IKEA Kitchen Cover Panels Guide
Are you designing or building your new kitchen with IKEA kitchen cabinets?
If you are, then you’re already well aware of the stunning style and sophistication that the Sweden-based company is capable of bringing into your home. In fact, today, IKEA is one of the world’s leading suppliers of modern, innovative home design products you can find.
And, IKEA is often significantly more affordable than buying from other North American brands.
But enough of that, if you’re reading this, then you’ve probably already installed your kitchen cabinets and are simply wondering how to finish it all off.
Fortunately, we’ve put together this quick, handy guide on IKEA cover panels to help you get the best ideas for finishing your brand new kitchen’s design.
Why Do We Need Them?
As you already know, IKEA cabinets are built by using a frameless SEKTION system and are available in two general color options: white and wood effect brown color, while at the same time there are more than 15 different door styles. And considering that face of the cabinet will be covered with a door or a drawer front, the side of some cabinets could be exposed and look different to your kitchen doors.
Here are some examples
IKEA kitchen base cabinet without cover panel
IKEA kitchen cabinet with 25”x30” cover panel installed
So, in order to avoid seeing the uncovered parts of your cabinets, IKEA has designed a special lineup of cover panels, which are guaranteed to match perfectly with any style of cabinet doors or drawers you may choose. As well as that, IKEA kitchen cover panels are also used to cover back and sides of the IKEA kitchen island, as a dishwasher gable, a filler, or a fridge panel.
IKEA Cover Panel Style Guide
Please refer to the table guide below for IKEA kitchen door styles and cover panels for them
| STYLE NAME | Design Options | Cover Panels |
|---|---|---|
| AXSTAD | Matt White | Use Forbatra matt white |
| NEW Dark Gray | Use Forbatra dark grey | |
| NEW Matte blue | Use AXSTAD matte blue | |
| BODBYN | Off-white | Use Forbatra off white |
| Gray | Use Bodbyn grey | |
| Dark Green | Use Bodbyn dark green | |
| VOXTORP | Matt White | Use Forbatra matt white |
| High Gloss Light Beige | Use VOXTORP high gloss light beige | |
| Walnut Effect | Use VOXTORP Cover panel, walnut effect | |
| Dark Gray | Use Forbatra dark grey | |
| KUNGSBACKA (made from plastic bottles) | Anthracite | Has it's own panel |
| GRIMSLÖV | Off-white | Use Forbatra off white |
| VEDDINGE | White | Use Forbatra white |
| TINGSRYD | Wood effect black | Has it's own panel |
| UDDEVALLA | Blackboard Surface, Anthracite | Yes |
| RINGHULT | High Gloss White | Use Forbatra high gloss white |
| BODARP | Gray-Green | Yes |
| HÄGGEBY | White | Use Forbatra white |
| JUTIS | Frosted Glass, Aluminum | No |
| Smoked Glass, Black | No | |
| LERHYTTAN | Black Stained | Yes |
| JARSTA | High Gloss Black-Blue | Noe |
| ASKERSUND | Light ash Effect | Yes |
| GREVSTA | Stainless Steel | Yes |
| TORHAMN | Natural Ash | Yes |
| EDSERUM | Wood Effect Brown | Yes |
| HITTARP | Off-White | Use Forbatra off-white |
| YTTERBYN | Printed 5 different styles | No |
It’s also important to note that not every style of IKEA cabinet door has a matching lineup of cover panels. So, for those that don’t, IKEA has created its fabulous FORBATTRA line.
FORBATTRA comes in 5 different color variations, which are sure to match your IKEA kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts perfectly.
- FORBATTRA Matt White
- FORBATTRA White
- FORBATTRA Off- White
- FORBATTRA High Gloss White
- FORBATTRA Dark Grey
IKEA Cover Panel Sizes
To match the cabinets that you’ve chosen, IKEA cover panels come in a wide range of different styles and sizes.
Let’s take a look at some of the sizes available.
IKEA cover panels for wall cabinets
- 15×32 1/2”
- 15×42 1/2”
IKEA cover panel for base cabinet
- 25×30”
or 26×36
IKEA cover panels for pantries
- 15×90”
- 25×80”
- 25×90”
IKEA cover panels for dishwasher gable
- 26×36”
IKEA cover panels for an island/peninsula or to cover the side of a fridge
- 36×96”
IKEA cover panels as filler pieces
Any size of cover panel or cover panel leftover can be used as needed
Where To Use Cover Panels
As I’ve already mentioned, cover panels are meant to be used to cover up and exposed surfaces of your IKEA cabinets. This simply helps complete your kitchen design, giving your cabinets a fully-finished, seamless look.
Typically, cover panels will be needed at either end of your cabinets, above your dishwasher (gable), on the exposed sides of a pantry, or on the backside of a kitchen island.
Furthermore, IKEA cover panels can also be used as a filler material when there are gaps that need to be filled between cabinets and adjacent walls, or alternatively, between the top of an upper cabinet and the ceiling.
IKEA Cover Panel Installation
IKEA cover panels are meant to be used to cover up any unfinished parts of your cabinets, as well as to help conceal the way that they’re put together.
For this, you’ll need to install your cover panels with screws through the side of your cabinet walls. However, additional brackets or clamps are sometimes needed to provide extra support and to help properly complete the installation.
Finally, IKEA is known as somewhat of a do-it-yourself brand, where you get to choose your design components and then you’re free to put them together however your desire. And while this can be fun and easy for handymen or those with building experience, getting things right can be a bit trickier for those who’ve never installed a kitchen before.
So if you’re interested in learning more about designing your kitchen with IKEA cabinets, or simply need help putting everything together, we’d love to hear from you. So don’t hesitate to give us a call or contact us for a quick quote.
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