Ikea play kitchen vs Kidkraft vs Hape

In this article, I’m not going into details of pretend play importance to kids’ development. In my review of the Best play kitchen for toddlers I’ve already highlighted that this toy is one the best investment in the education of your little one. In this post, I will compare different play kitchens brands, Ikea vs Kidkraft and Ikea vs Hape, to be exact.

It’s a common knowledge that Ikea is famous for its functional democratic furniture and home products for smaller spaces.

I will certainly not be mistaken if I say that almost everyone has at least some small item from Ikea. Other than furniture and home products, Ikea also produces various toys and toys storage.

Let’s have a look at Ikea Duktig Play Kitcten.

The kitchen is rather simple and seems pretty basic, however, you can fit it anywhere.

It doesn’t feature a lot of appliances, it has a stovetop, a sink, mixer taps, a microwave, 2 cupboards, and a spices shelf.

The whole construction is rather sturdy, well made and durable. Its main parts are made recyclable materials: fiber board, birch plywood. Like all Ikea toys, all the materials used for kitchen production are non-toxic, BPA free.

You can be assured that your little one is playing in friendly and healthy environment.

The kitchen doesn’t have lots of doors to open and close or other little details. However, there are enough cabinets for keeping kitchen utilities handy. It also has a detachable sink for easy cleaning.

The Ikea kitchen features a cooktop with real lights (due to the battery-operated burners): both hobs can be switched on and off, and they look like real ones without getting warm. Note, that batteries are sold separately.

The definite advantage of this kitchen is that it can grow with a child: there’s possibility to adjust the height of the legs (actually, there are 3 positions), and it is relatively easy to put together.

Ideas and Inspirations: Tip

You can easily blend it into your house style: make it match both your color scheme and decor. If you want to customize it, you definitely can you do it with that one. The possibilities are endless: you can paint it in any color you like or think what color scheme goes with the general pattern of your house.

You can also make it the eye-catching item of the playroom (if you want to add some color in it, od course). You can use decorative wallpaper and buy any accessories and utensils your little one can play with.

You also can replace the existing door handles with new ones of various design. But to make it more budget friendly you can just paint them rather then having new ones.

KidKraft Vintage Kitchen Review

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Compared to Ikea Duktig, this KidKraft Vintage Kitchen has more bells and whistles and is absolutely adorable! Apart from the nice girlish color it has lots of realistic features (like ice and water dispenser, turning and clicking knobs on stove and oven, opening doors, etc.) that can introduce your little one to practical life skills.

This gorgeous vintage wooden kitchen is big enough and has plenty of room for two young chefs to “cook” and use all the appliances included. It comes with a fridge, an oven, a microwave, a sink with a tab and a mixer. It features see-through doors on oven and microwave.

The kitchen also has enough storage space: a cupboard and two shelves. It features a cordless phone too that might give your kids unforgettable hours of fun. Your little one can practice calling family or friends and inviting them for lunch or dinner.

Just one comment. Overall majority of customers were happy with the set; however, some of them noticed that the kitchen is smaller than they expected, therefore it might suit very well for toddlers (under the direct supervision of an adult).

Ikea Duktig play kitchen VS KidKraft Vintage Kitchen

Hape Gourmet Kitchen

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The design of this small kitchen is pretty simple, but it can inspire your little chef to cook and play anyway, as it has almost all basic appliances required. Having said that, it’s perfect for small places.

This Gourmet kitchen is made from wood and comes with a stovetop, cabinets for storage, an oven with window, a sink with a mixer and taps, and a spice shelf. And it also features realistic control panel with three turning and clicking hob knobs. It’s a good value for money.

This practical and well-made kitchen doesn’t have any pots or utensils; however, you can buy anything you like or use the stuff you might have had already.

Actually, it might be considered as advantage: you have a great chance to customize the kitchen to the needs of your kid and make it look the way you like.

And you won’t have any problems with the storage: there are four shelves to keep all the things in order. And you can also buy a matching fridge from Hape.

Considering the size of the kitchen and absence of small accessories, it could be suitable for kids under 3 years of age, provided they play under the supervision of adults.

Ikea Duktig play kitchen VS Hape Gourmet Kitchen

Conclusion

You see, it’s not so simple to say what play kitchen is the best… I did my best to incorporate the main features of the kitchens under discussion into the comparison charts. All the kitchens have their advantages and disadvantages.

They all are made of high-quality, non-toxic materials (wood and playwood) and have a solid and sturdy construction. In case of a limited space you’d better go for a smallest one (Hape Gourmet Kitchen).

None of the listed play kitchens have any accessories, utensils or pretend play food; all these items should be bought separately. Moreover, you can also buy a matching fridge from Hape, if you have enough space and would like your little one to have a properly looked kitchen.

For those who love fun DIY projects and would like to personalize a kitchen, Ikea Duktig play kitchen is a good thing to buy! I’ve already listed some ideas how to do it.

So, it’s really up to you. Study the charts, compare various features and make a wise choice!