Nowadays, the closest my hubby and I get to dinner and a show is kicking back on the sofa with takeout. Turns out, we’re not alone.
A recent IKEA study just affirmed our tendency for couch dining, finding that 1 in 5 people enjoy dinner on the sofa.
We still eat dinner as a family, around an actual dining table, at least once a week. And I’ll sometimes opt to stay in the kitchen, but in the spirit of full transparency, dinner happens on the couch more often than not.
Why Do We Prefer Sofa Sitting for Supper?
A big shift in schedules and how life works is a primary driver of why more of us are eating on the couch. According to Lorena Lourido Gomez, Global Food Manager at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), “Busy schedules, compact living, and competing priorities make it harder for people to come together, not just at the same time, but in the same place.”
For me, there’s something comfortable about eating on the sofa. Maybe it’s because I associate the sofa with downtime.
It gives me the sense that I’m finally allowed to take a break after a busy day, so I gravitate toward it, even if it means bringing my plate with me.
If you’re a fellow couch diner, instead of fighting it, why not embrace it? However, it’s time to elevate the sofa dining experience a bit. No more balancing a plate on your lap while you juggle a glass of tea and your fork.
IKEA Products That Make Eating on The Couch Easy Peasy
These IKEA products make enjoying a meal from the comfort of your couch much easier to manage. Smart surfaces keep plates in place and give you more room to keep your mealtime essentials close at hand without spills.
ÖSTAVALL Adjustable Coffee Table
A lift-top coffee table is a multi-tasker for the living room. By day, it holds magazines and the remote, but by night, it transforms into a dinner table within seconds. I have one, and I must say, it comes in quite handy. I also use it as a makeshift desk when I feel like working from the couch every now and then.
IKEA’s version features built-in cable management, ample storage, and mechanisms that lock in place when lifted. The table is $179.99, and you can choose between white and black to match your existing design.
BOLLSIDAN Laptop Stand
In the design world, creative thinkers understand that just because something is a laptop table, it doesn’t mean it’s only for laptops. The great thing about the BOLLSIDAN stand ($99.99) is that it pulls up close to the couch and is easy to move, making it well-suited as a mini dining table.
The space-saving desk is also height-adjustable, so you can sit or stand, depending on how you’re using it. After eating, slide it to the side of the sofa to act as an end table.
LÅNESPELARE Cup Holder
Use this attachable cup holder along with the laptop stand to round out your dining experience. It gives you a place to secure your cup, keeping the laptop stand’s smaller surface area more open for your plate and utensils. The attachment costs $16.99 and easily clamps onto your desk.
RESGODS Bamboo Tray
If space is at a premium and you need a more portable, temporary way to enjoy dinner on the sofa, a classic bed tray is just right. This bamboo tray ($34.99) rests over your lap or sits atop your coffee table to make eating on the sofa more enjoyable.
Hacks That Make It Easier to Dine in the Den
These hackers put their own spin on a few IKEA items to create unique ways to eat or drink on the sofa.
A Lift-Top KALLAX Coffee Table
Eli and Santi @my magical refuge made their own lift-top coffee table out of an IKEA KALLAX. The hack provides tons of storage, generous surface space, and transforms an IKEA staple into a multi-functional piece of furniture.
C-Shaped Side Table
Jerry R. originally created this open side table on wheels for their bedside. But the design also works great to roll up to the couch for a quick snack or dinner and a movie. It combines a LACK table and KOMPLEMENT shelves into one versatile piece of furniture.
Sofa Arm Table
This easy drink rest from Cozy DIY Home @cozydiyhome is simple and quick, giving you a place for your plate in a pinch. If you have squared-off sofa arms, the STOLTHET cutting board could be all you need to make dining on your sofa hassle-free.
Couch Cushion Tray
This idea from @renobythewoods is brilliant, and I think I’m going to do it. I mean, this hack lets you eat or drink on the couch without even having to bend forward to grab your cup off the table.
The concept is so simple: slot a SMÖRLING tray modified with a vertical piece between the sofa cushions. (Just make sure the kids or pets aren’t about to jump on the couch.)
Fold-Up Sofa Tray
On my most recent visit to IKEA, I specifically pondered the RÖDEBY armrest and wondered if I should get it for my couch. I pictured it as an extra place to hold a cup of tea, but worried it wouldn’t be stable enough or give me enough room.
I didn’t buy it, but then I came home and saw this folding sofa tray hack from The Crafty Corners @the.crafty.corners. Let’s just say, I wish I had put the item in my FRAKTA. Maybe next time!
Time for Dinner!
Where do you sit when it’s dinner time? If it’s on the couch, use one of these ideas to make the experience feel more like a relaxing meal than a juggling act.
Whether you choose to commit to a large piece of furniture or a fold-up tray, you get a place to enjoy dinner, lunch, or a quick snack in comfort and style.
What’s your go-to when it comes to eating on the couch? Do you have a favorite routine or a hack of your own that makes it easier? Share it with us! Bon appétit!