Kitchen Units in other rooms of house?

[jaylin]

Morning, I hope im not mad ;-)

Ive been looking at storage options for my living and dining rooms. Yes IKEA is always a good go to for things but im not convinced theyre that sturdy and in particular our home when it comes to wall fixing..

I was reading an Australian story (after I googled) that suggested carefully chosen Kitchen Units would be good in both Living and Dining Rooms as well as their modular approach etc. Looking through their pictures etc, they may be on to something.

Would it be ok to ask if similar thoughts and possible approaches from forum colleagues on here?

Look forward to reply and some very useful discussion please..

My kindest....

The biggest issue I would have is that most kitchen units are very deep (over 500mm), being designed to be fitted under worktops and with kickboards etc. None of that is going to fit well into a living room space. Maybe you could make it work for a dining room depending on what kind of thing you're going for.

A shallow wall-mounted unit with suitable doors might be a suitable alternative to an IKEA cupboard/shelves but I can't help feeling it's reaching for a solution to a non-existent problem.

I find the IKEA stuff is absolutely fine to be honest. Units like KALLAX give you tons of storage and are cheap and as sturdy as anything. If you're wall-mounting the units, you just have to buy the right mounting hardware for the walls you have (fixings, brackets etc) and not just rely on what IKEA themselves supply, which really amounts to the bare minimum.

I could totally see it working! My biggest bug-bear is that most storage units are so shallow you can barely fit anything in them. I think kitchen units would really help that. Decent sized drawers too. If you just had them along one wall, it would be far more useful than a traditional sideboard. Even put a slab of decent wood over the top, instead of a worktop, and with the right cabinets would look really nice.

When we did our bathroom, we were looking at IKEA but found nothing big enough for storage, (I do tend to stockpile shampoos etc), I needed a big towel cupboard and something that could be turned into a boiler cupboard.
The range we were looking for was available in IKEA but in their living room range. It is white with glossy white doors and of course, you can pick your own handles.
They were just what we were looking for but in the wrong place!
I've no idea if these are still available now as this was a good few year ago.
They do look good and are easy to keep clean.
Very happy with them.

I've seen hacks on social media where people use the kitchen cabinets to build floating media units and alcove cupboards and they look absolutely great. It makes complete sense to me- just because something is marketed as a kitchen cabinet doesn't mean you need to use it in the kitchen! In fact I was thinking of doing another version of this- I've got an awkward corner in my living room I wanted to find a bookcase for but couldn't find anything the right size. The Ikea Pax wardrobe range had something that I think will work great with a tiny bit of tweaking.

In my last house, in the newly renovated bathroom, the previous owners put in white kitchen units and marble type worktops with matching wall cupboards along one wall and it was brilliant. Lovely deep cupboards with loads of space and no clutter. I miss it, and I would totally look at kitchen units for a dining room, with the right style doors and handles it could totally work.

We were going to use IKEA kitchen units and "hack" (ugh) them to make built in alcove storage in the living room.

However, it turns out that it's cheaper to build the frames to fit than faff around modifying premade. We will use kitchen cupboard doors though as we want a shaker style and they're the right size for the space.

There's an episode of changing rooms from the latest series where they modify kitchen units into usable storage - you'd never know.

We've recently put Metod 200cm tall units on 2 walls of our Dining room. A full depth span (60cm) across one wall and the shallower depth units (40cm) on the other wall, which suited the proportions of the room. I had considered having some separate wall and base units with a worktop, but decided on full height cabinets only.

I like how we have been able to customise it with drawers, pull out units, etc. It is also adaptable, so I can change the door fronts/ handles quite easily in the future.

Wow.. some great replies here. Certainly food for thought. Only just got back to my computer after a busy day away from it. Will read up on the replies after dinner and come back to everyone. I saw a little example pic this morning and will try upload it Again thankyou all 👍

We used a double door kitchen cabinet in our bathroom to house the sink. We are a tall family and normal bathroom cabinets made the sink too low down. Personally I love it and can store a huge amount of toilet rolls, body washes, bleach and um...more body washes in it 😂

HI THERE MaybeSmaller
Its good that you've found the ideal Ikea stuff a good fit for your specific need

HI THERE Seeline
I like ever thing you suggest. A wonderful post from yourself. Of course finding the suitable components is the trick bit but fingers crossed

HI THERE PickledPuffin
Its a pity the range no longer available?. Sounds ideal as we need ‘big storage’ for the family here.

HI THERE Flewtheflue
I heard there are hack sites of Ikea but don’t know much about them.
I will try checkout the Ikea PAX you suggest.

HI THERE LardoBurrows
I like the idea of kitchen units with a lovely hardwood top to give it the living/dining style

HI THERE Stephisaur
Fully understand the rationale of making the frames and then use doors pre made. I will have to try find the changing room episode as you suggest.

HI THERE hedgehoglurker
I need to check out the Method as you suggest with shallower options too?

HI THERE INeedAnotherName
I'm starting to think there's some mileage in exploring kitchen units for the lower storage area(s).

Finally....
I'm going try find a way to get a pic i saw last night if i can finally remember the web site. Will try upload it asap...
THANKYOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT .. to be continued PLEASE 😀

I found the pic. I chopped out the horrid back wall and carpet.. Colour of units not important.. its the shape etc etc.. Base units and wall units..
What do you think?. Piccie attached here.. Don't know where to find such :-(
Please tell me theres better options if you think so... Im hear to listen to your valued advise.. 😀

If you like it, and doesn't look out of place with the rest of your furniture, then go for it. IKEA items are "boxy" as are kitchen cabinets. Personally I would only have them in bathroom or kitchen but your picture one would look good in a study or office room but if the rest of your house is "boxy" then it would be fine in any room.

*I'm using boxy like you would chintzy or soft cornered or art deco style.

Hi INeedAnotherName,
Im not sure what of the IKEA available ranges would fit the 'boxy' term. The need for substantial base units (good storage) a main criteria but of course not too deep ..

Sorry, I'm not an ikea person (I prefer solid wood items, turn of century) but looking on their website I assumed most of their items were like the EKET system. If not then I apologise.

I have ikea wall units built into a weird alcove in my living room. It was from the era when they did real oak kitchen doors so it doesn't really look like a kichen unit.

I've been thinking of this for a unit by the front door.
Using an 800 width double door kitchen unit with worktop on top - although not sure what sort of unit and worktop would look OK and not too kitcheny.
Would use the cupboard to keep shoes in and to have the countertop for a plant or flowers, somewhere to put the post, etc.

Hi Chasingsquirrels,
I like your idea. Its not easy finding units etc is it?

Hi Chasingsquirrels
You got me thinking (you may have hit on the keyword "Hallway" as its by front door).. I went to IKEA and did the following check📧
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/search/?q=hallway
What about NORDLI range if you scroll down?..
Let me know... Im seeing if might fit for me (thinking)...😀

Hi Chasingsquirrels
What about:-
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/search/?q=nordli
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/search/?q=platza

I've got something similarish to that, which I've had for years and needs replacing as the baskets are knackered and the kids (now young men) have big feet, and so larger storage is needed 😊, and they are too big to sit on it to put their shoes on.
Plus I want something tall enough to accommodate the plastic bin containing hen food which currently lives on the windowsill (it's unsightly, but also that window has recently been replaced with a tilt and turn one, and the bin blocks it opening).
And higher, so it's a counter top rather than a bench.

I actually think a double kitchen unit would be perfect. I'll have to look around at styles and chose one.

Although having just measured the space is 89cm x 60cm, so maybe just not quite deep enough for a standard cabinet.

After all these posts it seems a few of us would like a good chunky storage capability (not for kitchen) at floor level with a nice 'top' (didnt classify as worktop as not needed for kitchen) spanning the storage unit(s). I would want to add some vertical feature 'towers' at either end of the 'top' to add some pictures, pottery etc etc inside the areas within the vertical 'towers'.. I think finding the towers wont be a problem.
Better go bed now. Lets resume tomorrow if we get a chance. Goodnight all..

Wont a 800mm do?

Chasingsquirrels, wont a 800 mm wide do x 600?

800mm width is perfect, just the standard depth is 600mm I think (or 590mm + slight worktop overhang). So completely filling the space to the window recess unless we cut down the back slightly - which is an option as there will be service void behind the back panel anyway.