Designing an Ikea kitchen is exciting and wildly intimidating! You’re about to make a big investment in a project with endless possibilities, and it’s difficult to figure out where to begin.
I’ve always dreamed of designing my own kitchen. I did not, however, think I would be taking on the challenge so soon – especially in a rental apartment. When Sven and I began looking for flats in Berlin, I was completely shocked to discover that most apartments come without a kitchen. When we moved into our flat, the kitchen was a hollow shell of a room. The only existing elements were a few obscurely located hookups for pluming and electricity, and the white tile backsplash.
We didn’t want to spend a lot of money on our kitchen, especially since we’re living in a rental. But we still wanted the space to feel fresh and functional. Obviously, Ikea was out first choice for designing a stylish and affordable kitchen.
– 5 Tips For Planning Your Ikea Kitchen –
1. Be OCD when Measuring
Before you can even being designing your kitchen, you need to nail down the dimensions of the space you’re working with. Measure once. Measure twice. And then while you’re at it, go ahead and measure a third time. This includes the placement of water hookups and electrical outlets, the height and depth of shoe molding and tiles, swing radius of doors and windows, exact dimensions of appliances, etc. You can never over measure! You can, however, buy a custom cut countertop which doesn’t align with your sink placement, and nothing will be more frustrating.
2. Consider Functionality and Use
Think about how YOU will use your kitchen and plan accordingly! Maybe you love having a lot of prep-space to work and need extra surface area. Perhaps you like to dirty every dish and utensil during the cooking process and need a big sink for washing up. Or maybe you’re a die-hard recycler and need some extra space for bins to sort rubbish. Whatever they might be, consider your needs and preferences and try to accommodate them in your layout.
3. Maximize Storage Opportunities
Even if your kitchen is small, you can still work a lot of storage into the space by examining the structure of the room. If you have high ceilings, invest in tall upper cabinets. Use dead space behind open doors for wall hanging storage or hiding unsightly items such as brooms and mops. Utilize shallow areas by installing open shelving or organizational hanging rods. Get creative and try to be clever!
4. Style with Accessories, Not Cabinetry
When it’s finally time to design your kitchen, it might be tempting to select specialty cabinetry and finishes. But remember, the bones of your kitchen are a long-term investment and should outlive trends and style preferences. Stick to finishes that are timeless and universal. If you love the color red, bring it into the space through temporal accessories such as dishes, towels, art, or a flashy red tea kettle. Don’t, however, invest in entirely red cabinet doors. Design for flexibility so that the space can evolve with your taste. Should you decide to move, selling will be much easier if your kitchen compliments a wide range interior preferences.
5. Where to Spend Money and Where to Save
Designing a beautiful Ikea kitchen doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Be smart about which elements you choose to upgrade. Some are worth the investment, while others have less of an impact. Adding a lot of drawers to your cabinets will quickly increase the final cost. Eliminate any unnecessary drawers and save yourself the money (and the headache of installation). Buying the cheapest sink faucet will make your kitchen look cheap. Spend the extra money and invest in a faucet with a nice aesthetic. Save money when choosing your cabinets, but spend a little extra on the pulls. Even the cheapest cabinet option can look expensive with the right hardware. Watch out for hidden costs! When you purchase cabinet doors, Ikea will automatically adds two soft-closing mechanisms to your cart per door. These mechanisms are great, but two per door is over-kill! One will do the job just fine and save you money.
