Kid kitchens are great for play and our kids love having one in our home. Making over a play kitchen is a simple and beginner DIY that anyone can do. In the past, I revealed our playroom for a One Room Challenge. One of the key components to the room was making over an IKEA Duktig kitchen.

This was an incredibly easy makeover that a beginner can complete to make their IKEA kitchen fabulous. If you have young kids and you love IKEA hacks, this is a great one for you. I’ll share how to paint the play kitchen, spray paint the hardware, use contact paper that looks like marble, and install fake backsplash.

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This upgraded, all modern Ikea play kitchen got a makeover! We added contact decorating paper and white paint to make it a stylish, modern play kitchen.

Ikea Duktig Kitchen

The Duktig play kitchen for kids from Ikea is made out of Birch. It’s so cute with cooktop lights that can be switched on and off that give a fun glow but they don’t get warm.

The legs are adjustable for kids with different heights and the sink can be removed to fill with water for play. I love that there are several other kid’s kitchen items available at Ikea to allow creativity in kids!

How to Assemble the Ikea Play Kitchen

The hardest part of the project? Putting the kitchen together using Ikea’s infamous picture only instructions and one million parts. We were able to tackle in an hour so I’ll say that’s a success.

An important thing to note, if you plan to paint the kitchen and change the countertop, do that before assembly. Take it from me friend, you do not want to assemble, to have to disassemble, to have to reassemble it all again. Also, consider a multipurpose hand tool or a hex key for the drill to make assembling quicker.

This image shows the fully assembled Ikea play kitchen.

An in-progress photo shows the assembly of the Ikea play kitchen. The countertop it attached to the cabinets, cabinet drawers are open, and a screw driver sits in the opening where the play sink will be installed.

Painting the Ikea Play Kitchen

I chose to paint the kitchen and the hardware. It did take several coats of chalk paint to cover this surface. I also tried several “brass” spray paints before finding the perfect one for our home. Finally, I would recommend sealing both the kitchen and the hardware. They will take a beating by little hands!

Chalk paint covers the kitchen well but you’ll never go wrong by prepping before painting. I skipped this step but you can prep with primer and lightly sand before using chalk paint.

Before fully assembling the Ikea play kitchen, we painted it with a few coats of white chalk paint. Here is the play kitchen without the cabinet doors, sink, and stove.

The Ikea play kitchen fixtures - cabinet handles, faucet, and sink - being spray painted brass.

Tips for Spray Painting Ikea Hardware

When you use spray paint on metal or plastic surfaces, always test first. It’s best to hold the can upright in a well ventilated space. Press the top down and make a quick pass with a light spray, letting go after each pass. Let it dry and repeat as needed.

Construct the Play Kitchen Backsplash

This was the fanciest part of the makeover. Let me tell you, after working with the peel and stick tile, I was ready to demo my subway tile in the kitchen and replace it with peel and stick tile. I’m pretty sure my husband would not go for that idea though. I’m also not sure how that would pan out with future home buyers.

To make the Ikea play kitchen extra fancy, we added a peel and stick subway tile backsplash. Here's a look at the tile backsplash before the play kitchen is fully installed.

I used this peel and stick tile.

As backing, I used foam poster board. Honestly, if you have access to a piece of wood that can be cut to size, I would go that route for durability. However, our foam board is holding up nicely!

Measure your opening, cut the board to size, then apply the foam tile. I used liquid nails to attach it to the back of the kitchen. If you use board, you could also use nails for this part.

Makeover the Countertop with Peel and Stick Paper

Learn from my mistakes, do this part before assembling the kitchen. I did not and had to take the kitchen apart to get the contact paper to stick properly. It does get tricky when trying to cover the corners of the countertops.

To makeover this Ikea play kitchen, we installed marble contact paper on the countertops after painting the lower half of the play kitchen with white paint.

I used this contact paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is the Ikea play kitchen? The play kitchen measures at 28 3/8″ x 15 3/4″ x 42 7/8″
What is the quality of the Ikea Duktig Kitchen? The kitchen is made from birch and is nice quality. It is typical Ikea quality wood that is not overly thick or solid, but it is sturdy and well constructed.
What age is the Ikea play kitchen ideal for? Ikea recommends the use of this kitchen for ages 3 and older.
Is a play kitchen worth it? On average, play kitchens range from $200-$600. The Ikea Duktig kitchen is $99 in store.
How does the sink work on the play kitchen? The Ikea play kitchen has a sink that is basically a bowl that can be removed and filled with water or emptied after play.

Recap and Instructions: Ikea Play Kitchen Makeover

Paint the pieces before assembly.
Makeover the countertop.
Assemble (in one million easy steps).
Paint the hardware.
Attach backsplash.
Attach hardware.

DIY Ikea Duktig play kitchen makeover using peel and stick tile with contact paper. #ikeadiy #ikeahack #playroom #playkitchen

Make this Ikea playset makeover easier with the step-by-step instructions in the craft card below!