Kitchen design: your handy guide

Everyone wants a kitchen they can feel happy preparing food and entertaining in. Find the right style for your home with the help of our guide.

Country kitchen

What is it?

The kind of kitchen you’d find in a farmhouse or classic country cottage – full of olde-world character, but with all the modern features you’d expect.

Why would I choose a country kitchen?

You may have a period home or flat and want to keep the design traditional. Or maybe a country kitchen would blend well with the rest of your décor.

What are country kitchens like?

Look out for:

exposed beams or brick
neutral walls, panels and cupboards
a collection of traditional decorations, such as vintage clocks, hand-painted ceramics and wrought iron stools
an AGA or Rayburn cooker
chequered tile floors, in black and white or red and white – very Brittany!
glass cabinet windows

Can I mix country with other designs?

Many people now mix period designs with a modern feel. So if you fancy just a touch of country in your kitchen, why not go for a more modern country look with our ÄDEL range?

You can combine white ÄDEL fittings with a solid oak worktop, modern VINNA handles and integrated modern white NUTID appliances. To get the best of the ultra modern, choose a NUTID induction hob, the most energy efficient hob on the market.

You can also try:

a country colour finish – you don’t need to blow the budget on wood finishes: instead paint the walls in a blue or green pastel to complement your antique stained pine units, like the FAGERLAND range.
patterned wallpaper or tiling– try green and white patterns for a summery feel

If you’ve already got a country kitchen you can add a modern touch by including stainless steel appliances like those in the FRAMTID series or try mixing rustic designs and facia with modern panelling, as seen in our VÄRDE range.

Bespoke kitchen

What is it? A kitchen that’s designed to your specific needs and desires – choose the units, worktops and everything else you want to install in your kitchen.

Why would I choose a bespoke kitchen? You’re very sure and confident of how you want your kitchen to look or you have an awkwardly-shaped kitchen that standard units wouldn’t fit into.

What are bespoke kitchens like? They’re all different as they’re made-to-measure. You decide the look and feel, and experts will help match your designs to the space you have and build in all the elements you want. This could be extra storage, dining table space, space for key appliances or feature lighting.

What interesting things can I include in my bespoke design?
Cool features to think about include:

a mix of modern features and period design
built-in appliances like fridges, ovens and even wine coolers
mixes of bold colour, either with paint, wallpaper or wall units like the FASTBO range
clever storage ideas – try the FAKTUM collection

I’m interested in a bespoke kitchen. Where can I get more advice? The IKEA Kitchen Squad at your local IKEA store offers plenty of fantastic advice. Maybe take along a photo of your kitchen with some pictures of the look you want to achieve. The Squad will give you practical guidance on making your kitchen dreams a reality.

Designer kitchen

What is it? Think the sort of designer kitchens that you see on the pages of Hello! magazine or in episodes of Cribs. The cost of a true designer kitchen can be the same price as a small house but if your budget is slightly smaller there are plenty of chic yet cheap ways to get that designer look into your home.

What are designer kitchen like? Look out for:

heavy use of steel – in the appliances, extractor hoods and units
coloured units in open-plan kitchens that match sofa colours
top-of-the-range kettles, toasters, wine coolers and fridges
unusual style mixes – think Art Deco with steel or black worktops with red back and unit lighting
handleless units and push-door cupboards

How can I get the designer kitchen look? Here are some easy ways to get the look without the cost:

pare down the features – minimalism always has the air of informed taste and opulence
buy a budget lookalike – get the same chic look at a fraction of the price – good design shouldn’t cost the earth, so try the NEXUS or RUBRIK finishes
emulate the steel look with a tough, yet unmistakably stylish worktop, finished in a stainless steel colour – see our NUMERÄR worktop or a FRAMTID fridge freezer – icy cool!

Oak kitchen

What is it? A timeless kitchen design. Gone are the days when kitchens were finished in an orangey-1970s schlock design. Oak kitchens today look fantastic thanks to contemporary fittings, appliances and a more subtle design.

What are oak kitchens like? The rustic, hardwearing look never goes out of style, making this an evergreen choice. Some features that you expect include:

panelling – bringing out the natural look and feel of the wood
black iron cupboard and draw handles
granite worktops
slate tiled floors

How can I get the oak kitchen look? The cost of an oak kitchen can run as high as £35,000 for a bespoke design from a boutique supplier. But you can get excellent-value solid oak doors and drawer fronts in our ULRIKSDAL range at a fraction of the price.

Modern kitchen

What is it?

A kitchen that brings your home up to date with stylish fittings and tasteful features.

What are modern kitchens like?

Space, functionality and design are the essentials for any modern kitchen.

How can I get the modern kitchen look?

Here are a few pointers:

Kitchen islands – in modern, open-plan kitchens, islands help provide a break between the living area and the kitchen itself. You can have a static island, like the VÄRDE base cabinet and worktop, or go for one on wheels, like the UDDEN kitchen trolley, giving you extra storage and work space
Save money on an expensive wooden worktop and go for a modernist sheen with a metallic worktop – a good example is the NUMERÄR aluminium-style worktop
Space an issue? Wall organisers finished in contemporary colours and styles are a low-cost way to maintain a cool aesthetic whilst packing more into your kitchen. A great option is the RATIONELL series of organisers
Coordinate a more traditional style kitchen with some gorgeous contemporary appliances. The DÅTID range comes in white, anthracite and stainless steel colours, offering a modern take on country style.

Where do I start?

Keen to get even more ideas? Have a look at the IKEA 2010 online kitchen catalogue. You can also pop in-store to your local IKEA branch and talk to our Kitchen Squad team for expert advice and guidance on making your kitchen the modern centrepiece of your home.

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