IKEA kitchen: advice for buyers + selection of finished interiors

In this article we will talk about the most popular series of IKEA kitchens, find out the designer’s opinion, and show in real photos how they look in modern interiors.

Recent IKEA catalogs, including 2021, offer a huge selection of solutions for small kitchens and rooms with non-standard layouts. And most importantly, they can make an individual order that meets all your requirements and kitchen dimensions.

At the same time, do not even doubt that the provided dimensions will “match millimeter to millimeter”, and the color you choose “will not differ by 1/10,000” (here we took the liberty of quoting one of the customer reviews).

Pros and cons of shopping at IKEA

We are all very demanding and sometimes even capricious when it comes to service or product range. And this is easy to understand, because everyone wants everything in the apartment to be perfect. But, as the English proverb says, “Nothing is perfect”... And man is designed in such a way that he first of all pays attention to shortcomings.

That's where we'll start. Why? Yes, because there are much fewer advantages, and besides, we intend to prove that this is mostly just nit-picking.

The first argument that can be found quite often is high prices. It is truly amazing, because... The company just became famous thanks to its very budget proposals. Let's look at what is included in the price of a ready-made IKEA kitchen:

Frames; Facades; Panels; Tabletop; Accessories; Cornices;

Boxes; Bases; Shelves; Legs; Washing; Faucets.

All this can be complemented with wall accessories, railings, lighting, kitchen chairs, household appliances, doors, etc. that suit your style. There are even stickers on furniture legs and anti-traumatic corner attachments for children! And if you are concerned about the environment and sort garbage, you can buy 2-3 buckets that fit perfectly in the cabinet.

Plus, judge for yourself - how much time you will spend approximately choosing and purchasing such kitchen equipment separately. Add a couple of hours for transport, a certain number of minutes in line, consultations, and, possibly, the return of unsuitable parts... And time today is the most valuable resource.

Isn’t it more profitable to purchase everything at once, moreover, with a guarantee of complete compliance of all elements with each other? We are sure you will easily cope with the calculations.

The next undeserved accusation is the small selection of colors and shapes. And this is true when it comes to furniture decorated with feathers and inlaid with gold or rhinestones. But for ordinary queries the choice is quite large.

The assortment includes paneled, glass and glossy facades from pastel to fashionable bright colors. Moreover, the IKEA model range is represented by such design directions as:

• classic;
• modern;
• Scandinavian style;
• Provence;
• country.

And for a reason. These are the most popular design styles today, which makes such proposals more than rational. A little later in the article, we will definitely show several photos of examples of modern and classic IKEA kitchen interiors.

And the last quibble is that the materials from which the furniture is made are easily soiled and require maintenance, depending on temperature conditions and humidity. But, you must admit, any material, and especially natural, requires certain care, in the absence of which it may lose its shape. In addition to solid wood, fiberboard and chipboard are used for the production of kitchen facades and furniture frames.

This makes IKEA kitchens a more economical option, but rather an ideal combination of our price and European quality. Find out what other companies offer, and at the same time ask if they have the same modular system, which we will talk about a little later.

What are the advantages of buying kitchens from IKEA?

You can most often hear the following reviews from customers: inexpensive, fast, high quality, convenient, functional, compact. In addition, stylish IKEA kitchens:

• made of high quality and practical materials;
• easy to assemble yourself (+ there are many videos on YouTube);
• easy to repair and replace parts;
• suggest a large selection of combinations of cabinets, numbers and shapes of drawers;
• have a 25-year free manufacturer's warranty;
• have a beautiful appearance and pleasant colors;
• will be delivered as soon as possible;
• can be purchased by paying in installments;
• united by the “Method” modular system, which allows you to arrange furniture for rooms of the most complex layout.

All internal kitchen equipment can be purchased gradually and separately.

IKEA design directions

Manufacturers work with a wide variety of design styles, designing kitchens according to the latest interior requirements. The most popular models that can be found in official stores:

• Classic design direction.
• Modern style.
• Scandinavian interior style.
• Provence.
• Country direction.

For each style, a number of requirements for interior decorative finishing are met. An IKEA kitchen in a home interior is style and quality in one aspect. The main task of manufacturers is comfort and convenience for the client.

Modular systems "Factum" and "Method"

The convenience of IKEA furniture lies in the so-called modular system. All elements of the kitchen set can be assembled like a construction set, where everything fits everything. In one composition, you can combine at least all the colors if you wish.

The practicality is that the system offers a wide range of cabinets of different sizes and colors that will make even the tiniest kitchen as functional as possible. IKEA produces systems and equipment taking into account the latest technologies and developments. For example, a faucet that reduces water consumption by 40% without changing the pressure.

You can assemble the headset yourself, following the instructions with a detailed step-by-step guide in Russian. And so that the assembly does not seem too boring, you can involve your children in easy and safe operations.

For example, these photos show several real interiors assembled using this modular principle.

Interesting fact: Until 2015, it was called “Factum”, after which the company made a number of improvements and introduced a fundamentally new system - “Method”.

Key Features:

• base height – 8 cm;
• new types of upper cabinets, although without sliding doors; among them - “Maximera” without legs, 88 cm high;
• black-brown color of the frames (in addition to the already existing white ones) - now the visible part of the furniture does not need to be finished with special panels;
• more than 20 types of facades and 30 types of handles;
• a much larger selection of internal drawers - different in height, depth, with and without a closer;
• drawer sizes – 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 cm;
• the reliability and stability of the cabinets is ensured by galvanized steel frame;
• new cabinet fastening system – steel rail;
• the height of the floor modules is standard – 60 and 80 cm;
• special adjustable legs for floor cabinets.

The colors of the facades remained unchanged, but the names changed.

The bulk of IKEA products bear Swedish, Norwegian or Finnish names - sometimes unpronounceable or sounding like an ancient Druid spell: Lidingo, Brokhult, Sofilund, Fagerland, Tingsrid

And this is not just a set of letters, but words that actually exist in the mentioned languages ​​- women's, men's names, names of rivers, lakes, birds, precious stones, etc. This system of naming products, like the principle of modularity, is a kind of calling card of the brand.

Types and sizes of Ikea “Budbin” kitchen modules

The overall picture and functionality depend on the models and their sizes, so it is important to choose them correctly and take into account every millimeter. Usually this is done together with masters and specialists; they should not miss these moments. But a lot depends on the customer - the choice of parameters and their arrangement (preferably together with a professional).

Before buying a kitchen, you need to carefully calculate the number and size of the necessary cabinets, so that in the future it will be convenient and ergonomic.

Cabinets come in the following types:

• Floor-standing – located at the bottom, usually placed on the floor surface;
• Mounted - suspended at head level, can reach the ceiling or be at a distance from it. There are also mezzanines.
• Corner - often made without doors and with a rounded outer corner to leave the impression of completeness of the interior, but not take up extra space or create inconvenience. Their standard width is 67.5 cm, and their depth is 38.6 and 38.9; the height can be chosen - 40, 60, 80 or 100 cm.
• Pencil cases are narrow cabinets with or without shelves, and the presence of doors is not necessary. Usually their depth is 61.6 or 61.9 cm, and their height varies from 148 to 248 cm according to standard parameters, width - 40 or 60, less often - 80.

But the last two options are usually used as an addition if necessary, based on the characteristics of a particular interior and the needs of the owners.

The Ikea “Budbin” kitchen contains both floor and wall cabinets, in addition to which you can choose convenient corner ones.

Floor cabinets

For different layouts and fillings, kitchen cabinets are available in the following types:

• Corner: with shelves, with a rotating section or a retractable structure.

• Simple: with shelves and a door, with drawers; under the sink; for built-in appliances; combined (with drawers and shelves).
• Tall cabinets and cabinets: with shelves; for building in a refrigerator, oven, microwave.

This series of facades also has front panels for dishwashers, which allows you to fully equip the kitchen, hiding the appliances and without violating the stylistic unity.

Wall cabinets

The popularity of the series is also due to the large selection of hanging cabinets.

• Corner (glass or solid).

• With a solid closed facade: with shelves and drawers; combined (with doors and drawers).
• With sash glass door. Glass showcases serve as additional interior decoration. In country style, they can be decorated with curtains to convey rustic coziness.
• Combined (with glass doors and drawers).

Kitchen cabinets with Budbin fronts allow you to create interesting and unusual solutions - designs like sideboards or buffets that would be appropriate in a rustic-style kitchen.

IKEA assortment

It is truly huge, so we will focus only on a few relatively new model ranges, because you can find everything else in the IKEA catalog if you wish. Here's a small table for reference:

Old name	New title / New series	Style
Lidingo	Budbin	Classic
Ramshe	Laxarbi	Classic
Overbu	Country, modern, Scandinavia, Provence
Dalarna	Provence
Factum	Method	Classic

Budbin

Cute Budbin kitchens are the most popular IKEA series. They involve a large number of components, which makes it easy to adjust the degree of filling of the kitchen space. Paneled or glass facades made of chipboard or MDF are coated with a special varnish.

A white or gray set will suit many styles - Provence, classic, country, loft, shabby chic, art deco, etc. Light shades in combination with natural wood will help decorate a kitchen in a Scandinavian style. If the interior seems too monochromatic and nondescript to you, complement it with brighter curtains and textiles, which are also available in the IKEA catalog.

For example, the photo below shows several options for a ready-made IKEA kitchen.

Rich colors look great against black facades. But, if the kitchen is small, there should be little of this color, because... it tends to “eat up” space.

Just one “but” - furniture surfaces should never be cleaned with chemicals and abrasives. Some people recommend using “Mr. Muscle” for glass, while others recommend just a well-wrung out rag, after which you need to wipe everything dry.

Dalarna

Being a supporter of the above-mentioned styles and preferring natural wood, pay attention to the new series of Dalarna facades. The furniture is made of solid birch, covered with protective stain and varnish. The model range is represented by cabinets, countertops, shelves, front and overhead panels that hide household appliances, glazed and wooden doors and plinths.

The colors offered are universal - white and black-brown. Such furniture will provide sophistication and naturalness to a kitchen decorated in both classic and modern styles. The following photos show compact interiors with spectacular facades made of darkened glass. The classic “Laksarbi” series is also partially made of solid birch.

Style for Ikea kitchen modules

Now all design decisions regarding kitchen facades are divided into two large main groups, each of which has additional subtypes:

1. Modern style of IKEA kitchens. Its distinctive features are practicality, minimalist design and conciseness. Often headsets of this design are presented with smooth glossy or matte surfaces. However, you can combine different design options here. For example, a common furniture model is a set in which the upper tier does not have fittings, and the lower drawers have handles with doors. But the color and texture of both levels remains identical. Minimalism goes well with the modern style of kitchen spaces: high-tech and other fashionable designs. Simple and concise models are characterized by functionality and ease of use. Corner models are especially often used for a more advantageous appearance of the entire room. But it is better to place decorative elements in other areas of the kitchen.

2. Classic style of IKEA kitchens. Traditional facades also look laconic and simple indoors. Nowadays, strict and modest design options for kitchen furniture have come into fashion. Often there are models in the neo-classical style, characterized by adaptation of the interior to the requirements of a modern person. You shouldn’t hide household appliances behind facades. Now it doesn't look very impressive. In addition, traditional versions of kitchen sets may have glass inserts, a combination of two or more materials, moldings and other decorative details.

Overbu

The latest, affordable range of wall and floor cabinets features a huge selection of sizes and removable shelves. Straight facades are made of laminated MDF and chipboard and coated with polyester paints or varnishes. One-, two-color, bright, wood-look, etc. inexpensive facades and Overbu cabinets will organically fit into any style direction.

They can be complemented with all kinds of accessories - curtains, tablecloths, curly handles. Modern furniture from this series is devoid of pomposity and will look great in an apartment or country house. The disadvantages of Overbu include the lack of a closer and sensitivity to moisture. All surfaces that come into contact with water should be wiped dry.

IKEA kitchen chairs

The kitchen set is far from the only attribute for the kitchen. Chairs and dining tables also need to be carefully selected to match the overall style of the interior. Options available to buyers in official stores:

• Adult plastic models. They are distinguished by their durability, good texture, rich colors, and resistance to moisture.
• Wooden chairs with backrest. Convenient design, thoughtful design and mandatory consideration of the anatomical features of the human body.
• Children's chairs. Children's models are also thought out to the smallest detail and made taking into account the characteristics of a growing organism. An excellent choice would be high chairs for feeding babies, which is important for future or current young parents.

The color composition and texture of the furniture are selected in accordance with the overall style of the interior.

Hitarp

Shabby chic, Provence, country, classic, retro - lovers of these trends will be pleased with the simple and functional “Hitarp” series, which has already become a sales favorite. Its advantage is a new convenient system for attaching wall cabinets.

Simple lines, panels and glass inserts on the facades and charming “antique” wall cabinets, as if made by hand, will provide a comfortable and calm interior. Light shades and vertical stripes tend to expand and stretch the space, so the series is suitable for both spacious and small kitchens.

The material used is chipboard or fibreboard, coated with acrylic and polyester paint; the glass is made using tempering technology. The monotony of the white kitchen interior provides endless opportunities for creativity and flight of fancy.

There is one more tricky design maneuver. The fact is that the composition and design of the Hitarp series is similar to the headsets of the Filipstad, Budbin, Kallarp, ​​Albru and Knoxkhult series. Therefore, some elements - table top, handles, etc. can be borrowed from them.

Thanks to the modular system, you can easily combine different colors of the facades, make a black top, white bottom, or complement a bright red corner set with black horizontal surfaces.

Color solutions

Basically, IKEA products are represented by restrained colors - shades of white, gray, beige, light green, light blue and wood brown. But there are also more modern colors - bright red, metallic, yellow, etc. As you can see, they can be combined.

A white kitchen looks elegant and visually seems to expand the walls, which is very important for small spaces, for example, in a Khrushchev-era building. But be careful: if you buy a new white kitchen to replace an old one of the same color, it may feel like nothing has changed. Neither a different shape of kitchen facades nor new handles will affect the situation.

Consider an option with a wooden tabletop, which will dilute the boring color scheme. Look how compact and at the same time quite pleasant the interior of a small kitchen from IKEA can be. White facades will be decorated with beige furniture handles, as well as exactly the opposite. Take a look at the photo - how this, at first glance, insignificant element changes the overall impression.

A contrasting black and white kitchen cannot be called retro, but it also cannot be classified as modern. Here everything will be determined by the colors of the walls, apron, textiles and accessories. What do you think about the black and white checkerboard floor?

A gray kitchen is the height of elegance and practicality, because it is not as easily soiled as white, and not as gloomy as black. In addition, gray is in fashion today, which puts the Budbin kitchen among the current solutions for interior design. The tabletop and work surfaces can be wooden, white or black - depending on your preferences. Glass can be transparent or tinted.

The black-brown color of the facades is appropriate in spacious rooms with a lot of light. Snow-white or bright walls, a patterned or colored kitchen apron, kitchen chairs, countertops and other horizontal planes in pastel colors and, of course, light shades of wood will help to dilute the excess darkness.

If you get tired of the color of the facades, you can always change it to any other - of course, available in the range.

In addition to colors, an important determinant of the atmosphere is the convenient location of the kitchen modules, which is especially important in small-sized kitchens.

Kitchen "Budbin"

One of the most popular options in the updated line of Ikea modular kitchens.
The main feature is the attractive paneled facades made of fiberboard with a wide frame, which can easily be considered an appeal to classical motifs. They are extremely smooth and tactilely pleasant due to the matte varnish coating. Available in three color variations:

1. warm white;
2. grey;
3. rich dark green.

Approximate prices:

• from 3,000 rubles for a wall cabinet;
• from 3,850 rubles for a floor cabinet.

An important advantage of this model is that it belongs to the METHOD modular system. This allows you to choose a set for you exactly in the configuration that you need: you just need to enter all the necessary dimensions into the planner on the official website and mark the necessary modules - and the system will prepare a project for you with already calculated prices.

In any case, there is room for options: for example, the height of wall cabinets ranges from 40 to 100 cm. In addition, it is possible to choose original glass doors with bindings - they not only make the design aesthetic, but also expand the space if the kitchen is not boasts a solid timing.

Despite the classic design in general, the Budbin kitchen from Ikea also looks great in less traditional interiors.

An example of classic white facades “Budbin” in a 220 cm set. With a wooden tabletop “Ekbakken” under dark oak it looks so harmonious that you literally fall in love with this kitchen at a glance.

The gray color is also attractive and, as you can see, fits perfectly into the Art Nouveau style.

Interesting assembly with white facades. The total amount of the project is about 162 thousand rubles.

Layout options

There's essentially nothing new here. “Ikea” kitchens are suitable for any of the existing types of furniture placement:

• Linear - modules are located on the same line along the wall;
• L-shaped (angular);
• U-shaped;
• two-line (parallel);
• with an island or peninsula.

For greater clarity, here are a couple of photos of a corner gray IKEA kitchen. And this is what a kitchen island looks like.

It is believed that the first two methods are suitable for small kitchens, but with proper organization of space this opinion is easily refuted. An example of this is a small kitchen with a bar counter that acts as a small island. If the module located in the middle of the kitchen is equipped with internal drawers, it can free up space on the walls. And, as you know, a wall-mounted set weighs down the room.

When arranging the necessary modules, apply the working triangle rule, i.e. Place everything you need for cooking as close to the work surface as possible. Think about the route you will take, what equipment you will need, whether it can be put away in a drawer and whether it will be tiresome to get it out every time.

There is also the concept of a drying-washing triangle, the essence of which is not difficult to guess. The smaller the kitchen, the more rationally you need to manage the space - use a vertical space, a place under the sink or above the hood, which is also difficult for children to reach. It is very convenient that the online layout is available on the Russian-language IKEA website, and all you need is to specify the correct dimensions.

Additional Tips

1. Accurate measurements of the room are the key to a successful result. You need to measure not just the width and height of the kitchen, but also the space occupied by drainage, gas, ventilation and other pipes. Not sure you can handle it? Ask for help - for example, the same IKEA specialists.

When looking at your kitchen design, mentally pull out each drawer and make sure there is nothing blocking it. Open all the drawers and cabinets at the same time, then open the window, wall cabinets, all for the same purpose. Imagine in detail how you cook, what trajectory you follow and what you take out.

2. If you do not assemble the kitchen yourself and contact an IKEA employee, he, like other craftsmen, will set a separate price for each type of work. Be prepared for this and clarify in advance how much a particular service costs.

3. You can gain space by using the depth of the cabinets. The deeper they are, the more space they take up. Do you use everything in the cabinet? Perhaps a couple of extra shelves would make a difference?

If the wall set is deep, but you don’t know what size to choose, be guided by your height and, strange as it may sound, the length of your arms. Stand on tiptoes in front of the wall, stretch out your arms, imagining that you want to get something out of the closet. Make the necessary marks on the same wall.

4. When purchasing furniture from certain materials, ask about their characteristics. This is important because some of them are not designed for high heat on the stove or constant exposure to moisture. Natural wood requires a certain level of humidity.

5. They say that habit is second nature. If previously the kitchen furniture had round handles, but now you intend to abandon them or choose a different model, think carefully. Will this really be convenient for you?

6. Before purchasing, read the reviews, or even better, look at the buyers’ photos. This way you will receive the most accurate information, and most importantly, make sure of its truthfulness.

This concludes our short excursion. We are sure that you will like the new IKEA kitchen design, and that what you read will be useful and informative. We wish you a quick, inexpensive and magnificent interior renovation and endless inspiration for new creative combinations!