IKEA Just Launched This New Idea That Makes It Easier To Work From Your Sofa — But Is It Good For You?
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IKEA’s KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS armrest tray pairs a surface for a laptop or other items with an attached storage basket, giving people a more organized way to work from a sofa. Sofa Club expert Monika Puccio says sofa work can suit lighter tasks, but the sofa should remain an occasional alternative to a supported desk-and-chair setup.

IKEA’s KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS armrest tray offers a small work surface and an attached storage basket for people using a sofa for light tasks, according to a Livingetc report. The accessory may make it easier to place a laptop or phone without balancing it on a lap, but Sofa Club buying director and sofa expert Monika Puccio advises treating sofa work as occasional rather than a replacement for a suitable workstation.

The tray is designed to hang over a sofa armrest and provide a place for a laptop, tablet, book or phone. Livingetc describes the model as having an attached basket for small items such as cords, and reports that it is offered in dark red metal with grey, as well as a cream colorway. The report does not provide a price, dimensions or a launch date.

The product addresses a familiar problem with working from a couch: a computer resting on a person’s knees can encourage leaning forward, while soft, deep cushions may make it harder to sit in a supported position. An armrest tray can move the device off the lap, but the report does not establish that the accessory corrects posture or makes extended sofa work safe.

Puccio said the sofa can be useful for lower-intensity activities, including reading documents, taking calls or catching up on emails. For longer periods of focused work, she recommends a dedicated setup with an adjustable chair and a desk at a suitable height. She also advises changing position, supporting the back, keeping the feet comfortable and taking breaks to stand and move.

At a glance
reportWhen: Reported by Livingetc; the source does…
The developmentLivingetc reported on IKEA’s KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS armrest tray, a sofa accessory with a work surface and storage basket, while examining the health trade-offs of working from a sofa.

A Tray Does Not Replace a Workstation

The accessory speaks to a practical tension in home working: people may want to move around their homes, but a sofa designed for relaxation does not necessarily support laptop work well. A surface for a device and a place to keep small items could make a short sofa session less awkward, particularly for tasks that do not require hours of typing or sustained concentration.

That convenience should not be confused with an ergonomic solution. Puccio’s guidance, as quoted by Livingetc, centers on duration, posture and movement, rather than on the product itself. The tray may address where a laptop sits, but the source provides no ergonomic assessment showing how it affects neck position, back support or comfort over a full workday.

For readers, the distinction is useful: a sofa can be one place to work during the day without becoming the sole workstation. The product’s appeal is likely to depend on how it fits a particular sofa and how a person uses it; the report does not include testing or evidence of health outcomes.

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Hybrid Work Meets Living-Room Furniture

Livingetc frames the product against the spread of hybrid working, in which employees divide time between home and an office. Its report cites Sofa Club research based on an Instagram survey of 2,000 respondents: 59 percent said they worked from their sofa. The finding indicates that the practice was common among those surveyed, but the report does not describe the sample as representative of all workers, and the statistic should not be read as a population-wide estimate.

The accessory is part of a broader category of ways to adapt living-room furniture for occasional work, including side tables, armrest trays and ottomans. Livingetc mentions IKEA’s UGGLERUM C side table as another product option, but the report’s central focus is the KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS tray and the question of whether a more convenient sofa setup is appropriate for regular work.

Puccio’s advice is not that people should avoid the sofa altogether. She describes it as a reasonable place for a change of scene or lighter work, while distinguishing that from spending an entire working day in a position that may not provide enough support. Her comments are expert guidance reported by Livingetc, not findings from a clinical study of this IKEA product.

““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 buying director and sofa expert, as quoted by Livingetc

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Price, Availability and Ergonomics

The source report does not state when the tray launched, where it is currently available, or how much it costs. It also gives no measurements or compatibility information, so it is unclear whether the tray fits all sofa armrests or how securely it sits on different shapes and materials.

There is no product testing in the report showing whether the tray improves posture or reduces discomfort. A raised surface could keep a laptop off the knees, but the screen’s position would still vary with the sofa, the user and the device. The article also does not provide medical advice or evidence about the effects of sofa work over time.

The reported 59 percent figure comes from a Sofa Club Instagram survey of 2,000 people. The source does not give details about how participants were recruited or when the survey was conducted, so its findings describe that survey’s respondents rather than establishing how many people generally work from sofas.

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Check Fit Before Using It

Anyone considering the KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS tray will need to check current IKEA listings for local price, stock and product specifications; those details are absent from the Livingetc report. Before buying, shoppers can compare the tray’s dimensions with their sofa armrest and consider whether the surface will put the screen at a comfortable viewing height.

For day-to-day use, Puccio’s recommendations point to keeping sofa sessions limited to appropriate tasks, supporting the back, letting the feet rest comfortably and taking regular breaks to stand and move. People who spend longer stretches working at home may prefer a dedicated desk and chair suited to their needs. The report gives no announced follow-up, testing results or additional IKEA plans, so any broader claims about the product’s benefits remain unconfirmed.

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Key Questions

What is IKEA’s KRAMPHULT/SKÅDIS armrest tray?

It is a sofa armrest tray with a surface for items such as a laptop, tablet, book or phone and an attached basket for small belongings, according to Livingetc.

Does the tray make working from a sofa good for your posture?

The report does not include ergonomic testing or evidence that the product improves posture. Puccio says to pay attention to how you sit, support your back and avoid staying in one position too long.

Is it okay to work from a sofa?

Puccio says a sofa can work for occasional, lighter tasks such as taking a call or reading documents. She recommends a dedicated workstation for longer periods of focused work.

How much does the IKEA tray cost, and when did it launch?

The Livingetc report does not provide a price, launch date or current availability. Readers will need to check IKEA’s local product listings for those details.

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