Avoiding Common DIY Mistakes in IKEA Kitchen Design

Three Key IKEA Kitchen Design Errors and Skilled Options

On this article:

A re-assessment is essential in your IKEA kitchen design.
Filler dimension issues.
Give your kitchen vary counter area.
Generally, unusable area is helpful.

One motive our clients love IKEA is due to their DIY-friendly merchandise. First, you construct a desk. Subsequent, you construct a bookcase. Abruptly, you are feeling like you might tackle something – together with a whole kitchen renovation.

The reality is, you most likely can tackle a kitchen renovation in case you have a whole and correct design to observe. Many IKEA clients discover the net dwelling planner difficult to make use of. It additionally doesn’t enable for a lot innovation (i.e., no cupboard hacks, customized fixtures, or lighting plans). This leads many householders to make use of the house planner as a place to begin however then create a design utilizing totally different software program or ye olde graph paper.

“I’ve designed and re-designed so many instances on the Ikea software program that I’ve hit a psychological block. I’ve acquired some particular ground plan points and have by no means provide you with one thing that hits our targets for the area precisely proper. I’m hoping my principle {that a} contemporary set of eyes shall be what we want.” –Summer season Branum, IKD buyer

It’s at this stage that we discover lots of our clients. They’ve the imaginative and prescient and plan, after which they begin to second-guess themselves. Whereas we sometimes design IKEA kitchens from begin to end, householders additionally belief us to supply design evaluate providers. They really feel they get extra from consulting an expert design service specializing in IKEA than contacting IKEA planners.

“I went via kitchen planning with Ikea and in addition their companion that does many of the set up within the USA. Each processes appeared rushed, they usually went with my draft design moderately than with the ability to provide concepts and enhancements. I didn’t really feel like they had been really design professionals with a variety of expertise.” –Sarah Sonke, IKD buyer

We discover artistic options the common home-owner might overlook, and sometimes, we catch design errors that will considerably have an effect on the perform and longevity of our clients’ IKEA kitchens. On this article, we describe three IKEA cupboard design issues our designers have discovered and solved for our design evaluate clients.

Widespread Mistake #1 in IKEA Kitchens: Incorrect Filler Sizing

At IKD, we love purposeful filler, however typically filler capabilities by simply…filling. On this instance, IKD buyer Lyle tried to maximise his kitchen area by inserting a 3” filler between the wall and the fridge (and over-fridge cupboard).

This design seems to be prefer it ought to work, however we all know you want a 6” filler minimal between the fridge door and the wall. In any other case, there may be not sufficient clearance for the fridge door. We additionally see clients attempt to use no filler on this scenario. It ends badly.

“If IKD hadn’t caught this, I’d’ve been very pissed off. I’m not attempting to do that twice! It was price a pair hundred bucks to ensure my fridge might open. They’re type of essential in a kitchen.” –Lyle, IKD buyer

Widespread Mistake #2: Insufficient Countertop Area Close to Home equipment

We’ve talked about that IKD clients love IKEA for DIY options, however additionally they love IKEA for artistic storage options. Nevertheless, simply because a storage resolution exists doesn’t imply it’s best to use it. Natasha found this when she despatched us an IKEA House Planner design to evaluate that included a tall cupboard between the fridge and vary. She hoped to make use of it as a pantry, however our crew is aware of that having a tall cupboard subsequent to the vary will not be supreme.

With the fundamental 3D rendering above, we had been capable of display the area and the potential issues for Natasha.

“After I was placing it collectively within the dwelling planner, it appeared to make sense, however seeing it like this, I instantly realized that having warmth so near a cupboard is a foul concept, particularly with a fuel range. It additionally made me take extra discover of different houses I visited, and I spotted that their ranges at all times have counters on both facet. I’m not a designer, so I didn’t actually take into consideration something apart from storage.” –Natasha, IKD buyer

Natasha’s proper. As a result of warmth, it’s mandatory to keep up 18″-24″ of counterspace between the vary and cupboards. Whereas there may be much less cupboard area within the IKD picture under, it’s the safer design and can guarantee the cupboards keep lovely (and intact) for a very long time.

Widespread Mistake #3: Misplaced Nook Cupboards in Design Format

What’s incorrect with this image? You most likely received’t catch it should you don’t design kitchens for a residing. Nevertheless, we all know the issue is that the nook cupboard is within the nook. Don’t fear; it didn’t make sense to our buyer, Zack, both.

A lot as we dislike useless area, it’s typically mandatory. If this nook base cupboard is about again into the nook, the IKEA cupboard door received’t have sufficient clearance to open, and the inner organizer received’t perform correctly. Roughly 8” of pull, or useless area, is required within the nook for this cupboard to perform.

“My companion would have been so mad. I informed him I might deal with the design, and for probably the most half I did, however on the final minute I made a decision to have IKD simply look it over and ensure every thing seemed okay. They discovered the nook cupboard situation and in addition supplied an IKEA procuring checklist. That’s with out even paying for the total design. I didn’t inform him, so I nonetheless get to seem like a hero.” –Zack, IKD buyer

Skilled Kitchen Design Assessment: A Important Step for Your IKEA Kitchen Success

IKD affords two kitchen design packages: Specific Design ($245) and Full Design ($445). The Specific Design contains one revision and plans; it’s nice should you’re in a rush or want a design evaluate. The Full Design handles every thing from begin to end, together with three revisions, cupboard hacks, set up plans, and extra.

With out taking the additional step to have us evaluate their DIY designs, these clients would have been driving the wrestle bus. Ensure that your IKEA kitchen design journey is a straightforward one by trusting IKD with a re-assessment.