ᐅ How do I install Ikea Metod cabinets in small kitchen layouts?

Hello Ge_min,

I would like to add that in very tight kitchen layouts, it can be useful to avoid standard base cabinet depths of 60 cm (24 inches). For example, Ikea Metod offers 40 cm (16 inches) deep base cabinets, which help create more maneuvering space, especially in small rooms.

Additionally, I would recommend planning wall cabinets with well-thought-out internal pull-outs or shelves that can be used flexibly. This is particularly useful for rarely used dishes, allowing for versatile storage options.

Regarding corner cabinets: corner solutions with swing-out trays often offer limited storage space. Drawers with special corner mechanisms are often more efficient here, even though they require more effort.

Are you planning the kitchen yourself or with a specialist consultant from Ikea?

Ge_min schrieb:
Thanks for the feedback so far, very helpful! Regarding the details: The kitchen is L-shaped, with the longer wall measuring 2.40 meters (7 ft 10 in) and the shorter one 1.85 meters (6 ft 1 in). The countertop should be about 60 cm (24 in) deep, and the upper cabinets can reach up to the ceiling, which is 2.40 meters (7 ft 10 in) high. The room has a small window on the longer wall, and the water connections are on the shorter wall. I want as much storage as possible in the base cabinets, since I use the upper cabinets mainly for rarely used dishes. Thanks also for the tip about the Magic Corner. Does that work well in a room this size, or would a pull-out system be more practical? How would you best utilize corner cabinets and the ‘dead corners’ in such a small kitchen?

With your L-shape of 2.40 and 1.85 meters (7 ft 10 in and 6 ft 1 in), a Magic Corner is technically possible, but it is true that it takes up space and reduces the usable interior. I would reasonably suggest opting for two smaller cabinets in the corner instead: a 60 cm (24 in) base cabinet on the longer wall and a 40 cm (16 in) base cabinet with pull-outs on the shorter adjacent wall. This way, you can better use the corner space and achieve optimal accessibility.

Above, you can install wall cabinets up to the ceiling, preferably with compartments for the rarely used dishes. Possibly also consider open shelves for flexible access and some visual lightness.

You should plan the space between countertops to allow at least 80 cm (31 in) for comfortable movement.

I think people often overestimate how necessary corner cabinets are. Especially in small kitchen layouts, I believe it’s smarter to focus on linear cabinets, even if that means having one or two centimeters (about half an inch) less storage space. Corner cabinets are often complicated, expensive, and take up unnecessary space anyway.

Ge_min schrieb:
What cabinet configurations, modules, and installation options are especially suitable to make the kitchen functional without feeling cramped?

To me, functional often means less is more. I prefer individual, well-organized drawers over complicated corner solutions. Also, in small kitchens, the movement space matters more than a few liters of extra storage.

By the way: Ikea Metod is very good, but not every module fits perfectly in small kitchens – sometimes custom cuts or modified modules help more than standard options.