DIY guide to installing an IKEA benchtop

Earlier this year, we shared our DIY laundry renovation – and you guys went bananas for it! We’re so glad you love it as much as us, and we’ve had a few people ask about our benchtop. So, we wanted to create a DIY guide to installing an IKEA benchtop too help answer any questions.

One of the things we’ve had the most comments and questions on is our beautiful wood benchtop. To me, it really is the main focal point of the entire space. Chris and I have both loved the look of wood benchtops for a while now, but given that we are renovating on a budget, we needed to find something affordable.

When we came across the IKEA Karlby, it was love at first sight! We both felt that the walnut colour really suited our vibe and that it would be the perfect match for our home. And, with the veneer option costing only $299, it was easy to work into our budget.

However, after doing some further research, we saw some mixed reviews. IKEA’s website says the benchtop is “pre-treated with hard wax oil to create an easy-care surface that does not require oiling before the first use”. But, it also recommends oiling regularly to protect it from wear-and-tear. 

I can see how this might be confusing, but it seemed clear to us that those who left negative reviews didn’t follow the second recommendation, so we felt like we could write those off. Even though we knew a wood benchtop was always going to need a little more TLC than other kinds, the warmth it would bring seemed well worth the extra effort.

We decided to go for it – and I’m so glad we did! Chris did an amazing job of installing it himself while we were stuck at home during lockdown. Since then, we’ve had a tonne of questions about how he did it, we wanted to put together a guide to help anyone thinking about attempting it themselves and share what we’ve learnt. 

So, here is our complete DIY guide to installing a laminate benchtop from IKEA.

Step 1: 

Most of IKEA’s benchtops come in two different sizes, so make sure to measure your space before purchasing. This sounds super obvious, but given that our laundry is such a small space, we assumed we would need the smaller option. Wrong! Unfortunately, once we brought it home we discovered that it was around 5cm too short – so it was back to IKEA for an exchange. Oops! Learn from us, people! 

Step 2: 

If you are upgrading your cabinets, you’ll need to install these first. We added an IKEA Metod cabinet and left space to fit in our washing machine and dryer. Once these were fitted in, there was going to be a gap of approximately 10cm left over. Rather than leaving it open, which we didn’t think would look right, Chris used a spare cupboard door which he cut to size to create a panel to fill the gap so that it would have the same finish as the other cupboards.

Step 3: 

Next, carefully measure the space again and flip your benchtop over. Mark out the cut lines with a permanent marker and a level on the underside. Once you’re ready to go, use a circular saw to cut the benchtop to size. To prevent any chipping or splitting, it is best to cut slowly from the underside using a fine-tooth blade.

Step 4: 

Once you have cut your benchtop to the right size, work out where you will secure your angle brackets to hold it in place. Pre-drill and screw the brackets into walls and cabinet corners. 

Step 5:

Then, lay the benchtop into place and crawl underneath to mark where the angle brackets will attach to it. Turn the benchtop upside down and pre-drill these markings. Put the benchtop back into place and crawl underneath to screw it in using angle brackets and your pre-drilled holes.

Step 6: 

Now that the benchtop is securely in place, it’s time for sanding and oiling! As I mentioned, most of the complaints about the benchtop seemed to come from those not taking proper care of it. So, we wanted to make sure we treated it well right from the get-go. Chris used some super fine sanding paper to gently sand the benchtop back and oiled it with Feast Watson Clear Varnish in Clear Matt which is a high-quality oil specifically designed for wood benchtops like this one. 

Step 7: 

If you are adding a sink and tap, carefully measure and cut the required space for these using a jigsaw. In some cases, it may be easier to cut these holes out before securing your benchtop into place. For us, we were still deciding on the right sink and tap. So, Chris did this after to make sure we cut the right size. Once you have cut out the holes, put your sink and tap into place and have your plumber connect it up. 

Step 8:

Finally, it’s time to silicone up all of the edges. This step is super important because it helps to protect against any leaks and create a more finished look. We used Selleys Wet Area Waterproof Silicone Sealant around the edges of the benchtop, and simply wiped away soapy water and an icey pole stick. (Weird, I know – but apparently that’s what the experts use!)

And you’re done! For an affordable upgrade, it really makes such a difference visually – not to mention how convenient it is to have all of that extra bench space in the laundry.

Thanks for reading, and if you’re thinking about installing an IKEA benchtop, we hope you this helps. As always, if you have any questions, we are happy to help. Please drop us a comment below and we’ll get back to you soon!