Why the little white IKEA kitchen is so popular

An expert reviews what makes white kitchens so appealing

Being trendy is très cool but trends come and go faster than a speeding bullet. The next thing you know you’re flipping through your middle school yearbook asking,

“Why didn’t somebody stop me from getting that spiral perm? My apologies to the environment for using all that AquaNet.”

With a kitchen renovation, the stakes are higher.

This 2013 article in Popular Mechanics estimates that a “minor” kitchen renovation costs on average $18,500 in the United States. Click through if you feel like having a minor cardiac event at the cost of a major kitchen reno!

Sure, IKEA kitchens are very affordable. It’s the number one reason why people select IKEA for their kitchens. Still, nobody wants to spend a couple thousand dollars on an IKEA kitchen renovation, only to have their kitchen look like pleated jeans and shoulder pads in only a few years.

Enter the little white IKEA kitchen

The antidote to trendy is classic.

The little white IKEA kitchen is an enduring classic. Just take a gander at our portfolio and you’ll see what we mean. Seventy percent of them are white kitchens! IKEA really lends itself to this timeless kitchen design.

White is clean, bright, and cheery. And it’s easy to keep this look up-to-date. According to Houzz.com’s 2015 Kitchen Trends Study: Canada (page 14), 51 percent of Canadian kitchen remodels in 2014 feature white cabinets.

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White IKEA kitchens aren’t for everyone, however. We’re proud that two of our IKEA kitchen designs have been featured on TheKitchn.com (Laura’s kitchen and Amy’s kitchen).

Both happened to be white kitchens. Some of the commenters were fans (hey thanks!) and some were decidedly not.

From one post:

Well, I’m hanging on to my warm brown wood cabinets, 80’s or not – I figure this white-painted trend must be due to end pretty soon and then I’ll be cutting edge. I do agree the mauve countertop had to go, though.

From another:

I totally agree the before pic is more chanrming than the bog standard white IKEA makeover. Such a lack of imagination. They took a retro 1950s kitchen and ruined it.

Ouch!

Like we told one commenter, we’re in the business of making our customers happy. If our customers want a white kitchen, they’re going to get a great white kitchen design, darnit.

On the flip side, we can understand the anti-white kitchen point of view. May we suggest a compromise?

IKEA is the place for white kitchens…but you can have fun with it!

If white or off-white is your thing, IKEA has a lot of options for your kitchen design:

• BODBYN off-white doors
• GRIMSLÖV off-white doors
• HITTARP white doors
• HÄGGEBY white doors
• RINGHULT high-gloss white doors
• VEDDINGE white doors

But to make your white IKEA kitchen a little more fun, might we suggest a bold pop of color with high-gloss yellow JÄRSTA accent doors?

You could even add a BOTKYRKA open shelf to go with those yellow cabinet doors:

Or perhaps some high-gloss green FLÄDIE accent doors?

Or maybe sneak in a little bit of color with a TUTEMO open cabinet or two:

See, it’s totally possible to have a forever-kitchen that still looks fresh and fun.

How do you feel about the little white ikea kitchen?

Do you love it? Or hate it?

Screenshots from thekitchn.com are used in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, commonly known as “fair use law.” IKEA kitchen images are from IKEA.com.