What’s The Actual Cost of an IKEA Kitchen Remodel?
Ok, so you’ve just started on your kitchen remodel, and yes, besties, we’re screaming with excitement too, but there’s a big problem: you just got a quote back for cabinetry alone, and you realize it’s way more than you budgeted for.
We’ve all been there. Budget is always a topic of conversation, no matter how big or small your design project is. How you spend your hard-earned money is your choice, and you should be comfortable and happy with how you spend it.
Now, back to the topic of kitchen remodels. Of course, we all want a dreamy kitchen with a huge island and the integrated dishwasher of everyone’s practical dreams. Still, it can sometimes feel like these surprise costs jump out of nowhere.
We’re here to let you in on a little design secret…psst it’s got to do with IKEA. If you’re a hardcore IKEA fan, you might have noticed in Project Bonview we took full advantage of the IKEA cabinetry, and you would never even have known. Of course, although IKEA is technically a budget option for a kitchen remodel, there are so many other pros that we’re huge fans of! This article has every pro and con of using IKEA in your kitchen remodel and a general pricing guide to help you along the way.
Pros
We’ve got to start with the good stuff, right?! Before we get into the nitty-gritty, we are all for high-end cabinetmakers or independent producers; we know how incredibly hard they work at their craft, but for the price point of IKEA, it’s about the value you can get on a budget.
Customize Until Your Heart's Content!
With any IKEA kitchen cabinets, you can completely customize everything. Even without going custom, IKEA offers the widest variety of cabinet sizes (from 2-5 drawers to full-height pantries).
Functional + Stylish
It’s easy to design a kitchen that will be truly functional and stylish. You can choose to go with the IKEA door + drawer fronts or select another company like Semihandmade that makes custom door + drawer fronts.
When working with clients, everyone has their own style, and it’s our job to find what makes them fall in love with their dream kitchen. As IKEA is so customizable, we're here to be that support to give you the best recommendations of styles we know you'll love.
Organizers
IKEA cabinetry is the bee's knees of customization. But even better, they also do a fantastic job providing the most incredible draw dividers, organizers, and sets. So while it is an additional cost, it’s a great way to use your space effectively and stay organized like those Pinterest photos we can’t get enough of.
Insider Tip!
If you’ve fallen in love with door handles or even a paint color, guess what… you can have it all! We’ve all been there, loving a handle so much that you just can’t stop thinking about it. When you use the IKEA systems, almost everything is interchangeable. So you can choose the cheaper cabinet and use them in combination with a luxe handle. No one will ever know the difference!
Price Point
Budget, budget, budget. As we mentioned earlier, it’s something that we talk about all the time. When you look at your kitchen remodel, kitchen cabinets alone make up around 25%, give or take. This 25% of your budget is a quarter of what you get to spend, so if you can cut that cost in half, why wouldn’t you?
Within the range of cabinetry offered at IKEA, they also have varying price points, so if you need a quick fix, like “I just need to get rid of these awful yellow-stained cabinets” you can get it.
Shorter Wait Times
With cabinetry, appliances, and even door handles, your usual lead time is 10+ weeks. Lead times can be longer due to COVID and supply chain issues. Things are improving, but we are still not back to where we were before.
Now, of course, when you work with us, we can give you average lead times in your design therapy sesh, so that you can plan and organize along the way. But, if you buy your cabinetry through IKEA, you can pick it up within the same day you decide on it.
Insider Tip!
Although IKEA is fabulous for a quick turnaround time, we highly recommend avoiding DIY. While we love a good DIY, unless your hubby knows all the tools of the trade, we recommend you hand over your flat packs to our experienced tradespeople that will get your kitchen fitted out in no time! IKEA also provides an installation service. However, they will not help with the demo, electrical, or other items that must be completed.
Warranties
We know this isn’t the first thing that jumps to anyone’s mind when looking at a kitchen remodel, but it’s the practical side that we consider and one you should consider. With that being said, you wouldn’t believe it, but IKEA has warranties that go from 5 years up to 25 years! Click here to learn more about what their warranties cover.
Cons
Okay, we get it. We’ve rambled and told you about everything we love about IKEA. But what about what we’re not a fan of?
1. We do not recommend IKEA appliances, sinks, or faucets. These items are not worth the price as you will have to re-purchase sooner rather than later.
2. The cabinets are made of MDF, so if they get wet/soaked, they must be replaced.
3. If you are putting them together yourself, like anything IKEA, you need a bit of patience and time.
You’ve Got Us!
You really didn’t think we’d let you choose your kitchen all on your own now, did you? We’re here to work with you, guide you, and make professional recommendations. Trust us; we’ve got some recommendations you haven’t even thought of yet.
ASR Design Studio has done many projects, so we’ve devised ways to avoid potential bumps before you get there. We can pull in our expertise and your budget-friendly selection; voila, you’ll have the kitchen of your dreams in no time!
Rough Price Guide
Alright, we’ve made our case. We've gone through and listed all the pros and cons, but here’s the skinny of the actual cost of an IKEA kitchen remodel.
These prices are a general guide. When you work with us, we give you a full breakdown of all the expenses.
Cabinetry
To deck out your entire kitchen in IKEA cabinets, fronts, and fillers, you’re looking at around $6,000 for a 120 SF kitchen. This cost is just for the cabinets and doesn’t include any additional customizations.
To use IKEA cabinets in the same size kitchen with semi handmade fronts and fillers, you are looking closer to $3,000 for the IKEA cabinets and another $9,000 for the semi handmade fronts and fillers.
You’ll want to factor in that the price will change depending on square footage, cabinets selected, and desired finishes. Cabinetry can vary significantly between kitchens, so getting a quote for that part of your budget is always important.
NOTE: Price can change based on square footage, cabinets selected, and chosen finishes.
Hardware + Kitchen Sink
To top it off, you must include hardware and the kitchen sink, which can easily fall in the $6 - $50 range for hardware, $500-$2k for a faucet, and $1-$3k for a sink. These do add up, so please make sure to plan and adjust the costs depending on the size of your kitchen.
We recommend Kohler sinks and faucets. They offer great quality products, many styles, and good price points that won’t break the bank.
Our top favorite sinks are the prolific under mount and the Whitehaven farmhouse-style sink.
This one is hard! If we had to pick ONLY our top three favorite faucets from Kohler, we would choose Crue, Artifacts, or Purist.
Counter + Backsplash
This simple update can have a major impact on the overall look of your kitchen. Not only is it a stylish modernizing feature, but there are additional benefits that come with remodeling these integral pieces of your kitchen design.
First, updating your countertops and backsplash can help you save money in the long run. You can avoid costly maintenance down the line by installing newer materials such as quartz or granite. Plus, these materials are also easier to keep clean - making that chore just a little bit simpler!
A backsplash is a great way to add color and texture. It’s about $10-$30 per sf, depending on whether you choose ceramic, porcelain, or handmade. In a 120 SF Kitchen, that’s in the $1,000 price range.
Quartz Countertops
At ASR Design Studio, we love quartz countertops. We recommend MSI, Caeserstone, or Daltile. It’s about $1200-$3000 per slab. Slab sizes vary, so your designer and/or fabricator can tell you how many slabs you need.
Natural Stone Countertops
If you want a natural stone like granite, we recommend picking one with a treatment to protect the stone. We prefer Petra Stone which is about $2000 - $8000 per slab. But it's worth protecting your investment for years to come.
Remember, there will be additional costs for fabricating and installing your counters and backsplash.
Insider Tip!
If you want a more modern look that is both functional and pretty, run the counters up the walls to create a built-in backsplash. Not only does it make it easier to clean, but it looks so stylish. You can also create a shelf with the same material to give your kitchen a high-end look. Overall, this will add an extra slab to the cost.
Lighting
Kitchen lighting is so important! You need to be able to see what you’re doing at all times and then, of course, have the option to turn the lights down and create an ambiance when friends are over for a late-night wine. A combination of different types of lighting allows for the most versatility.
You better believe there was a fierce discussion at the office over which three lighting companies we recommend. It came down to circa, cedar & moss, and worleys.
For ceilings, 9 feet and higher, consider adding recessed overhead lighting, under cabinet lighting, wall sconces, and a pendant light over an island. Recessed lighting provides bright illumination without taking up any visual space from the ceiling.
Under cabinet, lights are ideal for highlighting countertops or providing additional directional task light. Wall sconces can be used as accent pieces to create mood lighting for your home's gathering areas. Lastly, pendants hanging over an island add texture and interest to a room while offering focused task light over eating areas.
For ceilings 8’ and under, you’ll want to add recessed lighting to create a bigger, brighter space! Choosing the right ceiling canlight for your kitchen will improve visibility and add a modern feel. Recessed lighting is an easy and efficient way of brightening up any room.
Kitchen Appliances
And don’t forget about appliances like refrigerators, stove tops, and dishwashers! Those will run you another $10 - $30k.
Overall kitchen costs
For a 120 SF Kitchen, you are looking at $30-$50K for cabinets, appliances, countertops, hardware, sinks, and plumbing.
You’ll also need to hire a contractor for the demo and installation. The price is different depending on your area and the contractor's expertise.
Insider tip!
For preliminary pricing for contractors, we take the budget number from what needs to go into the kitchen and use that as our baseline for contractor pricing. All the stuff 30k + contractor 30k = 60k
This rough estimate will help you know what your overall costs will look like. The final pricing depends on the size of your kitchen, which cabinets you select, and what kind of finishes you add.
Final Thoughts
All in all, we’re fans of IKEA and the budget-friendly solutions that they have. Love their storage solutions, range of cabinet styles, and drawers.
But we truly believe that your kitchen shouldn’t look like an IKEA catalog. We love mixing IKEA + Semihandmade to create a custom look kitchen at a budget-friendly price. If you want more of a luxe look and feel, contact us at ASR Design Studio for a Design Therapy Sesh, and we can create the kitchen you’ve always dreamt of. We love designing kitchens, whether using IKEA and semihandmade or going completely custom.
