Doors for IKEA Kitchens: 13 Ideas for Replacement Fronts

One of the cleverest ways to get a designer kitchen on a budget is to keep IKEA's cabinets and swap the doors. IKEA carcasses are affordable, sturdy and easy to plan, and a set of new doors, whether bought from IKEA, from a specialist maker or built yourself, can make the whole kitchen look bespoke.

In this guide I'll share your options for doors for IKEA kitchens, how to make sure replacement doors fit, what to do if you have an older discontinued kitchen, and 13 ideas for IKEA kitchen doors to inspire your own.

The quick answer: You can buy doors for IKEA kitchens directly from IKEA or from specialist companies that make fronts to fit IKEA cabinets in plywood, painted MDF, solid wood or veneer. Most current IKEA kitchens use the METOD system, so replacement doors need to be made for METOD sizes and hinge positions. Older FAKTUM kitchens use different dimensions, so their doors aren't interchangeable with METOD.

Can I Buy Doors Only for an IKEA Kitchen?

Yes. IKEA sells kitchen doors, drawer fronts and cover panels separately, so you can replace or update doors without buying new cabinets. You can also buy doors from independent companies that make fronts designed to fit IKEA cabinets, often in materials and colours IKEA doesn't offer.

Your Options for IKEA Kitchen Doors

How to Make Sure Replacement Doors Fit

• Know your system. Most IKEA kitchens sold in the UK in the last decade are METOD. Older kitchens may be FAKTUM.
• Measure each door. Record the width and height of every door and drawer front, not just the cabinets.
• Match the hinge positions. IKEA doors use concealed hinges set into round holes near the edge. Replacement doors need holes in the same positions.
• Check the thickness. Doors that are much thicker or thinner than the originals may affect how the hinges sit and how doors line up.
• Plan end panels and plinths. Visible cabinet sides and plinths should match your new doors for a finished look.

What If My IKEA Kitchen Is Discontinued?

IKEA replaced its FAKTUM kitchen system with METOD. According to IKEA, "IKEA's METOD kitchen system has different dimensions than the former FAKTUM kitchen system," and "As a result, the ranges cannot be combined with each other."

If you have an older FAKTUM kitchen, your options are:

• Specialist makers that still produce doors in FAKTUM sizes.
• Second-hand or discontinued IKEA kitchen doors for sale on resale sites.
• Painting your existing doors for a fresh look.
• Making your own doors in FAKTUM sizes from plywood or MDF.

How to Make Your Own Doors for IKEA Kitchen Units

• Choose the board. Birch plywood gives a modern look with visible edges, while MDF gives a smooth surface for painting.
• Copy an original door. Use an existing door as a template for size and hinge positions.
• Cut accurately. A track saw or a timber merchant's cutting service gives clean, square edges.
• Drill the hinge holes. Concealed hinges usually sit in a 35mm hole, which needs a hinge-cup drill bit and a jig for accuracy.
• Seal or paint. Seal plywood with a clear water-based finish, or prime and paint MDF.
• Add handles. Fit handles or cut finger pulls before you hang the doors.

13 Ideas for IKEA Kitchen Doors

1. Birch plywood with exposed edges. Plywood fronts with a clear finish and visible layered edges look modern, warm and Scandinavian. Round cut-out finger pulls keep them simple.

2. Sage green flat panels. Matt sage doors with brass handles and an oak worktop are calm and timeless. More ideas are in these sage green kitchen cabinets.

3. Classic cream shaker. Shaker doors in cream with cup handles turn an IKEA kitchen into a traditional, country-style kitchen.

4. Dark navy slab doors. Deep navy with a marble or quartz worktop looks dramatic and elegant.

5. Fluted oak. Vertical fluting gives oak doors texture and a high-end feel, especially on an island.

6. Terracotta with finger pulls. Warm terracotta doors with integrated pulls are bold and earthy.

7. White handleless gloss. A sleek handleless kitchen keeps lines clean and works beautifully in small spaces. These handleless kitchen ideas go further.

8. Two-tone cabinets. Dark doors on base units and pale doors on wall units keep a kitchen grounded but light.

9. Walnut veneer. Walnut doors with slim black handles give a warm, mid-century look.

10. Ribbed glass wall cabinets. Ribbed or reeded glass doors on wall units soften a run of cabinets and show off glassware with a gentle blur.

11. Pale pink with terrazzo. Soft pink doors and a terrazzo worktop make a playful, characterful small kitchen.

12. Painted existing doors. If your doors are in good condition, priming and painting them is the cheapest update. The same method used for painting IKEA furniture works well.

13. Mix open shelving with doors. Replacing a few wall doors with open shelves lightens the kitchen and makes room to display ceramics, with neat drawers below thanks to these kitchen drawer organising ideas.

IKEA Doors vs Specialist Fronts

How I Approach Kitchen Doors

After more than 15 years of designing homes, pubs and restaurants, I've learnt that doors do most of the work in a kitchen's look, while the cabinets behind them just need to be solid.

• I spend on what you see. Keep the cabinets simple and put the budget into doors, handles and worktops.
• I bring samples home. Look at door samples next to your floor and worktop in daylight and lamplight.
• I think about handles early. Handles change the whole feel, from country to modern.
• I soften it with flowers. As a florist, I always finish a new kitchen with a jug of flowers or herbs by the window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy doors only for IKEA kitchens?

Yes. IKEA sells kitchen doors and drawer fronts separately, and many independent makers sell doors designed to fit IKEA cabinets.

Will other kitchen doors fit IKEA cabinets?

Only if they match the size and hinge positions of IKEA's system. Look for doors made specifically to fit METOD cabinets, or for FAKTUM if your kitchen is older.

Are METOD and FAKTUM doors interchangeable?

No. IKEA says the two systems have different dimensions and cannot be combined.

Where can I find discontinued IKEA kitchen doors?

Try resale and second-hand sites, or specialist makers that still produce doors in older IKEA sizes.

How do I make my own doors for an IKEA kitchen?

Cut plywood or MDF to the same size as the original doors, drill hinge holes in the same positions with a hinge-cup bit, then seal or paint them.

What are the best replacement doors for an IKEA kitchen?

It depends on your style and budget: IKEA doors are the most affordable, while specialist plywood, veneer or painted fronts give a more bespoke look.

Is it cheaper to replace kitchen doors than the whole kitchen?

Usually, yes. Keeping sound cabinets and replacing only the doors, handles and perhaps the worktop costs far less than a full new kitchen and creates less waste.

A New Kitchen Without Starting Again

New doors are one of the smartest upgrades for an IKEA kitchen. Choose the right fit for your system, pick a material and colour you love, and finish with good handles, and your kitchen can look completely new for a fraction of the cost.

And if you'd like help planning your kitchen colours and finishes, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.