Can IKEA kitchen can be customized well beyond the door style and finish. Cabinet depth, hidden storage, appliance fronts and finishing details all influence how the room works and how the finished cabinetry fits your home.
These ten IKEA SEKTION ideas address common kitchen design challenges, combining standard cabinet configurations with custom fronts and finishing details.
1. Modify SEKTION Cabinet Dimensions to Fit Your Layout
Standard cabinet sizes are a starting point, but they do not have to dictate the final layout. SEKTION cabinet boxes can be reduced in height or width, with custom doors and drawer fronts made to the modified dimensions.
This approach is particularly useful when a space is too small for a standard-sized cabinet. A narrow opening, for example, could accommodate storage for spices, baking sheets or cutting boards.
Plan the modification and internal fittings together before ordering the custom fronts. The finished cabinet dimensions need to work with the intended hinges, shelves or storage accessories.
2. Choose Shallower Cabinets Where Full-Depth Storage Does Not Work
SEKTION includes shallow and full-depth cabinet options, allowing you to vary the depth according to the available space and the storage you need.
A shallower cabinet can be useful beside a doorway, along a narrow wall or on the back of an island where deeper cabinetry would take up too much room. It can also make smaller items easier to see and reach.
Check the dimensions available for the specific base or wall cabinet you are considering. Include the doors, handles and opening clearance when assessing how much space the finished cabinet will occupy.
3. Add Storage to the Back of an Island
Combine back-to-back SEKTION base cabinets to add storage on both sides of an island.
Depending on the size and layout of your kitchen, two back-to-back 24-inch-deep cabinets, or a combination of 24-inch and 15-inch-deep cabinets, can provide additional space for serving dishes, table linens or seasonal items.
Matching doors on the back of the island create a coordinated finish. Consider compatible push-to-open hardware to avoid handles or pulls that could interfere with seating.
IKEA provides components for anchoring kitchen islands and making the required cabinet connections. Have the installer plan the anchoring, connections and countertop support for the complete island, while preserving enough room for seating and circulation.
4. Hide Extra Drawers Behind a Larger Front
A clean-looking bank of drawers can contain more storage levels than the outside suggests.
MAXIMERA inner drawers can sit inside a higher drawer arrangement, giving small utensils or tools their own shallow compartment while larger items remain below. IKEA offers configurations such as three visible fronts with four drawers.
This is useful when you want consistent front lines without losing a separate cutlery drawer. Consider which items you use most often, since accessing an inner drawer may require opening the outer drawer first.
5. Put Pull-Out Drawers Behind Pantry Doors
Deep pantry shelves can leave food and storage items difficult to reach. Internal pull-out drawers bring their contents forward, making items at the back easier to access.
SEKTION pantry combinations are available with shelves and several internal MAXIMERA drawers behind the doors. Different drawer heights allow you to organize smaller packets, jars and taller containers while keeping the exterior appearance consistent.
For internal drawers, select the appropriate wide-opening IKEA hinges so the doors open far enough for the drawers to slide out. Confirm compatibility with the selected cabinet, doors and drawer arrangement.
6. Hide Recycling Behind a Coordinated Cabinet Front
Garbage and recycling bins under the kitchen sink can work, but dedicated pull-outs can make sorting easier to access and keep the bins separate from plumbing and cleaning supplies.
IKEA offers several SEKTION recycling cabinet combinations. Plan the bin capacity and location around where you prepare food and clean up.
Third-party suppliers are also worth exploring. Companies such as Richelieu offer kitchen storage accessories that may suit your project. Check the cabinet’s internal dimensions, mounting requirements and opening clearances before selecting an accessory.
7. Let a Panel-Ready Dishwasher Blend Into the Cabinetry
A dishwasher designed to accept a custom panel can match the surrounding doors and drawer fronts, creating a consistent appearance across the cabinet run.
If you want this look, select a panel-ready dishwasher before ordering its front. Check the manufacturer’s requirements for panel dimensions, thickness, weight and mounting.
A standard dishwasher with a factory-finished door should not be assumed to accept a custom cabinet panel. Choosing the correct appliance at the planning stage helps avoid an expensive mismatch later.
8. Bring Above-Fridge Storage Forward
A shallow cupboard set far back above a refrigerator can be awkward to reach. A deeper top cabinet can make better use of that position and help the fridge area align with neighbouring tall cabinetry.
SEKTION offers above-fridge cabinets with ventilation provisions. Coordinate the selected cabinet with suitable side panels or gables to create a finished surround.
Leave the refrigerator manufacturer’s required ventilation space and door-opening clearances intact. The surround should allow the appliance to open fully and remain accessible for servicing.
9. Plan Under-Cabinet Lighting With the Finishing Panels
Under-cabinet lighting provides useful task lighting for food preparation and can add a softer glow to the kitchen in the evening. Options range from plug-in light bars to hardwired tape systems.
Resolve the lighting position before ordering the finishing panels. Custom cover panels or trim can be planned to conceal the fittings or accommodate a suitable lighting channel.
IKEA’s cover panels for LED strip lighting illustrate this approach. For custom finishes, coordinate the panel dimensions, lighting system and wiring route with the installer so the underside of the cabinets looks intentional.
10. Use Panels to Give an Island a Furniture-Like Finish
Flat slab side and end panels give an island a clean, coordinated appearance. Custom panels with the same profile and finish as the doors and drawer fronts can create a more detailed, furniture-like result.
Consider how the island will look from the dining and living areas, as well as from the working side of the kitchen. Its exposed ends are part of the overall design.
DB Custom Doors supplies custom fronts and finishing components for IKEA kitchens. Include these visible pieces in the quote and drawings from the beginning so their dimensions and detailing are resolved before installation.
Getting Started
Planning a new IKEA SEKTION kitchen starts with how you want the space to function and the door styles, materials and finishes you envision. Use the IKEA Kitchen Planner to develop the layout and visualize your cabinet arrangement, then coordinate any custom dimensions and finishing details before ordering.
For homeowners in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Interior BC, DB Custom Doors provides custom cabinet doors, drawer fronts and finishing components for new IKEA SEKTION kitchens.
Share your kitchen plan and tell us about the style, materials and finishes you have in mind.
IKEA is a registered trademark of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. DB Custom Doors is not affiliated with or endorsed by IKEA.
