Things in my IKEA Kitchen that just make (organizational) sense.

In 2018, when my husband and I set our sights on a kitchen renovation, we truthfully didn’t do much research beyond an IKEA kitchen system. I knew a few other people who had done IKEA kitchens, the price was right, the design options, albeit limited, fit our style, so we decided to go for it. The kitchen design was done fully online in their online tool, spitting out the exact order for all the individual pieces.  We had the kitchen design ready to go, so we could order everything as soon as the IKEA Kitchen Event was on, saving us 20%. We were both working full time and I was pregnant, so we chose to go with a contractor to complete the installation. All cabinetry, knobs/handles, pendant light and the microwave/vent combo are from IKEA. The other appliances, countertops, backsplash, flooring, kitchen sink and faucet, are from other local vendors.  Four years later, we still love our kitchen and feel it’s very functional, the space is optimized, the compromises we made were for the best (which we still believe to be true) and the design lends itself to a clutter free environment. 

The Function.

Visualizing daily workflows as we designed the kitchen was instrumental in optimizing functionality. I pictured myself cooking at the stove and thinking about what I would need to reach for (pans, spatula, spices). I pictured the dishwasher door open and being able to easily put away all the dishes and cutlery. I thought about our small appliances (toaster, blender, coffee maker) and where their home would be. A few stand out decisions when it comes to functionality include:

Garbage Pull Out: Without any hesitation, we were going to find a home for the garbage and recycling. But as I worked through my routines, I realized we also needed a home for the compost bin. Having the compost bin in a separate pull out right beside the garbage makes meal clean up so much more efficient.

Pull Out Under Sink: I knew cleaning supplies would be going under the sink, so one big pull out meant I could see everything at a glance. When picturing my cleaning routines, I also ended up installing a small IKEA rack to hang wet dish cloths and dish gloves to dry while still being tucked away. 

Pan Pull Out: The pull out drawer fits 3 pans and their lids perfectly and is located right beside the stove for easy access when cooking. It is also right across from the dishwasher so the pans can easily put away. We have absolutely no need for more than 3 pans, so this keeps us from over buying. The original wire dividers from IKEA didn’t stand the test of time, but a wire dish rack from dollarama has held up for over a year, keeping the pans supported individually.

Undermounted, Single Bin Sink: the undermounted sink makes wiping down the counters such a breeze. Having one individual sink bin has served as a baby bath tub for both my kids, and makes it so much easier to clean those oversized pots. 

Outlet Placements: Deciding where our counter top appliances would live was an important consideration in where we would need outlets. When in doubt, I say add another outlet, so we may have gone a little overboard in our kitchen. Since we went with a white tiled backsplash, the outlets aren’t overly distracting. 

The Space Optimization.

When working and living in the kitchen, you want everything to be in reach, but there is only so much prime real estate. This is why I think space optimization is important no matter the size of the kitchen, and works alongside functionality. Some of the key features that optimize space in our IKEA kitchen include:

Hidden Cabinet in Peninsula: you have to slide out the chair to access it, but this hidden cabinet was the best way to optimize the corner space. This space is perfect for the less frequently used items (paper plates, trays, table cloths) 

Microwave and Stove Vent Combo: when something can serve two purposes, space optimization is definitely at play. 

Double Drawers: there is an added cost to the IKEA kitchen double drawers, but I think it’s worth every penny. 

Extra Shelving: IKEA cabinets come with 3 shelves, but you can buy additional packs of 2 shelves for any size cabinet. I actually bought the extra shelving a few years after our original kitchen renovation (and cursed myself for not doing it sooner).

The Compromises.

There were two major compromises that were made in the design process of our kitchen:

Corner Cabinets: The base corner cabinet only offered a carousel insert. While this design is certainly functional, there are so many better corner cabinet designs through other cabinet providers.

Condo Size Fridge: This compromise actually all stemmed from the corner cabinet. IKEA only had one option for the bottom corner cabinet and it was slightly larger than the original cabinetry. If we went with a regular sized fridge (usually 30 inches), we didn’t have any space for a cabinet between the stove and the fridge. We played around with moving the fridget to a different spot, but there are only so many options in a small kitchen. Keeping it in the spot and going with a 23.5 inch condo size fridge was the best option that balanced the over functionality and design of the kitchen. We did end up putting our old fridge in the basement, which we use for drinks and back stock groceries.

The Design.

Most of the organizational design of an IKEA kitchen is behind closed drawers (and cabinets), but the finishing touches on the overall aesthetics shouldn’t be undervalued for reducing eye clutter and contributing to the organizational goals of the kitchen. 

Hidden Dishwasher: IKEA offers a cabinet panel that can be mounted to a dishwasher, but you do have to be sure to purchase a dishwasher that is panel ready. Reducing eye clutter is so important in creating an organized space, and I find having one less appliance really helps to create a more seamless design. 

Keeping Original Features: We had this neat cubby with a glass door in our kitchen. We contemplated covering it to level the wall, but I’m so glad we didn’t. This cubby has been so great to organize all our devices as a central hub in the kitchen. We had the shelves built out to go flush with the wall to make it feel more like a built-in. 

Crown Moulding: Most cabinets, when installed at the standard height, have a gap between the ceiling and the top of the cabinet. Our contractor built up a fascia, topped with crown molding, to give the cabinets a built-in aesthetic. We picked paint colour that matched the IKEA cabinets as closely as possible to create a seamless finish. 

Check out my Pinterest Board for more IKEA kitchen organizational design inspiration. 

Check out my 6-Part Series on Instagram, including before & after reveal and all the organizational elements in between.