What Are Flat Pack Kitchens? A Custom Approach to Design and Functionality
When it comes to kitchen renovations, the term flat pack has become a popular buzzword in the home improvement world. While flat pack kitchens are commonly associated with ready-to-assemble kits from mainstream retailers like IKEA and Bunnings, there’s a more personalised version available that allows for complete customisation, tailored to your specific needs.
In this article, we’ll dive into what flat pack kitchens are, how they differ from traditional kitchen installations, and why opting for custom cabinetry could be the perfect choice for your next renovation project.
What is a flat pack kitchen?
This refers to a kitchen system that comes in flat, pre-cut panels and pieces, which the homeowner assembles themselves. This approach has grown in popularity because it offers a cost-effective and convenient solution for kitchen renovations. Typically, flat pack kits come with all the essential components: cabinets, drawers, panels, and hardware. The beauty of this system lies in its simplicity. You order the kit, it arrives at your door, and you or one of our professional installers put it together.
Why custom flat packs are better
Kitchens from mainstream brands like IKEA or Bunnings typically offer limited customisation, so you’re restricted to a set range of cabinet sizes, heights, finishes, and configurations. While these might be affordable and can be quick to assemble, they may not always suit your specific space requirements or style preferences.
This limitation becomes noticeable in older homes, where walls are rarely square and measurements often don’t align with ‘standard’ dimensions. So you’re stuck forcing pre-sized cabinets into a space, leading to awkward gaps, wasted corners, or a kitchen that simply doesn’t look cohesive.
Custom cabinetry eliminates these issues, allowing you to design each element around your actual room, not a one-size-fits-all template. Want a higher benchtop to make food prep more comfortable, or a lower counter to suit accessibility needs? No problem.
Need a cabinet designed specifically to house your oversized oven, vintage fridge, or built-in coffee machine? That’s completely doable.
Even niche requirements, like integrating storage around structural beams, creating a pull-out shelf for heavy appliances, or designing narrow cupboards to fill otherwise unused slivers of space, are all possible with a custom approach.
The result is a kitchen that not only fits perfectly, but also functions exactly the way you want it to, without the compromises that come with off-the-shelf solutions.