IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Reviews: Honest Pros, Cons, and Real-World Performance

IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Reviews: A Professional Installer's Honest Take

After installing hundreds of IKEA kitchens across the New York City and New Jersey metro area, our team has a perspective that most reviewers don't: we see these cabinets from the inside out, and we see how they hold up years later when we return for additional projects. Here's our honest, detailed review.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

IKEA's SEKTION kitchen cabinet system delivers exceptional value. It's not the same as high-end custom cabinetry, nor does it pretend to be. What it offers is a well-engineered, modular system that looks great, functions well, and lasts for years at a fraction of the cost of alternatives.

Cabinet Box Construction

Material: 15mm (5/8") particleboard with melamine laminate finish on all surfaces.

Our assessment: The cabinet boxes are the unsung heroes of the IKEA kitchen system. They're sturdy, dimensionally accurate, and the melamine finish is durable and easy to clean. We've seen SEKTION cabinet boxes hold up for 10+ years without structural issues.

Pros:

• Consistent dimensions from box to box, making installation predictable
• Melamine finish resists moisture, stains, and scratches
• Pre-drilled holes are precisely placed
• Interior is finished on all sides (some competitors leave raw edges)

Cons:

• Particleboard is heavier than plywood
• Cannot be refinished or stained
• Susceptible to water damage if edges are exposed to sustained moisture
• Not as strong as plywood for heavy loads (but adequate for kitchen use)

Hardware Quality

IKEA's hardware is genuinely excellent and often overlooked in reviews.

#### Hinges (UTRUSTA)

The integrated soft-close hinges are smooth, reliable, and adjustable in three directions. We've adjusted thousands of these hinges, and they maintain their settings well. Rating: 9/10

#### Drawer Slides

IKEA uses high-quality MAXIMERA drawers with integrated soft-close. They have a satisfying, smooth action and support significant weight. The full-extension slides allow easy access to the back of drawers. Rating: 9/10

#### Suspension Rail System

Wall cabinets mount on a steel rail that distributes weight across the wall rather than relying on individual screws into studs. This system is:

• Easier to install than traditional methods
• More secure on various wall types
• Allows fine adjustment after hanging

This is one of IKEA's best innovations. Rating: 9.5/10

For more on the SEKTION system, see our complete SEKTION cabinet system guide.

Door Front Options

This is where your IKEA kitchen's look is truly defined. IKEA offers several tiers:

#### Budget Tier ($)

• ASKERSUND - Light ash or dark brown ash effect. Foil-wrapped.
• VOXTORP - Smooth matte in white, dark gray, or walnut effect.
• Our take: Decent for rentals or budget renovations. The foil can peel at edges over time, especially near the dishwasher and oven.

#### Mid-Range Tier ($$)

• STENSUND - White beaded panel look.
• UPPLOV - Matte anthracite with a modern feel.
• HAVSTORP - Beige, light gray, or deep green painted finish.
• Our take: Great balance of looks and durability. HAVSTORP in particular has been extremely popular with our clients in Brooklyn and Hoboken.

#### Premium Tier ($$$)

• BODBYN - Off-white or gray traditional frame door. Very popular.
• LERHYTTAN - Black stained oak veneer.
• AXSTAD - Matte blue or matte white modern shaker.
• Our take: These are where IKEA really competes with custom cabinets. The BODBYN line is our single most installed door front and consistently earns compliments.

#### Third-Party Fronts

Companies like Semihandmade, Reform, and Kokeena make custom doors designed to fit SEKTION cabinet boxes. This gives you a truly custom look on an IKEA budget.

Real-World Durability

Based on our experience revisiting kitchens we've installed over the years:

After 1 year: Everything looks and functions like new. Hardware needs minor adjustment, which is normal.

After 3 years: Cabinet boxes remain solid. Budget door fronts may show some wear near handles. Mid-range and premium fronts still look great. Drawer interiors may show some scratches from utensils.

After 5-7 years: Cabinets that were properly installed remain structurally sound. The most common issues we see are:

• Hinge adjustment needed (5-minute fix)
• Toekick clips loosening
• Minor swelling on cabinet boxes near sustained water exposure (under sink)
• Budget door fronts showing their age

After 10+ years: Cabinet boxes are still functional. Many homeowners choose to update door fronts while keeping the same boxes, which is one of the brilliant aspects of the IKEA modular system.

Common Complaints (And Our Responses)

"IKEA cabinets are just particleboard."

True, but premium particleboard with melamine finish is a perfectly suitable material for kitchen cabinets. Many custom cabinet companies selling at 3x the price use the same material for their cabinet boxes, reserving solid wood only for door fronts.

"They won't hold up to water damage."

Any cabinet material, including plywood and solid wood, can be damaged by sustained water exposure. The key is proper installation with adequate waterproofing around the sink area, which any professional installer will ensure.

"Assembly is a nightmare."

We won't argue with this one for DIYers. IKEA cabinet assembly requires patience, the right tools, and experience with flat-pack furniture. This is exactly why we recommend professional installation. Our team can assemble and install a full kitchen in days, not weeks.

"Limited sizes and configurations."

The SEKTION system offers widths from 12" to 36", multiple heights, and corner solutions. While it doesn't match the infinite flexibility of custom cabinets, it covers 90%+ of standard kitchen layouts. For truly unusual spaces, filler strips and custom panels bridge the gaps.

The Bottom Line

IKEA kitchen cabinets offer the best value in the market. They're not luxury cabinets, but they deliver 80% of the quality at 40% of the price. With professional installation and thoughtful door front selection, an IKEA kitchen can be virtually indistinguishable from a kitchen costing twice as much.

We've installed IKEA kitchens in studios in Manhattan, family homes in Westchester, and everything in between. The consistent quality and customer satisfaction is why we specialize in IKEA installation. Contact us to discuss your project.