FAKTUM or METOD - how to identify your IKEA kitchen in 30 seconds

Do you have an IKEA kitchen and want to replace the fronts, but you're not sure which system it is? This is the first question customers at ogony.pl ask - and the most common source of confusion. FAKTUM and METOD look similar, but they have different cabinet dimensions and different hinges. A front designed for METOD will not fit FAKTUM, even if the dimension difference is only a few millimeters.

In this article, I will show you three tests that will allow you to identify your system in less than 30 seconds. Each test can be done at home, without special tools - all you need is a ruler, a screwdriver, or a phone with a picture.

A brief history: when IKEA discontinued FAKTUM

The FAKTUM system was sold at IKEA until 2014. It was replaced by METOD - the current kitchen system. If you bought your kitchen before 2015, you almost certainly have FAKTUM. If after 2015 - it's METOD. This is the simplest test, but sometimes the year of purchase is not enough: it happens that a customer bought used cabinets, received them as a gift after a family renovation, or simply doesn't remember the exact date.

FAKTUM was on the market from the late 90s until 2014, which is over 15 years. This means that thousands of kitchens in this system are still operating in Poland - and many of them are now looking for replacement fronts, because IKEA's original offer practically no longer includes FAKTUM. Most spare parts, including fronts, were sold out within a few years after production ended.

To be sure whether it's FAKTUM or METOD, it's worth doing one of the two tests below.

Test 1: hinges

Open any cabinet door and look at the hinges from the inside. This is the most reliable method of identification, regardless of the year of purchase.

• FAKTUM - hinge screwed directly into the side of the cabinet, metal mounting with a rectangular base plate, adjustment with classic screws from the outside of the hinge
• METOD - hinge with a plastic, clip-on base plate (marked UTRUSTA), mounted on pre-drilled holes in the side panel, easy to remove without a screwdriver - just press the clip

The METOD hinge is more "modern" visually - a large, rounded base plate, often with the IKEA or BLUM logo. FAKTUM has a more angular and simpler base plate, without plastic. If you want to compare with a photo, see the FAKTUM front fitting guide - there is a detailed description of the assembly with photos of the hinges.

In practice, 95% of cases can be identified by the hinge alone. The remaining 5% are situations where someone replaced the hinges with others during renovation - and this is why it's worth doing the dimension test as well.

Test 2: cabinet dimensions

The second way is to measure the width and depth of the cabinet - from the outer edge to the outer edge, without the front.

• FAKTUM - typical widths: 40, 60, 80, 100 cm; depth always 60 cm
• METOD - typical widths: 40, 60, 80 cm; depth 37 or 60 cm

In practice, the difference in dimensions is not dramatic, but sufficient for FAKTUM fronts not to fit METOD cabinets and vice versa. The front itself may have the same external size (e.g., 40x70 cm), but the spacing and depth of the hinge drillings are different - and this is the most common reason for complaints from manufacturers who do not ask the customer about the system.

Each front is designed for a specific system. At ogony.pl, we always confirm the dimension and hinge type by email before production begins - this adds 1-2 days to the process, but eliminates errors.

Test 3: photo

The simplest solution, if the above two tests do not give a clear answer: take a photo of the hinges and send it to us. From the experience of over 200 completed kitchens, we recognize the system in a few minutes. Just an email with a photo - no obligations, no quote, no need to provide full data.

This option is especially recommended when the kitchen was bought a few years ago from previous owners of the apartment, or when the customer only has partial cabinets (e.g., kept the lower units, and replaced the upper ones with another type). In such cases, the "by year" test will not work, and the dimension test may be misleading.

Why this matters when replacing fronts

Choosing the wrong system costs time and money. Customers sometimes order fronts from a manufacturer who doesn't ask about the system - and then it turns out that the hinge drillings are in the wrong places. The front needs to be re-drilled, the cabinet modified, or - in extreme cases - thrown away and reordered.

A practical example: a customer ordered 12 fronts for a kitchen they thought was METOD. After delivery, it turned out to be FAKTUM. The manufacturer drilled holes for METOD hinges, so the fronts didn't fit. The cost of correction: another 6 weeks of production and a loss of 50% of the value of the old fronts. That's why we always ask about the system before quoting - and in case of doubt, we ask for a photo.

For comparison, at ogony.pl we always confirm the system by email before production begins. This takes an additional 1-2 days, but eliminates the risk of error. The lead time is typically 6 weeks from quote acceptance, and a front sample (89 PLN, deducted from the order) helps to check the material and color before the customer decides on the whole.

For the FAKTUM system, the availability of original IKEA fronts has practically ended - which is why the "rescue customer" FAKTUM now accounts for a significant portion of the custom-made front market in Poland. Our FAKTUM kitchen fronts are designed precisely for the original FAKTUM hinges, in dimensions from 30 to 200 cm, in three material groups: lacquered Egger MDF, veneered (oak, walnut, exotic root veneers) and birch plywood.

Quick comparison table

The table above shows that for a FAKTUM owner, the realistic path to refreshing the kitchen is almost always to replace only the fronts. With METOD, the customer has more choice - they can keep the cabinets and replace the fronts, or completely rebuild the kitchen at IKEA with the current offer.

FAQ - frequently asked questions

Do FAKTUM fronts fit METOD? No. Despite their similar appearance, both systems have different cabinet dimensions and different hinges. Each front is designed for a specific system, and attempting to fit a front from one system to another almost always results in having to drill new holes or discard the front.

Can I replace FAKTUM cabinets with METOD? You can, but it's practically replacing the entire kitchen - METOD cabinets do not fit older fronts or for installation in the old layout. A cheaper option is to keep the FAKTUM cabinets and replace only the fronts with a custom manufacturer.

How much does it cost to replace FAKTUM fronts? The exact price will be calculated by the configurator on the website - it depends on the dimensions, material (lacquer, veneer, plywood) and finish. A front sample costs 89 PLN and is deducted from the final order. The full cost of replacing fronts in an average kitchen usually falls within a range that can be easily calculated in a few minutes using the configurator.

How long does the fulfillment take? 6 weeks from quote acceptance and payment confirmation. Each front is produced to specific dimensions - we do not sell from stock. The time includes the entire process from cutting the Egger MDF board to lacquering, packaging, and shipping.

Do you make fronts for kitchens other than IKEA? Yes, we work with METOD, FAKTUM, PAX, PLATSA and BESTÅ systems, but we also make custom fronts for any kitchen - if you provide the dimensions, we will make them. We typically make fronts with holes for original IKEA hinges, but we can also make a front without drillings, for any hinge system.

What about delivery outside Poland? We ship to the entire European Union. Transport costs are calculated after the order is completed, based on the package dimensions - for an average FAKTUM kitchen, this is usually 1-2 courier pallets.

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