What to Expect from IKEA’s Kitchen Planning Service

(And why customers choose IKD’s designs)

Last April, we wrote an article about IKEA’s in-home kitchen planning service using information collected by an informed shopper. However, since we published that article, IKEA has done away with the in-home consultation. You can now have an IKEA planner create your kitchen design in-store or online.

They’ve made the process easier on themselves, but have they made it better or more convenient for their customers? How do IKD designers stack up against IKEA planners?

IKEA offers free design services.

This is IKEA’s most significant asset when considering the company’s planning services. You can get an online or in-store design consultation for free. The final plan includes a design that shows elevation, a shopping/price list, and a rendering through the online IKEA kitchen planner, which can be saved to your account.
You can’t beat free! But you also get what you pay for.

IKEA planners are not designers.

IKD designers provide everything IKEA home planners do, only better. We use professional kitchen design software (called 2020), rather than the IKEA online planner. We also expect and include revisions in our base price.

View a sample design package from our designers:

Click to view a Sample Design Package

Note that IKEA kitchen planners never call themselves designers. That’s because they aren’t. The IKEA kitchen planners are IKEA associates who receive extra training on using the online tool and implementing basic design skills, like spacing, the triangle rule, etc. If there is a design complication, like a chimney, recess, or any quirk you might find in an older home, IKEA planners may struggle to create a viable solution. A trained designer would not.

By calling themselves “planners” rather than “designers,” IKEA is taking some of the responsibility for faulty designs off their shoulders. While there have been many satisfied IKEA customers (mainly those who just want to double-check their own design), some IKEA planner stories haven’t ended so well.

One Houzz user said: “The Ikea person who helped me made a few mistakes that I had to catch. She and I, both, didn’t catch a big problem with the handles I chose and the fact that some cabinets can’t be opened, fully, because the handles hit the wall.”

Another commented: “She sold me cabinets that fit in EXACTLY to the measurements their guy made when he came out to measure. No filler – which she should have calculated. All my end cabinets, top & bottom, hit the walls and don’t open completely.”

We should note that some IKEA stores employ senior planners, who are more skilled, but they are much harder to track down for an appointment.

IKEA planners won’t hold your hand.

As we mentioned, the IKEA planners are ideal for those who design using the IKEA online planning tool and want someone more familiar with the process to check their work. If you’re looking for guidance and fresh ideas, you’ll want an actual, trained kitchen designer.

When it comes to the famous IKEA cabinet hacks, for instance, the associates are only allowed to suggest pre-approved IKEA hacks—even if there is a technique that might work better for your needs. Measuring can be a challenge, as well, because IKEA does not walk you through the process. You can pay $79 to have an IKEA contractor measure your space or follow the online instructions (and hope you get it right).

IKEA has an appointment limit of two hours. When one of our secret shoppers contacted IKEA to ask what would happen if someone needed more than two hours, the associate said that shouldn’t be necessary. Customers are expected to walk through the store, do research, and have an idea of what they want before stepping into the meeting. With a trained kitchen designer, you can show them inspiration pictures, describe what you’re hoping to achieve with the new design, and let them work their magic.

If you do need more than two hours or have follow-up questions, you can always schedule another appointment, but there is no guarantee you’ll end up with the same IKEA planner.

IKD will walk you through the process and make sure you have every single detail you need to install the new kitchen and what you need to purchase for your new kitchen—down to the hinges. To see a sample design package, click here.

In short, IKEA’s planning service is free, but you will be doing a lot of homework—and legwork! You have to decide how much value you put on your time.

IKEA planners work for IKEA.

The biggest problem with IKEA’s kitchen planning service is that IKEA planners don’t work for you. They’re salesmen, trying to convince you that they have the best products and your best interest in mind. But do they?

Professional designers that utilize IKEA products work for you, and if they can’t find the perfect product for your design through IKEA, they won’t hesitate to look elsewhere. IKD mixes IKEA cabinets with other vendors like Rev-a-Shelf and Semihandmade all the time because they have different options that are often better quality. IKEA won’t tell you about those.

Is the IKEA planning service worth it?

It seems like a strange question to ask when the service is free—but your time and peace of mind are worth something.

Once upon a time, IKEA would come to your home for a reasonable fee, measure, plan, and install the kitchen. Now, IKEA is no longer one-stop shopping for kitchen design. You have to measure your rooms or make an appointment to have the space measured. If you use their measuring service, you have to schedule it about a week before you meet with the IKEA planner, so they have the information. You have to hope two hours is enough to create the kitchen of your dreams, then go shopping and find an installer.

If you have a background in design or feel very passionate about DIY projects, this could be perfect for you.

For the rest of us who want a painless, stress-free process that results in a beautiful kitchen, the value of a professional designer is undeniable.
IKD is more than a data entry service.

Professional kitchen designers consider the whole space. They account for every corner, clearance, and appliance. They listen to their customers, devise solutions, and help them understand the process.

Designers like IKD work to keep their customers happy. IKEA planners have limited skills and work to keep corporate happy.