Hey! Amanda Holstein right here with an replace on how my IKEA Kitchen Cupboards have been holding up since my final put up in 2020. To remind you, I’m an inside designer based mostly in Mill Valley, California, and 5 years in the past my husband and I started renovating our first dwelling collectively. With a good funds and the expectation of dwelling there for 5-7 years, we selected to save lots of on cabinetry by going with IKEA. Although the method was a little bit of a headache, we have been usually pleased with the outcomes and the way our kitchen appeared & functioned ultimately. 

It’s been 5 years since our renovation, together with a worldwide pandemic, so we’ve undoubtedly put our kitchen to make use of with a lot time spent at dwelling. Right here’s what we’ve skilled:

The Good Information

No person can inform they’re from IKEA

Our mates, household, and friends have all the time commented on how good our kitchen appears to be like and are shocked after I inform them our cupboards are from IKEA. To a extra discerning eye, like a designer or contractor, you may inform the supplies are extra cheaply made for the reason that doorways really feel a lot lighter than actual wooden. However usually, I’d say they mix in properly and our kitchen appears to be like elevated.

We love our format

The best way we laid out our cabinetry, utilizing IKEA’s 3D Kitchen Planner, has confirmed to be tremendous useful for the way in which we stay our each day life. We love our pantry and trash-pull out, and I wouldn’t change or rearrange something. So these 3 hours (and three sizzling canine) at IKEA deciding on each little element paid off.

They’ve been simple to wash

One factor I wasn’t anticipating is how simple the doorways have been to wash. They’ve a extremely easy end that wipes clear with minimal effort. 

The Unhealthy Information

Some doorways & drawers have develop into misaligned

Most of the doorways have barely shifted out of alignment and really feel flimsy. Our trash pull-out, for instance, will get a number of use and feels a bit unstable. You may simply shake it backward and forward. Within the above picture, you may see our higher cupboards are clearly out of alignment as properly.

There may be some chipping paint

As a result of some doorways have come a bit free/misaligned, they’re rubbing in opposition to one another, inflicting the paint to peel in sure areas.

They in all probability can’t stand up to children

I don’t assume they’re sturdy sufficient for normal use with children. I can’t think about the drawers being sturdy sufficient to carry the burden of a toddler knocking down on them or the doorways making it very lengthy with youngsters slamming them. 

Their customer support could be very tough

Sadly, coping with IKEA’s customer support is a big ache. If a chunk breaks or is lacking, I wouldn’t waste your time making an attempt to exchange it. We skilled so many points that we ended up giving up, so considered one of our drawers is lacking a facet.

So, are they well worth the financial savings?

For us, sure, they have been well worth the financial savings. Selecting IKEA cabinetry saved us a ton of cash and we undoubtedly don’t remorse that (our cabinetry and equipment complete got here to about $6,500). As a result of we had a good funds to renovate our whole 1800 sq foot home, I’d say saving on decrease high quality cupboards was value it in our case because it allowed us to unfold our funds over extra sq. footage. We aren’t anticipating them to final ceaselessly and we don’t have children including to their put on & tear, so that they nonetheless look fairly good and performance as we want them to. 

My Closing Suggestion

In case you’re planning to make use of them quick time period, with no children, and also you’re doing an affordable flip or short-term renovation on a brilliant tight funds, then sure they’re value it. Nonetheless, with a couple of extra renovations underneath my belt, I’m now extra prone to suggest one thing like Granite Expo which is barely costlier, and a lot better high quality than IKEA, however nowhere close to as costly as customized cupboards. This kitchen value $6500 in cabinetry and I’d guess it could solely be two thousand or so extra from Granite Expo.

Only for enjoyable, here’s a earlier than and after so you may see how the kitchen appeared earlier than the renovation:

Thanks for happening this IKEA Kitchen Cupboard journey with me! If in case you have another questions or need to get in contact with me, you will discover me at www.amandaholstein.com or on Instagram @amanda_holstein.

*Design and photographs by Amanda Holstein