ᐅ IKEA tall cabinet side panel / deeper than the cabinet

Hello,
I have a 211cm (83 inches) tall cabinet with a side panel on one side. Strangely, the side panel is about 2cm (0.8 inches) shorter in depth than the cabinet itself. According to the instructions, the side panel should be mounted so that it protrudes 2cm (0.8 inches) towards the front.

What is the purpose of this? Or did I misunderstand something?

PS: I want to install a fridge-freezer combination.

Thanks, Philipp_

Hello, the top panel is set lower than the main body so that it aligns flush with the front.

Hello Ikea expert, thanks for your answer.

I’m not quite sure I understand: If I mount the top panel flush at the back, it protrudes at the front. If I mount it flush at the front, it protrudes at the back and I can’t push the cabinet fully against the wall.

Do I have to mount the panel flush at the back and pull the refrigerator out slightly during installation so that it closes properly?

Thanks, Philipp

If the back edge of the cover panel is flush, it will only protrude as long as no door is installed yet. The best approach is to place the door first and then put the cover panel next to it.
You can see this quite clearly on the left side of the picture:

Okay, I will give it a try. Thank you very much!

One more question: My cabinet is free on both the left and right sides. Do I still need to install the side panel so that it is flush at the back and overhangs at the front?