The average kitchen reno costs about $25,000, with a excessive finish nearer to $40,000. The associated fee is determined by a whole lot of components, out of your geographic location (it’s lots cheaper within the South, for instance) to your style and the scale of your kitchen. Nonetheless, regardless of the way you slice it, renovating a kitchen is an costly mission.
So it’s not shocking that purchasing your kitchen from IKEA is a tempting possibility. There’s completely little doubt that IKEA kitchens are lots cheaper on paper—on common about half the cost, and presumably even decrease relying on the choices you select. IKEA sells all the things you want in your kitchen in a single place, from home equipment to flooring, cupboards, counter tops, and finishes, so it’s additionally a reasonably handy technique to rework.
If that sounds too good to be true … it form of is. Whereas the bottom-line prices of an IKEA kitchen are low, there could be a whole lot of hidden prices that many owners don’t anticipate when it comes to each money and sweat fairness. Right here’s why a “low cost” IKEA kitchen is actually costly.
There are further charges concerned
IKEA retains its kitchens inexpensive the identical method it retains its furnishings inexpensive: A scarcity of customization and a DIY method to meeting and set up. Should you’ve ever puzzled over the inscrutable meeting directions for an IKEA bookshelf or desk, you have got some small glimmer of an concept of what lies in retailer for you when the kitchen cabinetry arrives. There’s a whole lot of DIY work—like, a lot of it. These cupboards will arrive flat-packed, and every one needs to be put collectively earlier than you may set up it.
For instance, this particular person installed a brand-new IKEA kitchen for $14,493.45—which is a superb worth for a brand-new kitchen. Be aware the one $0.00 in her worth record, although: Set up. Should you’re moderately helpful and you’ve got a whole lot of time in your arms, assembling your cupboards after which putting in them will solely price you sweat fairness. Should you’re busy or not assured with instruments, paying IKEA or an unbiased contractor to assemble and set up your cupboards will run you an additional $2,000-4,000 relying on the scale and complexity of your kitchen.
If you would like an IKEA guide that can assist you plan your kitchen, that can run you about $150. You most likely need to do this as a result of the shortage of customization means becoming all the things you want into your kitchen utilizing IKEA’s fastened cupboard sizes could be difficult. Utilizing IKEA’s on-line planning software program isn’t simple, both. It has a fairly steep studying curve and may grow to be a “time suck” that ends in frustration. In fact, you may also discover an inside designer who works with IKEA kitchens, however inside designers are costly ($65-$250 an hour, typically, and the value could be as excessive as an additional $10,000 on high of your different prices).
Oh, and supply will price you anyplace from $49 to $99, which is extremely low cost contemplating you’re getting a complete kitchen. One thing to remember is that IKEA will cost you that price each single time you have got one thing delivered, whether or not it’s all the kitchen or a single drawer pull you forgot to incorporate the primary time. Should you understand you want some further issues as you go alongside, you would wind up paying a number of hundred {dollars} in further delivery charges. Be aware that you would be able to decide to select up your kitchen your self, however this most likely requires renting a truck except you’re putting in a very compact kitchen.
Should you don’t just like the look of the inventory cupboard fronts that IKEA presents—and lots of people don’t—you’ll have the additional price of ordering {custom} doorways from a third-party (Semihandmade is extraordinarily widespread). The truth is, many individuals need the inexpensive IKEA frames however decide to spend further on the outside bits (doorways, trim, and so forth.) so as to make the rather basic IKEA kitchen look “luxe.”
Lastly, if that is your first main reno mission, chances are you’ll must spend money on some high-quality instruments so as to full the work, particularly for those who’re planning to customise your cupboards your self, which is simply one other price you’ll want to contemplate.
Sweat fairness is its personal price
Should you determine to actually lean into the DIY facet of an IKEA kitchen so as to maintain prices as little as potential, you need to take into account the truth that sweat fairness is a type of price. You’ll put in a lot of time so as to set up your IKEA kitchen your self. Your record of time issues will embrace:
- Planning time. You’ll must map all the things out on-line or in-store.
- Journey time. You’ll journey to make the acquisition and choose up for those who select to not have it delivered.
- Supply time. Supply is scheduled by the day, with no particular time and no name beforehand, and IKEA received’t ship if nobody is house. You’ll have to dam off the entire day.
- Stock time. As soon as supply is made you have got 48 hours to stock all the things and call IKEA if something is lacking. Which means you should get to work opening bins and checking towards your order immediately.
- Meeting time. On common, moderately good adults ought to be capable of assemble 10 cabinets in about eight hours.
- Set up time. Should you’ve by no means performed a significant renovation/rework earlier than, it will take you a lot, for much longer than you suppose. If there’s no main plumbing or electrical work to be performed, that is most likely one to a few days of labor, barring catastrophe.
These hours add up, and your time is efficacious. Just one thing to contemplate.
Supplies price, too
Lastly, though IKEA cupboards get good critiques usually and include a restricted 25-year guarantee, the previous adage that you just get what you pay for comes into play right here. The different cause IKEA cupboards are low cost is what they’re fabricated from: Most {custom} or semi-custom cupboards are constructed from stable wooden, which feels stable and substantial—and is extremely sturdy. IKEA cupboards are constructed from medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which isn’t as sturdy, and is especially susceptible to swelling in damp areas, which isn’t supreme for kitchens.
Right here’s the bottom line: These cupboards most likely received’t put on in addition to solid-wood cupboards. Many IKEA kitchen homeowners have famous that the paint chips pretty easily and the cupboards present put on and tear inside only a yr or two. In the end, chances are you’ll want to interchange your kitchen a lot earlier than one constructed utilizing {custom} cabinetry, which suggests your “low cost” IKEA kitchen is probably not so low cost in any case.
Ultimately, an IKEA kitchen is a stable possibility for folk with smaller budgets. With cautious planning, some sweat fairness, and correct care, an IKEA kitchen generally is a stunning, purposeful technique to improve your home, but it’s merely not going to be as low cost as you suppose it’s.
