IKEA shaker cabinet doors

Shaker kitchen is an essence of traditional design. If you want to recreate that look in your home, there are many ways to do it. One of them is to buy IKEA shaker cabinet doors and add some details, that will create that style.

How to choose IKEA shaker cabinet doors?

We don’t have a specific design called shaker in our assortment. However, there are some ground rules about what a shaker cabinet should look like. What product you choose to create your perfect shaker kitchen look is up to you. It is common that IKEA shaker cabinet doors look traditional. With no modern decoration or contemporary minimalistic style. At Noremax, you will find three variations of the style that fits this shaker design philosophy. Before we tell you more about them, let’s think about what components the shaker design consists of and where it came from.

What is a shaker kitchen?

Is a shaker cabinet a stable piece of furniture? Will IKEA shaker cabinet doors be firmly installed, or would they shake while you open them? Some may ask that question if they don’t know what “shaker” stands for.

The Shakers was a name given to a religious group of Quackers. It derives from the observed habit of shaking during their mystical meetings. Whether it was true or not, the Quackers were also the shakers of rules when the group first became popular in Europe in the 17th and early 18th centuries. They believed in direct religious experience, equality and a simple, honest life. No wonder European authorities didn’t like that. Dutch and English Quackers had found their new home in American Colonies, especially in Pennsylvania.

Long story short – shaker kitchen style represents the values and aesthetic tastes of those people. It is simple, honest, practical and accessible. It was popularized not only among Quackers and became the standard of traditional design.

IKEA shaker cabinet doors in our store

So then, which of Noremax designs can best represent the shaker ideals? We recommend Classic, Classic Style and Classic Max. These are all part of the same Classic family. The designs consists of front with a rectangular frame of 7 cm, and depending on your choice will have a 45- or 90-degree angle. A decoration many people picture as an ultimate kitchen cabinet design. These IKEA kitchen cabinet can create very different styles. From more modern to rustic and natural. For the latter option Classic Max would be a good choice. This version is made of ash veneer and plywood. The design has a visible wood texture and looks more like a solid wooden door. Both Classic and Classic Style are instead made of MDF and can be painted in any colour of your choice.

To create a consistent kitchen design, you can order IKEA drawer fronts in the same style. Drawers are, besides cabinets, an essential part of a proper shaker kitchen.

Details to make the look cohesive

If you want to create a traditional look, you probably want it to be cohesive. IKEA shaker cabinet doors will be elevated even more if you take care of the details.

You can use every front from our store without handles. To do it, you need to instal a push opener. However, this is not the most traditional way of opening. To create a true shaker style, handles and knobs will be a better choice. You can customize IKEA cabinets using one of our various types of handles. For IKEA shaker cabinet doors, wooden knobs can be a nice match, but you can also try out a few different styles.

Another crucial detail is colour. We will say more about the traditional shaker cabinet’s colours below. But some specific colour choices can make the look of an old-school kitchen more authentic. To complement the design, you can also use furniture legs which are available in our store. Cabinets with visible legs, especially if it is stand-alone cabinets, are more traditional in appearance.

What colour would Shakers use?

Shaker kitchen doesn’t have to look like a historical reconstruction from 19th century Pennsylvania but it’s good to know what colours were popular then and there. It might be inspiring. There were some colours which are not used widely today but used to be preferred for IKEA shaker cabinet doors.

Green – Among many greens, shaker cabinet fronts for IKEA may be painted in bottle green or a muted dark green. Light or pastel green will give a more modern look and might not be a preferred option for the Shaker style.

Blue – Rather darker and not too sharp. Marine blue is a good option. Blue is also a nice colour to create a calming environment.

Yellow – This does not have to be a painted yellow. Natural wooden or light yellow is also a great choice.

Red – A cherry or wine red colour will create a warm and cosy space.

Remember that all colours were not available back then. It was more common to use natural, locally available pigments. But since then, the colour options has broaden and you can now choose any colour you prefer to create your personal take on a shaker kitchen design.

Customize your IKEA kitchen cabinet doors

As stated before, all the colours we have today may not have been available in the 19th-century Pennsylvanian countryside, but they are certainly available now at Noremax. If you don’t care about the traditional colour that much, you can customize your IKEA kitchen cabinet doors with one of the thousands of colours available. We honour NCS, Jotun and Farrow&Ball colour codes. This lets your idea come to life and by giving your chosen colour code when ordering, you can truly personalize your kitchen fronts.

Instead of using traditional colours, you can use general colour theory as a guide. Some colours might help with appetite, calm you or make you feel more energetic. Whatever you need from your kitchen – to eat better or relax – there is a colour to enhance that.

More than a shaker kitchen

The Classic design is not only available for IKEA shaker cabinet kitchen doors. If you browse IKEA Bestå door fronts or Pax wardrobes, you will find the designs fitted to those IKEA frames. It can be used to design a traditional looking living room or bedroom. The typical, classic rectangular frame is universal. You can use it as a style for any cupboard or wardrobe.

This design approach can be a good idea for those who have an open kitchen, combined with a living room or dining room. You can use the same design for doors and drawers in both spaces. This way you can create a consistent design concept throughout your home. And the classic shaker style look is a good, timeless design to go with.

Mix it with mesh or glass cabinet doors, and you have a modern take on the traditional style. It is the perfect choice for someone who wants to create a rustic design with some contemporary details.

What to combine with IKEA shaker cabinet doors?

A coherent design consciously combines styles that goes well together. Some kitchen details go well with the shaker style, and others can become too busy when placed side by side. To create a nice-looking kitchen, you have to ask yourself what kind of style the IKEA shaker cabinet doors represent? It’s simple, honest – like a Quacker’s life, and generally more traditional. There are many ways to use this style in interior design. You can paint your cabinets white or leave them a natural colour. This way you will create a rustic looking kitchen. Another option is to make it look more bohemian. The Shaker cabinets can represent a more natural vibe if you choose to pair it with wooden or mixed metal details. You can also choose to mix colours of the fronts to achieve this look. Other details like traditionally painted clay plates put on the shelf, wicker decorations or pots with lavender and thyme will look nice incorporated in a boho style kitchen.

Shaker cabinets will look especially interesting if you put them in a kitchen with a tiles stove. However, you can create a bohemian vibe even in a simple flat. The secret lies in the choice and combination of details.

Mesh and glass

We have mentioned earlier doors with a mesh or glass insert, but what does it look like exactly? On the Noremax website, you will find these options under the Mesh/Glass Collection. They are a version of the Classic design, and you can choose the same three frame and material variations. The only difference is that instead of a solid insert you can choose between translucent glass and semi-transparent, fine metal mesh. It is a fantastic way to differentiate the look of your kitchen fronts. Translucent cabinet doors combined with solid ones can look more interesting and engaging.

IKEA kitchen cabinet doors are the best choice for everyone who loves the minimalistic or vintage design. With the Classic designs, you can create different interiors. From a more traditional shaker look to rustic, boho, and more modern. The simple, universal profile of these fronts gives you more space to customize your kitchen the way it will serve you best.