Bunnings vs Ikea: Where to buy the best flatpack kitchen

It's a hot topic on design forums - if you're renovating on a budget, which flatpack kitchen will give you the best bang for your buck?

Cost is generally the main focus when choosing between brands like Ikea, kaboodle (at Bunnings) and small local suppliers, but other factors will weigh into your decision too, such as style, durability, lifespan, ease of installation and how much design flexibility there is.

Here's how the kitchens stack up.

How do prices compare?

An IKEA Enhet L-shape corner kitchen, with particleboard base and wall cabinetry, two 186cm long laminate benchtops, a sink and tap (no appliances), starts from $2038.

A kaboodle L-shape corner kitchen at Bunnings, with melamine cabinetry, vinyl-wrapped MDF doors and three 240cm long bamboo benchtops, starts from $6042.

At Kitchen Under 2K, a value-focused flatpack supplier in Blacktown, NSW, that delivers to cities nationwide, an L-shape corner kitchen with base and wall cabinetry in HMR melamine and two 240cm long laminate benchtops, starts from $1995.

Are flatpack kitchens worth it?

If you're on a budget, the answers is yes, says Cherie Barber, a professional renovator and founder of Renovating For Profit.

"Flatpack kitchens from kaboodle, IKEA and Freedom offer a range of styles and sizes that fit most spaces, without the high cost of custom work. They are ideal for properties where high-end cabinetry isn't warranted or would result in overcapitalising on your property value," says Barber.

"I use flatpacks in all my personal and TV renovation projects. Generally, the quality is solid for the price, and the wide range of style and colour options allows for creative flexibility.

"I'm a big fan of kaboodle - in particular, their 'Paint Your Own Doors' range, which lets you create a kitchen of any colour," she says.

Which one is more likely to last the distance?

IKEA and kaboodle kitchens both offer solid warranties, so you know they will last - 10 to 25 years for various kitchen elements at IKEA, and 10 years at kaboodle, with a lifetime structural warranty on carcasses while you're living in a home.

Warranties at generic suppliers are typically shorter - at Kitchen Under 2K, for example, it's five years.

"When it comes to quality and durability, kaboodle and IKEA are comparable, although IKEA kitchens are slightly harder to install," says Barber. "Kaboodle might edge out IKEA in quality consistency, being a specialist cabinetry supplier."

It's also worth bearing in mind that one brand may often offer kitchens of several different qualities and prices, says Naomi Findlay, a professional renovator and principal designer at Findlay and Co Interior Design.

"This includes different door profiles and benchtop materials, which allow you to create a more bespoke look, particularly if you're prepared to spend a little more," she says.

Which offers the most style and customisation options?

Creating a unique look is easy at IKEA and kaboodle, with a variety of door profiles, cabinet colours and benchtop materials available, plus environmentally friendly options, like bamboo benchtops, and user-friendly extras like soft-close drawers and doors.

"Freedom Kitchens also has impressive offerings - but in my view, kaboodle is the standout, having added more customisation options than ever to their range in recent years. They also have cabinets as small as 100 millimetres wide, so your kitchen doesn't have unsightly gaps," says Barber.

Need custom cabinetry to fit an awkwardly shaped kitchen? "Do some online research and you'll find flatpack suppliers who will customise the size of your cabinets," says Findlay.

While small and generic suppliers typically have fewer design options, they will often let you add kitchen with special features.

"Flat-face door profiles and soft-close hinges are our standard stocked items, but different profiles, colours, soft-close drawer mechanisms and storage solutions are available as special orders," says Alex Turanski, sales manager at Kitchen Under 2K.

Which gives you the most luxe look?

"I believe kaboodle and Freedom Kitchens look more high-end due to their broader customisation options. However, IKEA offers some sleek, modern designs that, with the right styling, can create a premium look," says Barber.

What about a local flatpack supplier?

"Small local suppliers or wholesales are unlikely to have the same overheads as big brands, so you can save money, and they may offer local support. The trade-off, generally, is fewer design options - many just offer standard white, black and oak-look cabinets and doors," says Barber.

"Quality varies significantly among small suppliers, so see what locals who've used them have to say. Also, check the quality of small but crucial elements, like hinges and drawer runners, and read the fine print in the warranty. When comparing the prices against bigger brands, include factors like delivery charges, so you're comparing apples with apples," says Findlay.

Is it worth it?

"Personally, I would recommend sticking to the big flatpack brands. If something goes wrong, you're more likely to get proper after-sales support than with a smaller independent operator. Plus, you'll get more design options," says Barber.

How hard are flatpacks to install?

"I have DIY installed many flatpack kitchens over the years and find the process easy. One challenge with flatpacks is if a part is missing or gets broken, the onus is on you is to go back to the supplier and sort it out," says Findlay.

"In my experience, kaboodle kitchens tend to be slightly easier to install than IKEA as the backing board that braces the cabinets to the wall is sturdier. I've also used Freedom cabinets and found them easy to install," says Barber.

Buying and delivery process

Stock issues are, for the most part, a thing of the past, say the pros.

With IKEA, you can take flatpack items home with you or have them delivered in days.

Kaboodle offers modular items for pick up or delivery, while special orders take four to six weeks.

A brand like Kitchen Under 2K delivers to homes between Australia's south and east (from the Sunshine Coast to Adelaide) generally within 10 working days, to northern Queensland in around 20 days, and to other parts of the country by arrangement.

How to make a flatpack look more luxe

"To give your flatpack kitchen a high-end look, choose flat-front or profiled doors, such as Shaker-style doors in a colour that's not traditional white. Assemble the cabinets yourself, then get a professional carpenter to install them so your kitchen is perfectly level. Invest in a quality benchtop, such as natural stone or a stone-look surface," says Barber.

"Beautiful cabinet handles and lighting make a big different too," says Findlay.

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