modern sofas around!

And if you still need convincing, check out this delicious Lotus in Designers Guild fabrics from Heal's which will set you back a cracking £4755. 

Could you not achieve that very same looking using the sum of these parts (covers come to £529)? 

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Tylosand in Aubergine Raffia, Fuchsia and Pirput Parput Red/Pink from Bemz

If I were to reiterate my question posed in the title of this post: 'Which is more expensive: can you tell the difference?', I think I might change it to say 'Which is more expensive: would you pay the difference?'.

Design-It-Yourself: Ikea Rast dresser Part III (!)

I never realised just how popular the IKEA Rast dresser is for DIYing but then again, it makes sense doesn't it? It is an unfinished, budget option pine dresser that is pretty nondescript. It's really just screaming out Make me your own!. And many have, even IKEA themselves!

Here are a last few transformations I came across recently that offer a few more ideas and inspiration.

Although this one was not touted as an IKEA hack, I suspect it is. Even if it is not, I think our previous Design-It-Yourself: Chest of drawers post will provide you with the necessary details to recreate something along these lines. In fact, I suspect those flowers are stickers so all you are really looking at is a couple of coats of white paint, new flashy handles and the stickers of your choice! Lovely result though no?

Photos c/o O'verlays

These other options are all decorated using fretwork panels. A simple enough solution with a wide variety of possibilities!

And if you want to take the easy route, check out O'verlays - a company that sells fretwork panels in a number of patterns and styles, cut to fit a list of popular IKEA pieces including the Rast dresser.

Wow! A whole business concept built around personalising IKEA products? How ingenious ;)