Two cabinet brands that consumers not knowing any better can gravitate towards are Ikea and Wren cabinets.
Both Ikea and Wren are RTA – “ready to assemble” – particleboard frameless cabinet brands. Both brands are poorly constructed and not a great value. A number of US import lines offering all plywood construction and better made framed cabinetry are much better options. Additionally, these options are delivered already assembled at a comparable price point! Building an expensive kitchen renovation with frameless particleboard cabinets just makes no sense.
Higher quality RTA framed cabinet brands are sold at places like Costco and online. One issue, though, is that these brands don’t provide experienced help in designing a kitchen.
These better RTA options are even less expensive than Ikea and Wren – generally about 20% less. And, they are far better made cabinetry. Main Line Kitchen Design still recommends spending a small amount more to involve an experienced designer at a kitchen dealer. In other words, getting the expert help that all consumers need but many don’t appreciate – and still paying less than Ikea or Wren.
Here’s a pricing example – a recent Main Line Kitchen Design customer priced out particleboard Wren cabinets. They chose Wren in the Shaker Classic JURATEK door style assembled by Wren. A Main Line Kitchen Design designer priced out factory built solid wood CNC cabinets in the Luxor door style. CNC Luxor comes with all plywood construction and soft close doors and drawers. The much higher quality CNC cabinets were nearly 10% less! Other brands that Main Line Kitchen Design does not carry like Forevermark, or ProCraft are also far better made. And less expensive.
Over the years, I have flagged problems with how The Home Depot and Lowes sell kitchens, including using very inexperienced designers.
Both home centers, however, do sell far better made cabinets than Wren and Ikea. Home Depot and Lowes’ designers are also more knowledgeable than the highly inexperienced staffs at Ikea and Wren.
Well-made kitchen cabinets are not necessarily expensive! And yet, poorly made cabinets can be?! Most importantly, it makes little sense splurging on more expensive cabinet brands unless the kitchen design is professionally done.
As always, my greatest concern is that:
Home Owners worry about cabinet quality, price, door style and finish far more than they worry about their designs. This is because they aren’t designers themselves, and don’t understand how poor their designs usually are. If you listen to one of our podcasts, this is usually a central issue. The podcast below illustrates how different designs – all staying within the same budget, can be from what a homeowner might expect. It ONLY makes sense to splurge on more expensive cabinet brands when your kitchen design is professionally done. And, this does not create any additional cost!
THIS PODCAST focuses on this issue. Additional reminder – we’re glad to evaluate any WREN or IKEA design and pricing proposal. We want to see homeowners spend their money well.
HERE are the Main Line Kitchen Design 2026 ratings for 157 different cabinet brands. All the brands listed in the 1 and 1.5 price point that get good value scores will cost less and be better built than Ikea and Wren after paying for assembly.
