Things to Know When Planning Your IKEA Kitchen

This post is not in any way sponsored by IKEA. We've used their cabinetry on several projects and are answering questions we've received through all of that. Opinions are 100% ours. 

Do IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Really Hold Up?
This is probably the question we received most. And we totally get it. Straight up, IKEA is known more for design and affordability than they are their quality. But now that we've done 5 IKEA kitchens, my sincere opinion is that most worries of durability are unnecessary.

"What are IKEA kitchen cabinets made out of? Are you worried that it isn't solid wood?"
IKEA cabinets not being solid wood isn't a concern at all. The main consideration is the balance between strength and design. If it's strong enough and fits into your design, then it's a great choice! IKEA cabinets are made from MDF (medium density fiberboard) that is wrapped in a layer of hard plastic called melamine. The melamine seals against water and MDF is used in a wide variety of cabinetry available through countless retailers. Even most cabinet makers offer an MDF box construction option.

"Are the legs on those boxes plastic? Is that really strong enough to support stone countertops?"
IKEA has metal legs, but the adjustable ones (which are the only ones we've personally used) are plastic. In our kitchen, we poured a 2in thick slab of concrete for our countertops. And I'm not talking about the sorta-concrete that also contains a bunch of lightweight materials to reduce bulk. They're solid, heavy, concrete. Our IKEA cabinets have never so much as creaked. The legs are engineered to hold the cabinets level and steady, while the majority of the weight hangs on the metal mounting bars secured to the wall (more on that later). If you have concerns, you can talk with the IKEA team, but we have been so happy with their strength.

"Why do all the contractors I talk to tell me to never use IKEA?"
That's almost like asking why your Ford dealer told you to never buy a GMC. There's a lot that goes into this, but one factor is that contractors have relationships with cabinet makers, and they upcharge you on custom cabinetry to add to their own bottom line. And I don't say that to demonize contractors - it's a completely valid and legitimate cost for the work they do. But it's an incentive to steer homeowners in that one direction which, granted, is higher quality but is also often double the price.

So, is IKEA as sturdy as custom-built plywood cabinetry? Of course not. But to clarify, we're not talking about the difference between Fort Knox and the first little pig's house made of straw. IKEA cabinetry is engineered really well and will hold up to normal use the same way custom-built MDF cabinetry would. We have 3 crazy kids who are about as abusive to our cabinetry as kids could be, and ours work like the day we first installed them 4 years ago.

What is the Process for Buying IKEA Kitchen Cabinets?
We were so nervous when we did our first IKEA kitchen, and ended up having to make a couple extra trips to IKEA for things we forgot--4 hours away! But the staff has always been super helpful and there's no need to be intimidated so long as you have a general idea of what you want.

"How do I have IKEA design my kitchen?"
Honestly, we've never done it this way but you can have them come to your home to measure and plan your space if your prefer not to do it yourself. If the footprint of your space will be changing, you need to either have it done ahead of time or have detailed blueprints to provide the planners so they can customize your layout accordingly. But the IKEA planning and installation fees start to add up to a point where, if this is the route you're looking at, you may also want to look into a bid for custom cabinetry so you can compare the two. Your costs might not be that far off.

"How do I make my own design and get the products for it?" 
Always, always use the IKEA home planner. It's actually a very detailed, accurate and usable tool. It works directly in your web browser and is free to use. You can construct a floor plan that matches your space and see a real-time 3D visual rendering of the products as you add them. You can do it with very basic computer know-how (though I will say, use a browser like Chrome - steer clear of Safari for this).

Once you're happy with the design, save it to your account. When you go into the store, the associate will have you log into your account and they will review your design with you. They'll make suggestions, or remove things you don't need (if you're using Semihandmade fronts instead of standard IKEA, for example, they'll remove the fronts but keep the hinges) and compile your order. They usually have you pay for it right there, and they hand you your receipt, which you'll need to pick up your order.

When the purchase is complete, the computer system sends the order to the warehouse team and they pull together all the products for you. Depending on the order size and how busy they are, this can take several hours. We'll usually shop around a little, grab lunch, and come back periodically to check. You don't have to stay in the store and wait - you can leave and come back.

"Does IKEA deliver directly to my home?"
Most areas of the country do not offer direct-to-home delivery for IKEA cabinetry - it will be in-store pickup only. But sometimes you can work with the store to have things like hinges or other small pieces that may have been forgotten shipped to you.

How do I Measure My Kitchen Accurately for IKEA Cabinets?
When measuring your kitchen, draw as detailed of diagrams as you can. Not only is this helpful to reference as you build your design in the IKEA Home Planner, but creating the diagrams helps you become more familiar with the space as well. But for each wall where cabinetry will be, there are 3 numbers you need to have in mind:

1- Where you would ideally like the cabinets to begin/end
2- The furthest out the cabinets could extend without obstructing other areas
3- The furthest in the cabinets could be without sacrificing form and function

The truth is, it's not likely that your IKEA cabinets will fit perfectly on any wall, so there will be compromises. You'll fudge an inch or two here or there. You'll need filler pieces and trim. But as long as you're working within the numbers above, you'll end up with something you're happy with.

"How do I get the cabinets to fit tightly without have odd gaps of 7 or 8 inches on the ends?"
IKEA has enough width options in their cabinets where you should rarely if ever end up with gaps too large to cover with a 2-4in filler piece. Here are all the sizes of basic cabinets that IKEA offers in 24 and 15 inch depths (all measurements are in inches):

24 deep
   30 tall base cabinets come in the following widths:
- 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36
80 tall high cabinets come in the following widths:
- 15, 18, 24, 30
90 tall high cabinets come in the following widths:
- 15, 18, 24, 30
15 tall wall cabinets come in the following widths:
- 30, 36
20 tall wall cabinets come in the following widths:
- 30, 36

15 deep
   30 tall base cabinets come in the following widths:
- 15, 18, 24, 30, 36
80 tall high cabinets come in the following widths:
- 15, 18, 24
90 tall high cabinets come in the following widths:
- 15, 18, 24
40 tall wall cabinets come in the following widths:
- 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36
30 tall wall cabinets come in the following widths:
- 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36
20 tall wall cabinets come in the following widths:
- 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36
15 tall wall cabinets come in the following widths:
- 15, 18, 30, 36

If you find you're left with a 6in gap on one side, turn that 15in wide cabinet into an 18in wide cabinet and drop that gap to 3 inches. There's usually something you can shift around to reduce your gap sizes.

There are also several other unique cabinet options (for corners, sinks, appliances etc.) that can be found in the IKEA Home Planner. But keep in mind that the height dimensions of these cabinets do not factor in legs or a toe kick! That will add 4-5 inches, depending on your countertop thickness (standard height to top of countertop is 36in, adjust the toe kick height to accommodate).

Other things to plan for in your measurements:
• If a cabinet is going to meet up with an adjacent wall, plan at least 2 in of space between the box and the wall. This will allow the drawer to open freely.
• Allow at least 1in of space above high and upper cabinets so doors can open freely.
• IKEA has options that would replace the standard legs when making an island, or you can build a custom base to use instead of the IKEA option.
• Avoid putting filler pieces between cabinet boxes that are next to each other on the same wall. Use filler pieces at the ends of rows of cabinets, near walls and next too appliances when needed.

What Are the Best Practices for Assembling and Installing IKEA Cabinets?

IKEA gets lumped in with other RTA (ready to assemble) furniture companies, and is branded as being much more difficult than it actually is as a result. IKEA cabinets are super simple to put together, and once you get the hang of it you can finish each one is less than 10 minutes. Here are some of our tips:

• Use the mounting bar on the wall whenever you can, secured directly into every stud available. It makes installation so quick and easy, and keeps the cabinets even. Just use the adjustable front legs to level them out and screw them together with the provided screws.

• When using the mounting bar, back legs aren't necessary, but still use back legs on cabinets that are on the end of the mounting bar, for extra support.
• IKEA instructions say to use a hand screwdriver and not a powered driver. I get why they say that, and I can't tell you that you should use a driver, but we do. Always have. It makes it go a lot faster, you just have to use a low setting and be sure to stop once the screws are in or they'll strip the holes.

Make the Kitchen For You
The final point, but probably the most important, is that this is your kitchen. Renovate it for you! We receive hundreds of questions every day about space planning and the questions are often so specific to an individual. Some of these questions might include:

• Can you really use wall cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling, or is it just wasted space up there?
• Is open shelving really a good option or will everything just get dusty and dirty?
• Is it worth my time to hire someone/pay IKEA to build and install my IKEA cabinets?
• At what point would I be better off just paying a contractor for custom cabinetry?

These are all real questions we've received. They're all good questions, too. But they're tricky questions because they can only be answered by the people asking them. We're fortunate enough that we enjoy the process of planning a kitchen. We love going through every detail and deciding what will go where. Giving the things we use most prime placement, but making sure things we only use sometimes have a place, too.

It's not a fast process, and it involves a lot of back and forth (especially if planning the space with your spouse or partner) and changing and adjusting. But be patient with yourself and your spouse. Allow the space to change. Don't get frustrated because you remembered that you have ventilation running through a wall and that now prevents you from moving your plumbing where you wanted it to go. Working through that process is how you create an IKEA kitchen that feels custom and functional and everything you want it to be, and you'll love every second you spend in it once its done.

Watch our IKEA cabinet assembly and installation: