The Pros and Cons of Ikea Kitchen Cabinets
If you intend to renovate your kitchen, your financial resources can define whether it can take place this year, if you need to take out an improvement credit, or whether you wholly waive the development. Ikea cupboards are esteemed for their quality construction, affordability, and the fact that, if in stock, you can take them home immediately after you purchase them. Ikea is renowned for its minimalist Scandinavian appearance, and it has a plentiful selection of cabinet fronts you can choose from, enabling you to easily obtain the desired look with their cabinets.
But Ikea’s notorious reputation is rooted in unclear assembly instructions, long, complex assemblies, and extensive amounts of time spent trying to put together one product. Although you may spend less to buy the parts, remember to consider the labor you will put into it. If your own DIY abilities are not strong enough, be aware you will need to hire a professional to construct and fit it for you.
Ikea cabinets are a good option if you are trying to save money and at the same time want something that is sturdy and works effectively. SEKTION is the solitary base system they have, which is a frameless kitchen cabinet. The AKURUM line was replaced by SEKTION in the year 2015. The composition of the material includes wood, metal, MDF, particleboard, glass, and melamine foil. Ikea products are limited in terms of size, so you are required to adjust the cabinet to the size of your area, not the other way around. Organizing an Ikea kitchen that is suited to your space is a somewhat complicated task, but fortunately the company has an online 3D designing application to help make it simpler.
Technical Information
IKEA achieved recognition by offering pre-fabricated furniture that could be assembled by homeowners themselves, which even included entire kitchens. IKEA has broadened their merchandise availability to include installations and interior decorator services due to the fact that assembling a kitchen is more intricate than putting together an ordinary bookshelf. Since the early 1990s, IKEA has been producing kitchen components, including their well-known FAKTUM line of cabinets. The METOD kitchen was released in 2014 to substitute the FAKTUM kitchen, bringing in a modular methodology to kitchen design to enhance its practicality and make better use of the space.
Key Features
IKEA has a wide variety of items to choose from. You have the flexibility to play around with different cabinet combinations to your own liking, pick either self-assembly or have a professional install it, and try out different layout and accessories.
You can pay online using a credit card, debit card, PayPal, gift, or refund card. You may also use Trustly for a money transfer from your bank or choose the 48 months finance option with 0% interest.
IKEA provides free advice from experienced designers in-store or online regarding how to lay out your kitchen. You will get a 3D blueprint, a roster of products, an appraisal and projections for extras like shipment or set up.
IKEA has joined forces with TaskRabbit for multiple assembly projects, and you can easily locate a specialist through the website. You have the option of hiring experts to install your IKEA purchases for an additional charge through the IKEA store.
The IKEA METOD kitchen has a 25-year warranty for the materials used and the workmanship. The EHNET system is backed by a 10-year guarantee, and appliances are covered for a period of five years with the exception of the LAGAN and TILLREDA products, for which the warranty is two years.
Cost: Costs vary depending on the kitchen design. Cheap base cabinets can cost only £51, but if you need to outfit a larger kitchen with a series of METOD frames, you could pay up to £1,800 before any extra items are added in. Hiring professionals to do the kitchen fitting may cost around £1,500.
How Does IKEA Compare to Other Brands?
Few companies in the United Kingdom supply flat-pack, self-built kitchens, however, there are some that provide affordability and customization.
John Lewis kitchens are a safe bet. A selection of 14 different styles is offered, from trendy to classic, and in different popular shades. These kitchens are made specifically to the customer’s requirements and can include extras like fixtures, lighting fixtures, and appliances. John Lewis kitchens provide two installation options – basic room install or full room install – or you can hire somebody to install your kitchen on your own. John Lewis isn’t nearly as economical as IKEA, however kitchens can still be bought for as little as £4,491 and as much as £9,581, so it is possible to find something to fit most financial plans.
Alternatively, you could look at Magnet kitchens. Magnet offers factory-assembled or flat-packed ready-to-assemble kitchens to customers. There are multiple design possibilities to pick from that come with either a 15 or 20-year guarantee (based on the cabinet selection), monthly payment plans, and visually appealing accessories. An off-the-shelf model that needs to be assembled can be bought for approximately £1,879, and the most costly option that comes fully put together is approximately £7,000.
Pros of Ikea Kitchen Cabinets
Ikea kitchen cabinets offer an inexpensive option for those watching their wallet, and are recognised for their sleek design.
Good for the Budget-Conscious
If you have a limited amount to spend on a kitchen makeover, looking into Ikea cabinets is a good option. The cost of custom cabinetry can end up being at least a quarter of the total expense. A kitchen that would normally be priced at $25,000 with custom cabinetry can be around $6,000 if purchased from Ikea. It will be a cost-effective method of revamping your kitchen without spending a lot of money.
Many Styles to Choose From
Although the SEKTION only has one base cabinet system, you can pick among 15 different designs which range from ultra-modern and contemporary to classic moldings and Shaker-style drawers and cabinet doors. Cabinets without frames have doors that stretch across all of the surface area of the cabinet’s front side. Cabinets that lack frames lend a more European or up-to-date look to the kitchen and make other parts of the room such as appliances, flooring, or tilework stand out.
The color of the exteriors, drawers and faceplates can vary, including white, black, beige, gray, navy, green and woodgrain hues. You can customize your kitchen to suit your style with the huge selection of drawer pulls and cupboard knobs.
Planning Made Easy
If you have an hour to yourself, you can use the measurements of your kitchen to give it a makeover. The online planner walks you through the procedure of utilizing their 3D mapping feature on the internet. You can set something up to have a talk with an Ikea kitchen planner online or go to an Ikea store and physically inspect the items and put together your kitchen with a designer in the shop. The 3D tool provides a 3-dimensional view of how your kitchen will appear with Ikea cabinetry installed.
25-Year Warranty
Having the assurance of a 25-year guarantee on SEKTION Ikea cabinets may give you a sense of peace. It can be comforting to know that your financial contribution is guarded against any issues with the material or construction. This section of the product catalog offers components for all the parts of a cabinet, including UTRUSTA hinges, MAXIMERA full-extension drawers, legs, toe kicks, cover panels, Deco strips, molding, and the majority of cabinet frames. The manufacturer’s warranty does not apply to any changes made to the cabinets, deterioration caused by normal use, cuts, scratches, or harm brought on by an accident or other incident.
Cons of Ikea Kitchen Cabinets
Price is certainly important, but some people prioritize excellent craftsmanship, construction, and materials before anything else. The process of planning and implementation should be easy and trouble-free.
Not Highest Quality
Some people who remodel kitchens will not opt for Ikea cabinetry due to the materials used to construct the cupboards. Their cabinets may have some wood, glass, and metal components, but since the bulk of them are made with MDF and particle board instead of real wood, it’s enough of an issue to prevent buyers who prefer all-wood construction. MDF and particleboard can suffer damage and deteriorate when they come in contact with water or when screws are driven into them. Ikea’s long warranty may give some comfort, but it can’t stop problems from coming up, and wooden construction lasts longer in comparison.
Installation Woes
Ikea has a well-known history of being difficult to assemble and having confusing directions. It can be difficult to comprehend when numerous boxes turn up at your doorstep if you decide to purchase a whole cabinet set. Make sure to verify that all components are present. This is not something that a do-it-yourselfer can accomplish in a couple of days.
You can pay an Ikea expert to transfer and assemble them, which makes it more straightforward, but it can take multiple months for a booking. You could also consider bringing in a local independent kitchen cabinet installer. Many local carpenters and subcontractors are well versed in how to fit Ikea furniture and fitted cabinets, due to their high level of popularity.
Not Custom-Made
Custom cabinetry is produced directly in your kitchen to suit the dimensions of the room, while Ikea furniture is created to fit the measurements indicated in their building guide. Ikea offers a range of different widths and depths for their base and wall cabinets with their cabinet system. The measurements are consistent, so they ought to be fairly near the size of your kitchen.
You will have the freedom to determine the placement of drawers and cabinets, how much shelving to include, and the type of cabinet facing, but the depths and widths of the cabinets are fixed, which makes it difficult for people with unusually shaped rooms or specific requirements. Custom-made cabinets can be tailored to meet the individual’s height, unlike Ikea’s universal design.
What Do IKEA Kitchens Cost?
It is difficult to assign a cost to IKEA due to the enormous range of choices for personalization. You can buy one cabinet containing shelves for slightly more than £50 on the internet, but it’s important to remember that you will have to purchase additional things such as grips, drawers, countertops and various fittings that can quickly increase the cost. Claire Moran, a professional interior designer, constructed a remarkable kitchen using IKEA’s base cabinet frames, which came to a price of not quite £1,800. However, once she added custom worktops, electric pieces and decorations, the total rate soared to an estimated £19,550. Think about the entire cost of designing, as well as the cost of putting it in place, when you are creating a budget.
How Do You Maintain Your IKEA Kitchen?
You should consult the extensive maintenance guide provided by IKEA once your kitchen is set up. Typically, it is advised to use materials such as soft and lint-free microfiber cloths to scrub your cupboards. It should be completely avoided to employ dishcloths, sponges, abrasive cleaners, and strong chemicals. A mixture of vinegar and water, as well as a mild soap or detergent, is the best way to clean surfaces. Once you have cleaned the cabinets, make sure to use clean cloths to dry them off promptly to stop them from having water damage.
Pro reviews
IKEA cabinets come unassembled and shipped in “flat-packed” boxes, with assembly required. They are also known as RTA (ready to assemble). These cabinets do not use any frames, making it possible to make the most of all the available interior space. They are designed to be put up on a rail system and have adjustable plastic feet on the base to prevent them from coming into contact with the floor. Particleboard covered by melamine is used to make furniture, although there are both positives and negatives associated with this material in comparison to wood. A courageous and cost-effective do-it-yourselfer can be involved in all aspects of the project from designing to collecting to constructing to putting in – or enlist a variety of partners from IKEA or a small group of experts eager to assist in any phase.
– NBC News
“IKEA cabinets come ready-to-assemble (RTA) and flat-packed. It may take some effort to work out how to assemble them, since each component has numerous holes pre-drilled to allow for assorted shelving, drawers and installation options. IKEA kitchen cabinets also use a proprietary assembly system. If you hire a professional, confirm that they are familiar with IKEA kitchen cabinets.
– Kitchen Cabinet Kings
IKEA kitchens have earned their favorable reputation as they are stylish, able to fit into many different designs, are high-quality, and are reasonably priced. IKEA has made the process straightforward for everyone, so you can either do it yourself or hire professionals who have experience with the system and will guide you through the entire procedure.
– NY Times
Customer reviews
I would suggest that for what you’re paying, there is a pretty good range of options in terms of finishes and designs. Sure, they’re not the most luxurious, but I didn’t anticipate that in the first place. We chose the product from IKEA that had the most recent and fashionable style. The perceived downside of the fact that each design is only offered in a few choices of colors and finishes turned out to be a bonus because it made it easier to decide which one to go with.
– Blog review
I am still expecting those doors that have yet to be put in stock to arrive. The kitchen was put in place in May, and the company replied that there is still no definite timeline for when my kitchen can be completed with the doors I bought. How much time is required to create a couple of cabinet doors?
– Sheoko, Trustpilot
I would say that we managed to give our home a beautiful, modern feel with our Ikea kitchen at an affordable price compared to having a custom kitchen installed. We were prepared to put in a lot more hard work, which was a cost that we were willing to take on.
– The Happy House Blog
Homeowners often ask if IKEA cupboards, with their attractive price tag, have the durability to last through heavy use in the long run. It is vital to research extensively if, when placed in an area that experiences a lot of damage and wear–like a bustling family kitchen with a number of children or a heavily-used commercial kitchen–these cabinets will stand the test of time just like cabinets from other producers.