While both IKEA's Gunnared Beige and Tresund's Light Beige offer a versatile neutral fabric for sofas and chairs, they represent two different classes of furniture. IKEA's Gunnared Beige is a budget-friendly polyester fabric found on casual, Scandinavian-style pieces, prioritizing affordability and practicality. Tresund's Light Beige is a premium upholstery option, often a high-performance or natural fiber fabric used on more refined, durable furniture built for long-term investment.
Here's a detailed comparison to help you decide which brand and fabric is the right fit for your home and budget.
IKEA Gunnared Beige
Gunnared Beige is one of IKEA's most popular fabric choices, widely used across their sofa and armchair collections. It's a woven polyester fabric known for its soft feel, subtle texture, and exceptional value. This fabric is synonymous with IKEA's modern, accessible Scandinavian design, making it a go-to for first-time homeowners, renters, and anyone seeking a quick and stylish update.
- What it is: A versatile, light beige woven fabric made from 100% polyester, featured on many of IKEA's best-selling seating products.
- Key features: Durable woven texture with a two-tone effect. On many furniture models, the covers are removable and machine-washable, making maintenance easy.
- Price: Found on furniture typically ranging from $300 to $600. It is one of the most cost-effective upholstery options available.
- Style: Casual, minimalist, and modern Scandinavian. Its neutral tone serves as a blank canvas that complements a wide range of color palettes and decor styles.
- Materials/Construction: The fabric is 100% polyester. It's used on furniture built with engineered wood frames and standard foam cushions, designed for functionality and affordability.
- Pros: Extremely affordable. Covers are often removable and machine washable - a major plus for households with pets or kids. The versatile color and style fit easily into most modern homes. Widely available for quick purchase and pickup.
- Cons: Polyester fabric can be prone to pilling over time with heavy use. Not as stain-resistant as higher-end performance fabrics. The underlying furniture construction is solid but designed for cost-efficiency, not decades of use.
This fabric is ideal for anyone on a tight budget, furnishing a temporary space, or prioritizing easy maintenance over premium materials and long-term durability.
Shop this fabric on IKEA furniture: ikea.com/us/en/p/kivik-sofa-gunnared-beige-s09489433/
Tresund Light Beige
Tresund's Light Beige isn't a single fabric but a collection of premium upholstery options that embody the brand's focus on quality, comfort, and timeless design. This includes high-performance textiles, linen blends, and other durable materials purpose-built to look elegant and last for years. Choosing a Tresund piece in Light Beige means you're investing in superior craftsmanship and sophisticated style.
- What it is: A category of high-quality, light beige upholstery available in performance fabrics, linen blends, or other premium textiles.
- Key features: Superior texture, feel, and durability. Often treated for stain and water resistance. Color options are carefully chosen to be both versatile and sophisticated.
- Price: Featured on furniture that generally costs between $900 and $2,000+, reflecting its premium quality.
- Style: Timeless, elegant, and refined modern. This upholstery complements a wide range of interior styles, from classic to contemporary, and is designed to be a long-lasting centerpiece.
- Materials/Construction: Uses eco-friendly and high-performance textiles on furniture with solid, kiln-dried hardwood frames and high-density foam cushions for lasting support and comfort.
- Pros: Excellent long-term durability and resistance to wear and tear. Premium materials feel and look more luxurious. Often comes with strong stain resistance. Furniture is backed with longer warranties, signifying a quality investment.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive than IKEA. Depending on the material, it may require professional cleaning. Limited accessibility compared to IKEA's mass-market model.
Tresund is for the buyer who values long-term quality, craftsmanship, and a refined aesthetic, and is willing to invest in a foundational furniture piece.
Shop this brand: tresund.com
IKEA Gunnared Beige vs. Tresund Light Beige Comparison
Materials & Construction
The core difference lies in the quality of materials. IKEA's Gunnared Beige is a reliable 100% polyester fabric on furniture with particleboard or engineered wood frames. It’s built to be functional and affordable. In contrast, Tresund uses premium fabrics like linen blends or performance textiles that offer a superior look and feel. These fabrics are paired with much sturdier kiln-dried hardwood frames, promising greater longevity and structural integrity.
Style & Versatility
Both beige options are incredibly versatile, but they serve different aesthetics. IKEA's Gunnared works perfectly for casual, modern, and Scandinavian-inspired spaces that feel bright and airy. It's a great choice for trendy, functional interiors. Tresund's Light Beige leans more toward timeless elegance. Its sophisticated texture and refined appearance make it a fit for more established, classic, or high-end contemporary homes where the furniture is meant to be a lasting centerpiece.
Durability & Maintenance
For daily upkeep, IKEA has a surprising advantage: many Gunnared covers are completely removable and machine washable. This is a game-changer for families with kids or pets. However, the polyester fabric can show wear and pilling faster over the years. Tresund's fabrics are engineered for greater durability against fading and fraying. While they often feature excellent stain resistance that makes spot-cleaning easy, more intensive care may require professional cleaning. Tresund is the clear winner for long-term durability, while IKEA is easier for big, everyday messes.
Price & Value
There is a substantial price gap. An IKEA sofa in Gunnared Beige can be had for under $600, while a similar piece from Tresund could cost $1,500 or more. The value proposition is different for each. IKEA offers fantastic short-term value - it looks great and is functional for its price. Tresund provides excellent long-term value, as it's an investment piece designed to last for many years without needing to be replaced.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both furniture options serve their purpose well, but they cater to very different needs and priorities.
Choose IKEA Gunnared Beige if:
- You have a strict budget and are looking for a stylish piece for under $800.
- You're furnishing a first home, apartment, or a secondary space like a playroom.
- Easy maintenance is key - you want the convenience of machine-washable covers.
- Your style is casual and modern, and you enjoy updating your decor every few years.
Choose Tresund Light Beige if:
- You are making a long-term investment in a centerpiece for your living room.
- Durability, craftsmanship, and high-quality materials are your top priorities.
- You have a higher budget and view furniture as a long-lasting purchase.
- You prefer a timeless, refined aesthetic that won't fall out of fashion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between Gunnared Beige and Tresund Light Beige?
The main difference is quality, price, and target audience. IKEA's Gunnared Beige is a budget-friendly polyester fabric on accessibly priced furniture, while Tresund's Light Beige represents a collection of premium, durable fabrics on high-end furniture designed for long-term investment.
Is IKEA's Gunnared fabric durable enough for families or pets?
Yes, for its price point. Polyester is a fairly durable synthetic fiber, and the ability to remove and machine-wash the covers is a huge benefit for families. However, it may be more susceptible to snags from pet claws and pilling from heavy use compared to a premium performance fabric from a brand like Tresund.
How do you clean Gunnared Beige covers?
On most models where the cover is removable, it can be machine washed on a gentle cycle with cold water. It's best to air dry the cover to prevent shrinking. Always check the specific product's care label on the IKEA website.
Is Tresund's higher price really worth it?
For someone seeking longevity, it often is. The higher price reflects a stronger frame (kiln-dried hardwood vs. particleboard), higher-density cushions that resist sagging, and more durable, premium upholstery. It's the difference between a piece that might last 3-5 years and one designed to last 10+ years.
Does Gunnared Beige look cheap in person?
No, Gunnared has a pleasant woven texture that gives it some depth and a soft hand-feel. While it doesn't replicate the richness of a linen or high-end textile, it looks excellent for its price and is a big step up from flat, cheap-looking microfiber.
Which brand is more sustainable?
Both brands have sustainability goals. IKEA focuses on volume, using FSC-certified wood and aiming for circularity and climate-positive operations. Tresund focuses on material quality, often using eco-conscious and non-toxic materials with certifications like Oeko-Tex. Your choice depends on whether you prefer a large corporation's broad initiatives or a premium brand's focus on high-quality, responsibly sourced materials.
Does either fabric pill or fade over time?
Any fabric can pill with friction. The 100% polyester of IKEA's Gunnared is more susceptible to pilling over years of heavy use. Premium fabrics from Tresund are generally made from longer fibers and tighter weaves, making them more resistant to pilling and fading, especially if they are placed away from direct sunlight.
Can you buy replacement covers for these pieces?
IKEA famously sells replacement covers for many of its most popular sofa series, allowing you to refresh your furniture's look easily and affordably. Tresund furniture is typically sold as a complete piece, and replacement covers would likely need to be handled as a custom request through their customer service.
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