Corduroy is done being a brief memory captured in our elementary-school yearbook photos. What used to be the go-to trouser material of the ’90s has been slinking its way into spaces we love. This Nashville home, designed by Meg Kelly, has a moss green couch that is a perfect example. The popularity of the Teddy sofa from OMHU is another case study (the sleeper design has a cult following among space-starved New Yorkers). Throw pillows, ottomans, headboards—there are subtle ways to add soft texture to any room in the house. But IKEA managed to give us that dose of character with some major storage power, and it’s called the Valtorp bench.
Our first thought? This is the long-lost companion to the Jättebo couch, which showed up on our radar when we found out Jeremiah Brent bought one for his Portugal home. Surely he would be a fan of this storage bench. The modular seating collection covers sectionals, chaise designs, slipper chairs, and extra armrests, but it’s begging for a footrest. The Valtorp bench has range beyond that system—use it to store cold-weather accessories near an entryway, drop it at the foot of a bed for extra linens, tuck it into your living room to hide your ever-growing “to be read” pile, or bring it into the kitchen for some extra seating.
The steel legs are a nice pop of modern style, given the slightly retro material. Some reviews have mentioned that the hinges are visible along the back of the bench, so consider placing it against a wall. Priced at $150, it’s a conversation piece that’s also a safe bet.
