Showing you how easy it is to make a microwave cabinet for your kitchen or bar using my own Ikea hack. It wasn’t hard and turned out perfect!
When finishing our basement this year, I used the Sektion cabinets from IKEA to create a 14′ bar along one wall. My checklist included a sink, beverage refrigerators, a pull-out trash can and a microwave. Since I didn’t want upper cabinets, and didn’t want a microwave to sit on the counter, I wanted to include a microwave cabinet in the lower cabinets. Does IKEA make a microwave cabinet? I couldn’t find one at IKEA so you know what I did? I created one with my very own microwave cabinet – IKEA Hack!
First, I planned my bar easily by using the IKEA kitchen planner to space out where I wanted all of the cabinets to go. In the plan I included a cabinet that I would be turning into a microwave cabinet with storage underneath.
Here is what I ordered for this microwave cabinet:
Once I planned it all out, I printed it off and used the plan to tell my electrician where the outlet should go for the microwave. That made it really easy for him PLUS I knew where all the cabinets should go based on the printout!
Once I built the cabinets and started to install them, I had to cut the back of the cabinet I would use for the microwave to pull the outlet through the back of the cabinet so I could plug in the microwave once installed.
I found the microwave I wanted to use and based my measurements off of that. I bought a deep drawer and drawer front for the cabinet and installed it in the bottom. The top of the cabinet would be used for the microwave.
For the part the microwave would sit on, I installed the stationary white shelf on the pegs above the drawer. Then, using an end panel that matched the cabinets, I cut a piece that would fit right on top of the white shelf and attached it. Since this space would be visible, that would hide the white of the cabinet and give it the same finish as the rest of the bar.
I then cut 4 pieces (from the finished edges of the same end panel I used for the shelf) and created a border around the opening, creating a finished look.
I got the microwave in and it looks perfect! It looks like it was made for the cabinet! This was a SUPER easy build! It looks AMAZING, right?!
I hope this inspires you to create your own hack to make it work for YOU like I made this IKEA microwave cabinet hack work for ME!
Thank you for sharing this! Just to clarify this is for a counter microwave? Not a built in, correct? We have a countertop microwave that we want to hide in one of the lower cabinets. This looks like it might work for us, but just wanted to clarify in the microwave type. Thank you.
Hi, Nina! Yes, this is a countertop microwave! And it fit perfectly. Good luck with your project!
You placed the microwave directly on the utrusta shelf? It can hold the weight?
HI, Penny! I added the white Utrusta shelf that you can get with the cabinet and then added a matching end panel that I custom cut to fit right on top and the weight has not been an issue at all. So the shelf is actually doubled and really sturdy! I hope this helps!
How did you hide the cut sides of the trim pieces? Did you paint or edge them?
Hi, Donna! If you are referring to the pieces around the edges of the opening, I actually got filler pieces to use for the edges. Since both sides/edges of the filler pieces are finished nicely, I cut from both sides so I have an unfinished edge and a pretty edge. Once I cut them I stuck the nicely finished edge facing the opening and the unfinished edge facing the outer edge. There is one unfinished edge that is exposed and that you can see when I open a door or a drawer on the left side of the opening, so I will paint that edge in a color that matches the black of the cabinetry, since it is a particle board material it is unfortunately unfinished. I hope this helps!!! Let me know if you have other questions!
This turned out great! What are the dimensions of your microwave?
Thank you so much, Heather! My microwave is 21 5/8″ w x 10 5/8″ h. Not sure how deep it is, but it fits into the cabinet just fine! I look at it and am so proud to have made this project happen. The unit looks so much better “built in”.
Beautiful! Is the countertop from ikea?
Thank you! The countertop I actually got at Home Depot. It is a custom quartz counter and I love the pattern of the veining. Home Depot does have sales so ask the kitchen person when they are running their sales.
Beautiful work! Did you have any issues with ventilation? How did you account for that? Thanks!
Thank you, Erica! I don’t have any issues. I actually added a board in the back to stop the microwave from pushing all the way back into the cabinets and that allows about 6″ for it to have room for air circulation. So the microwave isn’t smushed in the cabinet, there is a little room on the sides and about 6″ of free space in the back. I hope this helps!
Smart. We are trying to figure out how to hack an IKEA upper for the wall to lift a microwave off the counter in our small kitchenette. BTW, do you always do carpentry work in bare feet?
Hi,Vladimir! Could you order a cabinet and use the bottom part for the microwave and then get smaller doors for the top part of your cabinet? Kind of like mine but reversed where the microwave sits on the bottom and the smaller doors would be on top. And, no, haha! I don’t always work in bare feet. But this didn’t really involved heavy lifting or the possibility of dropping something on my feet that could hurt. But, good point! I shouldn’t be working in bare feet. Good Luck!!! I would love to see what you figure out!