Recommend me things from your Ikea kitchen!

[Catabogus]

I’m designing my new kitchen on the Ikea kitchen planner. But I have no clue what configuration of cupboards/drawers/shelves I need, and no idea what inserts/combinations/clever storage things I should add.

Can anyone recommend me things they have in their Ikea kitchen, and say what they use them for? Ta muchly!

What, no one? Am I ordering the wrong kitchen?!

I don’t have an Ikea kitchen but I would say drawers over cupboards, they are so much easier for storage. We have 2 sets of 80cm pan drawers (the deep ones). One has pans, the other Tupperware, another all our plates & bowls and the final one other slightly random stuff like scales and salad bowls. Plus we have a hidden cutlery drawer...I don’t know if ikea do this.

I have some of the ikea plastic drawer dividers and they are fab for storing Tupperware and keeping it organised.

I was so glad we went through everything we have in our kitchen & allocated it a place in the new design before committing - that will really help you decide what you need.

Go somewhere more expensive, eg John Lewis, and get a kitchen planner to do a free consultation for you. Then copy the plan in IKEA. that’s what we did!
It’s much easier if you can go into store as they suggest things to you like drawer widths, inserts, etc etc.

Don't get the push open draws (they are fittings that sit at the side of each draw/cupboard) - they are rubbish! We're in the process of replacing our draw fronts with the voxtorp with hidden handles as 2 months in they are driving us mad! Other than that draws are better over cupboards, as PP said. We have some really tall cupboards and inside we have draws with that the food, Those are great!

I had 2 tall larder units from the old Ikea kitchen range. We are just ripping out our kitchen and our B&Q kitchen units cannot be salvaged but the larder units can. We had drawers in both and they’re so handy to use and store. I am going to go with Ikea for my new kitchen. NorthSouthMoggie - The Ikea designer said it was better to get handles so I’m going to get the Blankett ones. (Thank you for seconding that thought!)

All drawers on the base units instead of cupboards! On the IKEA planner, really drill down into the unit options: on drawers, for instance, you can add internal lights, or my favourite thing, drawers within drawers! So you might have what looks like a 3-drawer unit with three fronts & handles, but inside one: tada! Another secret shallow drawer! Maximises space for cutlery, utensils, rolls of foil etc, without loads of extra drawers on show.

The pullout units of 20/30cm wide are good for filling gaps. Base units that are only 37cm deep instead of 60cm are good for in front of annoying pipework or immovable obstacles.

Thank you all! These are awesome

We love our ikea kitchen!

Definitely drawers over cupboards!

We have used small cabinets to make our wall cabinets ‘taller’ which gives lots more storage space.

We also moved the wall cupboards higher up the wall than normal - this only works if you’re tall though!

And last but not least, the drying rack over the sink is amazing! Gets clutter off the worktop, and just works really well!

Ok, so the message I’m getting is drawers, drawers, drawers! That is good to know. Also good to know they need handles.

But what about food - do you keep that in drawers too? No cupboards at all?

And what about inside the tall cupboards - drawers inside there too?

I can’t find 20cm pull-out units. They would be great in our kitchen. Do they still make them?

I've got one sitting in front of me now, awaiting installation…

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/kitchen-products/kitchen-organisers-shelves/maximera-pull-out-interior-fittings-art-20297279/

^ that's the interior fitting, obviously you need the base cabinet, legs, door & handle too. Best thing to do is use the online planner – you'll find the 20/30cm pullout units in Base Cabinets, scroll down past "with drawers, with doors, for appliances, etc".

They have a very clever looking pull out broom cupboard organiser. I wanted one for my non ikea kitchen but it won’t fit as it’s made for Ikea’s extra deep cabinets.

I don't have an Ikea kitchen, but I do use a Billy bookcase in it as a pantry for my dry goods

i dont have an IKEA kitchen but I gather they are deeper so suggest having deeper worktops than the normal 600mm.
I did this with a wickes kitchen and its great as I have worktop space even with toaster/kettle out on the worktop.
NorthEndGal do you have a pic you could put up with your Billy pantry?! Sounds intriguing.

Ikea will do a kitchen plan for you.