IKEA color equivalents: NCS codes METOD, ENHET, PAX and PLATSA

IKEA fronts' NCS codes are the best starting point for color matching – but not a guarantee of perfection. The same NCS on a matte finish (gloss 5) and a high-gloss finish (gloss 88) looks like two different colors. Before ordering paint or fronts, always check: NCS + gloss value + how it looks in your light.

What is the NCS system and why does it matter for IKEA fronts?

NCS (Natural Colour System) is a standardized system for describing colors, used by paint and furniture manufacturers worldwide. IKEA documents the colors of its fronts using NCS codes – this provides a much more precise reference point than "warm beige" or "neutral gray." But NCS is only half the information – the other half is gloss, given as a number from 0 (matte) to 100 (mirror-like high gloss).

How to read an NCS code: e.g., S 3005-Y20R means: S = standardized version, 30 = blackness percentage (30%), 05 = chromaticity (5%), Y20R = hue leaning towards yellow with a hint of red. Practically: the higher the first number, the darker the color. The higher the chromaticity – the more intense the color.

NCS codes for IKEA METOD fronts – full table

Data from official IKEA documents. Gloss values given as Gloss Units (GU). A missing value in a column means no data in the source documentation – in such cases, it is recommended to measure the front at a paint mixing center.

NCS codes for IKEA ENHET and PAX/PLATSA fronts

Most common IKEA colors and their NCS equivalents

If you're looking for a specific IKEA color and want to match it to a wall or another front, these NCS codes appear most frequently in IKEA documentation:

• Neutral white (S 0300-N): RINGHULT (gloss 88), VOXTORP matte and gloss – the same color, completely different perception due to varying gloss levels
• Warm white / off-white (S 0502-Y or S 0502-Y05R): BODBYN off-white, VEDDINGE vit – a more creamy shade in everyday perception
• Anthracite (S 8500-N): NICKEBO antracit, UPPLÖV antracit, FLISBERGET antracit (PAX) – very similar colors, different gloss levels
• Dark gray (S 7500-N): VOXTORP mörkgrå, BERGSBO/FORSAND mörkgrå (PAX), SKATVAL mörkgrå (PLATSA)
• Beige (S 3005-Y20R): HAVSTORP beige, BERGSBO/FORSAND/REINSVOLL gråbeige – one code, many series
• Standard white (S 0602-G92Y): BERGSBO vit, GRIMO vit, FONNES, SANNIDAL – white with a slight greenish undertone

How to match a color to IKEA fronts – step-by-step method

If you want to match paint for a wall, another element, or new fronts to existing IKEA fronts, use this method:

1. Find the front in the table above and note the NCS code and gloss value.
2. At the paint mixing center, order the color by NCS code – specify the NCS and the desired gloss level (e.g., matte, satin, gloss).
3. Create a paint sample on a board or paper and observe it under three conditions: in the morning with daylight, in the evening with warm light bulbs, in the evening with cool light bulbs.
4. Only after evaluating the sample, order the full quantity of paint.

If the match needs to be precise – take a real front to a paint mixing center and ask for a spectrophotometer measurement. This eliminates all variables and provides the best match.

What to watch out for when matching IKEA colors

Three things that most often spoil the final effect when matching colors:

• Gloss changes everything: S 0300-N on matte (VOXTORP matt vit) and on high gloss (RINGHULT) are visually two different colors, despite identical NCS. Always check the gloss level of the original front and match it.
• Screen distorts: product photos of IKEA fronts do not accurately represent colors – the color temperature of the photo, monitor settings, studio lighting – all affect what you see. A sample in a real room is the only reliable test.
• Kitchen lighting: warm LEDs (2700K) will turn neutral white into vanilla. A north-facing window can turn beige into a sad gray. Always test the sample in your light, not in store conditions.

Kitchen fronts in any color – when IKEA's NCS is not enough

If you're looking for a color outside of the IKEA palette, you're not limited to what IKEA offers as a ready-made front. Ogony.pl produces fronts for IKEA METOD and FAKTUM systems in 150+ Farrow & Ball colors and natural veneers (oak, walnut, ash, maple). Lacquered fronts from PLN 428, veneered from PLN 752. Delivery within 6 weeks, shipping to the EU.

Check out our full offer of kitchen fronts or order a material sample before deciding. If you have a METOD system – check out fronts for IKEA METOD. For FAKTUM system – fronts for IKEA FAKTUM.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCS code for IKEA BODBYN off-white fronts?

The official NCS code for BODBYN off-white is S 0502-Y, with a gloss level of approximately 55 GU (satin). This is a warm, slightly yellowish white – not a pure, neutral white like S 0300-N in RINGHULT. When mixing paint "to match BODBYN," choose a satin-class paint, not matte – otherwise the color will look different despite the same NCS.

Are IKEA's NCS codes 100% reliable?

No. IKEA provides NCS codes as indicative data. The actual color of the front may differ from the code for several reasons: production batches may vary slightly, lacquer may subtly change hue over time, and the print format of IKEA documentation has its limits. The NCS code is the best guidance available without specialized tools – for precise matching, use a spectrophotometer at a paint mixing center.

Why does the same NCS look different on a wall and on a front?

There are two reasons: gloss and texture. A wall painted with matte paint has a completely different surface structure than a lacquered furniture front. These differences in structure change the way light is reflected – and that's why the same NCS looks different. The second factor: different substrate layers – paint color on plaster behaves differently than on MDF with a factory-applied primer.

Do METOD and PAX share common NCS colors?

Often, yes. Whites (S 0602-G92Y, S 0300-N), grays (S 7500-N, S 3500-N), and anthracites (S 8500-N) are repeated across systems. Differences appear in the gloss level – the same NCS in METOD might be matte, while in PAX it's satin. When matching fronts between systems, always check if the gloss levels are similar.

How to check the NCS of IKEA fronts not listed in the table?

Three options: look in the official IKEA technical documentation available upon request through customer service, find the label or sticker on the back or edge of the front, or take the front to a paint mixing center with a spectrophotometer – the measurement takes a minute and provides a precise result regardless of documentation availability.

Updated: March 2026