In dark red? Looks like they discontinued it just when I was about to make my purchase

Thanks!

Hi!

I am absolutely smitten by the Havberg chair in the red/brown upholstery.

Reviews on the IKEA website are pretty scathing, though. I did see one in the as-is section which doesn't bode well for the chair.

I'd like to get a better sample size of reviews. For anyone who's bought one, how is it? Does it have quality issues as pointed out on the reviews? Any comments?

Thanks!

EDIT: 305 days later, another one finally showed up in the as-is section in the red color. I bought it immediately.

I am absolutely loving this chair. It is extremely comfortable. I fell asleep in it! The chair does not tilt back, but I don’t feel like that’s necessary. The scoop of the seat is such that I can slide down for more of a recline and not feel that my back is awkwardly unsupported. Don’t expect a good night’s rest in this, but you’ll feel great for an hour or two to read and a light cat nap.

It’s obviously IKEA, so the build quality up close does indicate that I cant expect this to last as long as the Herman Miller desk chair my grandfather passed down to me; tubular aluminum construction thinly covered in fabric, lightweight aluminum legs and hardware, welded and just simple powder coated. It doesn’t weigh too much, which can be a positive but for a piece of furniture I always prefer heavier. However, it does feel solid, doesn’t creak, and the swiveling is smooth. Maybe a bit too smooth, it swivels rather easily which can be a bit odd when repositioning as the ottoman swivels too so you can’t really brace yourself on that to shift around.

The upholstery seems to be good. The red color is deep, and up close has some variation in the threading. It looks fantastic if you’re going for a mid century look. Adds a pop of color but still elegant. I have it beside a blue velvet couch, also from IKEA, and they compliment each other well. It doesn’t seem thin and I get the impression it won’t wear through easily.

The padding is thick and plush. You can’t feel the frame through it, and I’m no lightweight at 240lbs. I have had issues with the padding flattening out a bit in less time than I’d like with my couch, so time will tell if the same happens here. I will mention, though, that the padding has much more give than the STRANDMON and ottoman I had before. That chair always felt very stiff and I never felt too comfortable in it. No problems here on the HAVBERG.

The upholstery is not suede but is soft to the touch and not scratchy at all. We’ll see how it holds up to my cats. They are being verbally chastised when trying to scratch so they should leave it alone, but inevitably they will sit and stretch a bit which invariably brings out their claws. I’ll do another update after the summer to update on durability.

One thing is, it’s a big chair. My space is definitely not supposed to fit this chair, at least not in the current arrangement but I’m prioritizing the chair because I love it so damn much. I’m renting anyway so my next space may fit it better. Regardless, keep that in mind when buying, and consider without the ottoman. The ottoman itself is huge, could seat two people on its own.

Overall, so far I’m thrilled with the value for money. I did not buy it new, it was $145 for the ottoman and $275 for the chair from the as-is section. The new prices were just a touch too high at the time to buy it and I could never get around to justifying the purchase. If you’re looking for a chair already and it’s actually needed, not just a “crime of opportunity” I’d say the full price is worth it. But if you see one in the as-is or elsewhere on the used market, it’s a fantastic deal.