Filler panels, plinths, and side panels for IKEA kitchens - dimensions and installation

Replacing cabinet fronts accounts for 70% of a kitchen's visual transformation. The remaining 30% are elements that customers often forget to order: filler panels, plinths, and side panels. These determine whether a new kitchen looks like "IKEA with better doors" or a complete, premium built-in unit.

In this article, you will find precise dimensions for filler panels, plinths, and side panels for METOD and FAKTUM, materials available at ogony.pl, and common mistakes made by customers who order only door fronts and later regret it.

What exactly are they?

Three categories of finishing elements, often confused even by IKEA customers.

A filler panel is a narrow front that covers the gap between a cabinet and a wall, ceiling, or an adjacent non-rectangular cabinet. Standardly 5-15 cm wide, height depends on the location. Without a filler panel, the gap casts shadows and the raw IKEA cabinet frame is visible – with a filler panel, the built-in unit looks like a single element.

A plinth is a horizontal element beneath base cabinets, between the floor and the cabinet frame. IKEA standard: 8 cm high, 160 cm long for FAKTUM or 220 cm for METOD. The plinth protects the bottom edge of the cabinet from kicks and maintains the visual stability of the unit.

Side panels are fronts that cover the visible sides of cabinets – the sides of the last cabinet against a wall, island sides, or refrigerator masking panels. Panel dimension = cabinet depth × cabinet height (usually 60×80 cm for METOD).

Dimensions - METOD (from 2014)

For METOD, the standard 220 cm plinth covers most installations. If the kitchen is longer than 220 cm, you order two plinths and join them at the seam (usually under a cabinet).

Dimensions - FAKTUM (until 2014)

For FAKTUM, the standard 160 cm plinth is shorter than for METOD – more installations require joining two plinths. The height of side panels is also lower (70 cm vs 80 cm for METOD) because FAKTUM cabinets are shorter.

Materials - comprehensively with fronts

We make filler panels, plinths, and panels in the same materials as the fronts. Three categories:

• Lacquer - 19 mm Egger MDF, semi-matte or high-gloss polyurethane lacquer. Available in Farrow & Ball, NCS, RAL custom palettes (all included in price).
• Natural veneer - 19 mm Egger MDF + thin layer of wood, clear polyurethane lacquer. Oak, Smoked Oak (stained), walnut, Maraska rosewood, Muskato Root, Silver Root.
• Birch plywood - solid layered wood, matte lacquer. Characteristic striped layers visible on the edge.

Key point: order filler panels, plinths, and panels in the same color and material as the fronts. If you order door fronts from one lacquer batch and then plinths from another (e.g., a month later) – the color may differ by a shade. Lacquer from different batches is not identical.

When to plan ordering filler panels and panels

Three strategies chosen by most ogony.pl customers.

Strategy 1 - everything together (recommended)

You order door fronts + plinths + panels + filler panels in one order. Everything from the same lacquer batch, uniform color, one 7-week production cycle, one shipment. The cheapest and least painful.

Strategy 2 - fronts now, the rest later

You order door fronts quickly (kitchen "urgently"), then after 2-3 months, you decide that plinths and panels also need to be replaced. Risk: the color of plinths from the second batch may differ from the fronts. If consistency is very important to you, we recommend a sample from the second batch for comparison with existing fronts.

Strategy 3 - factory fronts, custom plinths

Some customers buy door fronts from IKEA (e.g., Veddinge white), and only order custom plinths and panels in an unusual color (e.g., dark blue Hague Blue for contrast). An unconventional arrangement, but striking - "a white kitchen with a dark base."

Full guide to IKEA systems and standard dimensions in the hub: IKEA kitchen fronts - FAKTUM and METOD. Full guide to kitchen renovation: replacing IKEA kitchen fronts. Order a front sample for PLN 99 to check the material before ordering.

FAQ - frequently asked questions

Are a filler panel and a side panel the same thing? No. A filler panel is a narrow element filling a gap (e.g., 8×80 cm). A side panel is a full front covering the side of a cabinet (e.g., 62×80 cm). They are confusing, but they are different elements.

How do I measure a plinth if the kitchen runs along two walls? A plinth for each wall separately. Usually 220 cm for each side for METOD, 160 cm for FAKTUM. In the corner, plinths are cut at 45° (geometric effect) or 90° (rectangular effect). We recommend ordering a full-length plinth and trimming it during installation.

Are island panels always joined? Not always. Islands up to 88 cm high fit within one standard front. Above 88 cm, two panels need to be joined - the customer sees a joint line 60-65 cm from the floor, but with careful color matching, it is invisible.

How much does a 220 cm plinth cost? The price depends on the material (lacquer, veneer, plywood) and color. The configurator on ogony.pl calculates the exact price for each element after you provide the dimensions.

Does two-sided lacquer make sense for side panels? Yes, if the panel is visible from both sides - island panels, masking panels for a corner cabinet in the middle of the unit. Two-sided lacquer is a 20% surcharge, but for island panels, it makes sense (the customer sees the panel from two sides when walking around the island).

Can I order just one missing panel? Yes, we make individual elements with no minimum order. Remember the color risk - lacquer from a separate batch may differ from existing elements. We recommend a sample before production.

What if my IKEA plinth is crooked during installation? IKEA plinths have height-adjustable plastic legs. The crookedness probably results from an uneven floor - adjust the cabinet legs (each cabinet has 4 threaded adjustable legs) before ordering a custom plinth.