12 methods to improve IKEA kitchen cupboards for a luxe look
IKEA kitchen cupboards present a superb, reasonably priced base which you could elevate in your design scheme. Hacking IKEA cupboards presents the right style-meets-savvy answer for anybody trying to perform a renovation with an upscale aesthetic whereas nonetheless maintaining a eager eye on prices.
We all know that IKEA produces wonderful high quality kitchen cupboards, however what sorts of IKEA hacks could make them look bespoke on a price range?
One straightforward means is to make use of totally different doorways and handles from corporations like Customized Fronts, Holte, Superfront and Semihandmade. ‘The feel, heat and pure grain of the merchandise imply every kitchen might be distinctive,’ says Rachel Thurlby, Director at Customized Fronts, ‘particularly as you may select to combine and match finishes, a alternative which is turning into more and more in style.’
‘You may also get fantastically easy shelving models and panels, which you need to use to create all types of storage options, together with kitchen islands.’
If you wish to perform an IKEA kitchen hack, a easy lick of paint and new handles goes a great distance in fashion phrases. We have pulled collectively a number of the greatest methods you may improve and elevate IKEA kitchen cupboards to point out which you could create designer attractiveness it doesn’t matter what your price range is.
12 concepts to improve IKEA kitchen cupboards
1. Combine patterns and shade finishes so as to add visible curiosity
(Picture credit score: Superfront)
When you’re in search of an on-trend aesthetic that is additionally timeless, including totally different shades of gray to your kitchen cupboard concepts is an effective place to begin. It is a refined approach to convey depth and dimension to an area that you simply spend a big majority of your time in.
This IKEA Metod kitchen base has been given a beautiful glow-up with Superfront doorways, drawers and brass handles for an added ingredient of glamor.
‘Mixing cabinetry – seen right here with Superfront Parallels (in Ashton Gray) and No Sample doorways and drawers (in Cloudy Gray) – in darkish and light-weight gray tones paired with contrasting white marble provides an expensive contact to this kitchen,’ Superfront tells us.
2. Go for a sustainable Scandi fashion
(Picture credit score: @tooting_reno_project)
Utilizing an IKEA kitchen as a base is a very savvy concept that permits you to create a high-end search for much less. So far as wooden kitchen concepts go, this Scandi-style ply end is a superb choice because it’s trendy in addition to sustainable.
Ash of @tooting_reno_project says: ‘By combining IKEA cupboards with birch ply fronts from Customized Fronts, we have been capable of obtain the search for our kitchen that we wished at a very reasonably priced value.
‘We had a planning session with IKEA over Zoom, despatched our plans over to Customized Fronts they usually did the remainder. By sourcing issues individually, we created a bespoke kitchen with out breaking the financial institution.’
3. Handcraft your individual kitchen cupboards for a really personalized end
(Picture credit score: @mytinyestate)
Over in lovely Warwickshire, artistic couple Dean Poulton and Borja De Maqua are renovating a surprising Georgian property, and detailing the works on their addictive Instagram account, @mytinyestate.
Within the oldest constructing, referred to as the Caretaker’s Cottage, the boys have created a surprising inexperienced kitchen sanctuary that appears utterly bespoke.
(Picture credit score: @mytinyestate)
Explaining the method, Borja says: ‘We acquired all of the carcasses prepared and we then reduce 18mm thick MDF to create the doorways. We created a quite simple design for the doorways as we wished so as to add paneling to make them look extra in step with the age of the property.
‘As soon as the doorways have been reduce to the correct sizes, we purchased an attachment on-line so we might make the holes for the IKEA hinges and, after some portray and lots of evenings working, Voila! We made ourselves a kitchen that nobody would know is IKEA till they open the cabinets. Inside the cabinet, we now have cabinets and drawers from IKEA too (you may’t beat their storage options).
‘We invested in a quartz worktop and the faucets and handles, in actual fact, the kitchen faucet (from deVOL) value us greater than all of the kitchen cabinets put collectively!’
This lovely inexperienced kitchen concept makes use of Jade from Fenwick and Tillbrook and the brass handles are from Yester Dwelling. The consequence? One of the characterful IKEA kitchens we have seen.
4. Select clear and up to date with handleless white kitchen cupboards
(Picture credit score: Customized Fronts/Anna and Tam)
A white kitchen is a traditional design that’s ageless and will be formed to suit any decor scheme, from traditional to minimal.
This clean-lined white kitchen concept retains issues on-budget and up to date with smooth-surface cupboards, pops of coloration in artwork and lighting, and a heat timber ground.
Get the look by putting in IKEA Metod base cupboards and reworking them with Color Fronts in Chalk by Customized Fronts.
5. Assume blush pink for a fairly and sensible cooking area
(Picture credit score: Holte)
Together with inexperienced, pink is a prime kitchen pattern for 2022. ‘Coral, violet, and pink are analogous colours, which sit subsequent to one another on the colour wheel,’ explains Eva Sonaike. ‘They’re shiny and thrilling tones which are related to power and symbolize well being and vitality. I believe all of us want dose of this for 2022.’
And what higher place to begin including feel-good hues than the kitchen cupboards within the coronary heart of your property?
(Picture credit score: Holte)
Fiona Ginettt, director at Holte, which makes bespoke fronts for IKEA kitchens, says of the gorgeous venture above: ‘An extension to a Victorian home in Stoke Newington created a light-filled area with staggered ceiling heights.
‘The shoppers opted for our LAM-P fronts in Formica Simply Rose with uncovered ply edges and WOOD in oak with a darkish oil end for the wall cupboards and island.
‘The worktops are Caesarstone Frozen Terra and handles are our Straight Built-in Pull. A number of bespoke elements full the scheme together with an open wall shelf and a double pantry cupboard.’
6. Remodel an IKEA Sektion from fundamental to bespoke
(Picture credit score: @trica.design.studio)
When Ania @trica.design.studio wished a high-style search for a shopper on a price range, she determined to offer IKEA Sektion base cupboards a contemporary makeover – with spectacular outcomes.
She used the Ringhult doorways and easily gave them a refresh with new up to date pull handles.
To make the area actually sing, she then added customized porcelain counters and a marble-effect kitchen backsplash concept for an elevated end.
7. Give the IKEA Torhamn doorways a lick of paint for a contemporary farmhouse really feel
(Picture credit score: Jenna Sue Design)
With its luxurious hue and Shaker-style end, you’ll by no means guess this rustic kitchen concept was created with an IKEA kitchen cupboard hack.
Jenna Sue Design created the look, which used a wealthy inexperienced hue give IKEA Torhamn doorways an upscale really feel.
She says: ‘For the decrease cupboards, we ordered IKEA Torhamn wooden doorways, which was their best choice for portray.
‘They have been sanded, primed and painted with Benjamin Moore Advance in Peale Inexperienced, and completed with new brass handles and knobs.
‘The higher cupboards are inventory white IKEA Axstads, and we gave all the pieces a built-in look with customized panels and trim.’
Decorate with a vintage-style rug, open shelving and rustic wooden counter tops for a recent nation aesthetic.
8. Work a deep blue hue for a recent mid-century trendy kitchen
(Picture credit score: Holte)
‘This kitchen in an East London Victorian terrace makes use of the IKEA Metod system mixed with our fronts and bespoke cupboards,’ says Holte’s Fiona Ginnett.
The wealthy blue kitchen concept combined with wooden grain cupboard fronts creates a welcoming area that is additionally design-forward and trendy.
Fiona provides: ‘The shopper opted for our MATT-V for almost all of the kitchen, which includes blue Fenix laminate on a black Valchromat core. They mixed this with WOOD-E fronts in American purple elm for the higher cupboards.
‘We offered a bespoke open shelf wall cupboard in addition to crown reduce European elm wall paneling for the eating space. The shopper selected chrome steel worktops with a seamlessly welded sink and our Straight Pull built-in handles for a streamlined total look.’
9. Vogue an up to date conventional fashion for enduring design
(Picture credit score: Semihandmade/Nicole Dianne)
Go traditional with a standard fashion that is given an up to date really feel with brass kitchen {hardware} and pale timber flooring.
A well-designed white kitchen won’t ever date, and this design by Jessica Jones is an excellent instance of how an IKEA Sektion base will be utterly remodeled with new cupboard fronts and handles.
‘In a Northern California lakefront fixer-upper, Jessica Jones mixed ornate brass {hardware} with Semihandmade DIY Shaker cupboard fronts painted in a heat white to create an up to date conventional kitchen,’ says Semihandmade.
‘Glass prepared doorways and pale wooden open cabinets supply distinctive alternatives to show treasured objects that proceed the impartial coloration scheme. Pronounced curved edges on the vary hood, oversize chandeliers, and turned legs on the island add a traditional aptitude to the general vibe.’
10. Elevate IKEA kitchen cupboards with brass {hardware}
(Picture credit score: @trica.design.studio)
Sage inexperienced kitchen concepts are soothing and might create a trendy sanctuary that is calming and tranquil whereas remaining stylish – and IKEA’s Bodarb doorways are simply the ticket.
The kitchen above, designed by @trica.design.studio, takes an IKEA base and Sektion doorways and offers them a easy trendy makeover with new brass handles from Richelieu.
Customized quartz counters and a painted wooden slat paneling backsplash additional mix to create a refined but inviting end.
11. Be daring with a dramatic black IKEA kitchen cupboard hack
(Picture credit score: Semihandmade/Elizabeth Messina)
Give your IKEA Metod or Sektion kitchen base a contemporary, modern makeover with black cupboard fronts that basically pack a design punch.
This black kitchen concept was designed by Anne Sage and makes use of Semihandmade’s new BOXI Peppercorn Edge cupboards to create a cool, assertion really feel.
Semihandmade says: ‘BOXI’s Peppercorn Edge cupboards, which characteristic a refined, pencil-thin molding, are a hair extra up to date than Shaker cupboards, and barely extra dynamic than pared-back slab cupboard fronts.
‘A mixture of textures – shiny tiles, a pure wooden shelf, and {smooth} black marble with brown accents – make good concord with the straightforward Peppercorn Edge cupboards. The important thing right here is to not overdo issues – therefore brass cupboard pulls which are positioned proper in step with the cupboards’ pencil reed element.
‘Though their molded edge offers them a contemporary look, you may herald a distinction with rounded {hardware} or elevate their naturally modern look with straight cupboard pulls that appear to mix into the cupboard fronts.
‘Black cupboards additionally look nice with a variety of backsplash and countertop choices. You may preserve issues completely easy with white counters and subway tile, or you may create a wonderful cohesive look with marble counter tops that characteristic black veining.’
12. Go for an all-wood end for modern mid-century cool
(Picture credit score: Holte)
The mid-century trendy aesthetic is a pattern that continues to endure, and darkish or heat wooden kitchen cupboards might help create the look.
Holte’s Fiona Ginnett says: ‘In a complete transform of a household residence in Tunbridge Wells, our shoppers wished a kitchen with a mid-century really feel.
‘They selected to maintain it easy with our WOOD-E fronts in walnut with J pull built-in handles all through, letting the timber do the speaking.
‘On a base of IKEA Metod cupboards, the kitchen is accomplished with marble impact quartz worktops and a easy floating shelf.’
Proof, if it have been wanted, that wooden can work for contemporary kitchen concepts in addition to conventional ones.
How can I make IKEA kitchen cupboards on-trend?
Designer IKEA hack queen Sarah Sherman Samuel tells Semihandmade that shades drawn from nature might be robust in 2022 and past. She’s nonetheless a fan of terracotta and ochre, however inexperienced is the one to observe. She says: ‘I really feel like there’s a variety of fig leaf and different greens. It’s so grounding and all people might use a few of that proper now.’
By way of finishes, New York Metropolis inside designers Emma Beyrl and Chris McGovern describe flat-front slab cupboards as an awesome alternative for a streamlined look, good for industrial lofts or mid-century trendy properties.
Shaker cupboards ‘transcend design traits’ for a timeless really feel, whereas beadboard cupboards are perfect for a extra formal look. Glass-front cupboards are choice for brightening up a kitchen and are higher cupboard option to show fairly objects.
‘Darkish timbers, curves and sustainability are key for on-trend kitchen cupboards,’ says Fiona Ginettt, director at Holte. ‘We have now been making a variety of walnut and cherry kitchens and, generally, our clients appear to be erring in the direction of darker and hotter veneer species.
‘Curves are extremely popular for the time being, each in bigger codecs as curved bookcases or ends to islands and on a smaller scale within the curves of ribbed or reeded panels on cupboards.
‘Our shoppers are additionally turning into way more engaged with the sustainability of their initiatives, choosing lower-emission supplies and asking for the CO2 screening in order that they’ll make decisions to steadiness their buy.’
