Flat packed cabinets are a great option for your new kitchen, they’re cost effective and can be customised to fit your space perfectly. However, it can feel overwhelming when your flat packed cabinets arrive and you have to install them into your new space! When your cabinets arrive, don’t despair – there are some simple tips which can make the installation process easy. Let’s take a look!
- Prepare your space.
One of the most important steps when it comes to installing your new flatpack cabinets is getting the space ready. This will mean removing the old kitchen and ensuring the flooring and walls are level. Remove your base cabinets first as this will give you easier access to the higher cabinetry. If you notice that there is significant unevenness with your flooring, don’t just go ahead and install over the top – you might need to get someone in to take a look.
- Plan ahead.
Remember, no matter how confident you are in your installation abilities the installation of a flatpack kitchen can take time and there will be a period of time where you won’t have access to your kitchen. Think about the best timing to install your kitchen and plan ahead in terms of what you’ll do without access to the area. Where will you store your pantry items? Where will your fridge go if it needs to be moved?
- Verify your measurements.
We can’t stress this enough – measure, measure, measure! The last thing you want is for your new cabinets to arrive, only to realise that you’ve given the incorrect measurements. It’s a good idea to invest in a good quality laser for your measurements to ensure that they’re accurate and always check your measurements two or three times. If you’ve gotten your measurements wrong, there’s generally not much the company can do about it once your cabinets arrive.
- Have the right tools.
Be prepared for your new cabinets by having the right tools in place. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting into your installation and then realising you need to head to the hardware store! You can contact the company ahead of time and get some advice as to what tools you’ll need for your installation. Of course, it’s also a good idea to look for flatpack cabinets which are easy to install with minimal tools required!
- Mark the positioning
Don’t start fitting in your cabinets straight away – it’s a good idea to mark the wall first so you can see easily where everything will fit. Refer to your kitchen plan and use a pencil to measure where the cabinets will go against the wall. This will also give you a good idea as to the height of your cabinets once they’re in. This makes it much easier to slot in your cabinets and get started.
- Install corner cabinets first
Don’t just select a cabinet at random – start with your corner cabinets and work your way out. A corner cabinet is a good starting point because they can’t be moved either way so the other cabinets need to join up. If you don’t have any corner cabinets, start with an end cabinet and work your way up from there. This can help ensure that your cabinets look even at the end.
- Prevent chips
There’s nothing worse than installing your cabinets, only to realise that there’s already a chip that’s been caused during installation. Cabinet doors tend to be the main victims of chips so take care! Keep them packaged up until the cabinets are fully installed to avoid accidental damage and install them one by one. Take particular care if you’re using power tools to help install your doors! Don’t worry, good quality flatpack doors tend to be tough but you still need to take care.
- Look out for gaps
Even if you’ve taken accurate measurements, there could be small gaps between the wall and your cabinets. Make sure you measure your cabinets and the space to account for these gaps and centre your cabinets if necessary so the gaps are even on both sides. This will look better than having a larger gap at one end while the other end is flush.
- Take your time
Although it’s understandable that you want your cabinets ready to go as soon as possible, remember that it’s best to take your time and not rush your installation process. It’s normal for it to take longer than expected! If you rush through without taking all the correct steps, it could mean that the finished product doesn’t look as good as it should and you’ll be disappointed with the final result.
- Get some help
Although some people want to install their flatpack cabinets themselves, remember that you can always hire an expert to do the installation for you, Whether you just don’t have the time to do it or your cabinets arrive and you realise it’s a bigger job than you thought, an expert will be able to get the job done quickly and professionally. Many carpenters will be able to do the installation for you – think about this option if you’re unsure if you want to do it yourself!
At The Kitchen Door Company, we offer a range of kitchen, bathroom and laundry cabinet doors which are customised to your exact specifications. If you want the perfect door to fit with your existing IKEA kitchen cabinets, we’ll have the perfect product for you. Our doors are easy to install and are made with precise measurements for the perfect fit.
To find out more about our range of cabinet doors to complement your Ikea kitchen, give us a call on (08) 9456 0165 or take a look at our range online.