IKEA Just Launched This New Idea That Makes It Easier To Work From Your Sofa — But Is It Good For You?

TL;DR

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IKEA’s KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS armrest tray is designed to hang over a sofa arm, providing a surface for a laptop, tablet, book or phone and a basket for small items. The product may make occasional sofa work more practical, but the source report’s expert cautions that it does not address the sofa’s limits as an all-day workstation.

IKEA’s KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS armrest tray is designed to make occasional work from the sofa more organized, with a surface for a laptop or other device and an attached basket for small items. A Livingetc report presents the product as a practical accessory, while citing seating expert Monika Puccio’s advice that a sofa should remain an occasional alternative, not a full-day substitute for a suitable desk and chair.

The tray hangs over a sofa arm and provides a place to rest a laptop, tablet, book or phone. Its attached storage basket is intended for smaller belongings such as cords. Livingetc describes the item in a dark red metal and grey version and says it is also available in a cream colorway. The supplied report does not give a price, release date or details on which markets carry it.

The product addresses a familiar practical problem: working with a laptop balanced on the knees can encourage a person to lean forward, while a deep or low sofa may make it harder to sit in a supported position. A tray can move the device off the lap, but the report does not provide testing showing that the accessory improves posture or prevents discomfort.

Puccio, identified by Livingetc as Sofa Club’s director of buying and a sofa expert, recommends using the sofa for lighter tasks such as email, calls or reading, rather than spending a full workday there. She advises keeping the back supported, resting the feet comfortably and taking breaks to stand and move. The report also mentions sofa tables, including IKEA’s UGGLERUM C side table, as other ways to create a more usable surface.

A Tray Helps With Setup, Not Support

The accessory speaks to how people use their homes for work: a sofa may be convenient for a short call or a change of scenery, but it is typically designed for relaxing rather than sustained computer use. A dedicated surface can reduce the need to balance a laptop on the knees and may help keep small items together. It cannot, by itself, make a low or deeply cushioned seat suitable for long periods of focused work.

That distinction matters for shoppers weighing a relatively small home-office accessory against a workstation. The tray is presented as a convenience, not as a medical or ergonomic solution. The expert guidance in the report points instead to support, screen position and movement as factors to pay attention to, especially when working for longer stretches.

The result is a qualified benefit: IKEA’s idea may make a sofa session more orderly, but the reporting does not establish that it makes sofa work healthy or more productive. Buyers should view it as a surface and storage aid, not a replacement for an adjustable chair and desk suited to extended work.

Hybrid Work Meets Living-Room Furniture

The Livingetc report frames the product against the growth of hybrid and home-based work, where people may shift between rooms and tasks during the day. It cites Sofa Club research shared by the company: 59 percent of 2,000 respondents said they worked from their sofa. The report does not specify when the research was conducted or provide its methodology, so the figure is a survey result rather than a definitive measure of sofa-working habits across all workers.

Puccio says working from home has given people more flexibility in how they use living spaces, with sofas becoming part of that routine. The report’s advice is not to avoid the sofa altogether, but to match the location to the task and avoid staying in one position for too long. For longer periods of focused work, it points readers back to a dedicated workstation with a suitable-height desk and supportive, adjustable chair.

““I’d always recommend treating the sofa as an occasional alternative to a proper workstation rather than somewhere to spend an entire working day.””

— Monika Puccio, Sofa Club director of buying and sofa expert, quoted by Livingetc

Product Details and Ergonomic Evidence

The supplied report does not state when IKEA launched the tray, its price, its dimensions or where it is currently available. It also does not describe product testing or provide evidence that the tray changes posture, reduces strain or improves productivity. The practical effect will depend on the sofa’s height and depth, the user’s posture and how long the person works there.

The Sofa Club survey figure is attributed to research the company shared on Instagram, but the report gives no date, sampling method or details about how respondents were recruited. It should not be treated as representative of all people who work from home. The report also does not provide a medical assessment of sofa working; Puccio’s comments are expert advice quoted in a home-design article.

Check Fit Before Relying on It

Readers interested in the KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS tray will need to check IKEA’s current local product listing for availability, price and specifications, since those details are absent from the supplied report. Before using it for work, they can check that it sits securely on the sofa arm and places the device at a workable height without requiring a sustained forward lean.

For longer work sessions, the guidance in the report points toward using a dedicated desk and supportive chair, and taking regular movement breaks. Whether IKEA adds further product information or research about the tray’s use is not stated. Until then, the confirmed point is limited: the accessory creates a sofa-arm surface and storage option, while its effect on ergonomics remains unverified.

Key Questions

What is IKEA’s KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS armrest tray?

It is a tray designed to hang over a sofa arm, with a surface for a laptop, tablet, book or phone and an attached basket for small items. Livingetc describes dark red metal and grey, as well as cream, color options.

Does the tray make sofa work ergonomic?

The supplied report does not provide testing to show that it improves ergonomics or prevents discomfort. It may move a device off the user’s lap, but posture and support still depend on the sofa and how the person sits.

Is working from the sofa suitable for a full day?

Puccio advises treating the sofa as an occasional alternative to a proper workstation, rather than spending an entire workday there. The report recommends a suitable desk and supportive chair for longer periods of focused work.

What habits does the expert recommend for sofa work?

Puccio advises supporting the back, keeping the feet comfortable and taking regular breaks to stand and move. She also cautions against remaining in one position for extended periods.

How much does the IKEA tray cost, and where is it available?

The supplied report does not include a price, launch date or market-by-market availability. Check IKEA’s current local listing for up-to-date purchasing details.

Source: rss