Duktig or Silltrut - which play kitchen should you choose?

Are you buying a play kitchen and have your eye on one of IKEA's models? Duktig and Silltrut are both popular choices with lots of fun features - microwave, stovetop, oven, sink with a little faucet. Much is the same, but there are of course some differences that might decide which one is right for you. Here's what I think about when I get asked which one to choose.

Duktig - the classic play kitchen

Duktig has been around since 2009 and is designed as a miniature version of a series of freestanding kitchen modules that IKEA launched in the late 1990s. The kitchen has become hugely popular around the world, with its thoughtful, realistic feel. The design in white and light wood is typically Nordic and suits many styles. Over the years the model has been available in a few other colorways - a light blue version has existed, as has a red one.

On the secondhand market, Duktig comes in all kinds of versions - thanks to the fact that the kitchen is sturdy and stands the test of time, and that so many people have taken the plunge and customized it in different ways. Great fun!

The materials in the kitchen are fiberboard and birch plywood. If you want to repaint all or part of the kitchen, it's not too difficult. There are also many extra details you can add, including here at Kulform - beautiful stickers in matte vinyl to make playtime even more fun and engaging. Loads of inspiration for what a little Duktig kitchen can become is available online. Instagram and Pinterest overflow with images, and here at Kulform you'll find a gallery with 100 images from beautiful makeover projects made with details from here.

Among the built-in features of the Duktig, it's perhaps the stovetop with its little burners that light up with a red glow when you press the buttons that impresses most children. This is a battery-powered feature and something the Silltrut kitchen lacks.

Silltrut - the newer model with an open feel

Silltrut is a newer play kitchen from IKEA with a slightly different design language. Grey color, open shelves at the bottom instead of closed doors and a more modern look.

One feature that tends to be appreciated is the real clicking knobs for the oven and microwave - they give a satisfying, mechanical feel that Duktig lacks.

On the other hand, Silltrut lacks illuminated burners on the stovetop, and the microwave door has no handle - which can make it a little harder for the very youngest to open on their own. Since Silltrut is newer, the secondhand market is thinner and there are still not as many examples of makeovers for this particular kitchen model.

The materials and type of surface treatment are the same in Silltrut as in Duktig, so this little kitchen is also easy to repaint if you wish. Here at Kulform there are custom-made stickers for Silltrut too, for those who want to add extra details and make the kitchen a little more personal - perhaps with a small menu board or a banner for the mini chef's name.

Size - what can your child reach, and what fits in the room?

Both kitchens have adjustable legs, which is practical as your child grows. But the basic dimensions differ, and this affects how easily a small child can reach up and play comfortably - and how the microwave door sits in relation to the child's height.

The table below shows the height to the worktop and the height to the microwave door on each kitchen. You can also see how the measurements vary depending on how you use the included feet that adjust the height:

The easiest reach for a small child is in the Silltrut. Here both the worktop and the distance up to the microwave are the lowest, especially if you use the kitchen without the included feet.

Duktig is the kitchen that can be set to the highest position and therefore stays suitable a little longer as the child grows, when it comes to dimensions and the child's height.

Something both models have in common is that the free workspace on the worktop is quite small - there's not much room for the mini chef to put things down. If you have space in the room, it might be worth adding a small table or shelf at a suitable height. If there's already one at home, it might even influence which kitchen feels like the natural choice.

For those who also need to consider how the kitchen fits in the room - here are the overall dimensions:

Storage for kitchen accessories

This is where the kitchens differ in a way that's not always mentioned. Duktig has closed doors, giving more hidden storage space - pots, plates and play food can be tucked away and the room looks tidy. Silltrut's open shelves, on the other hand, make it easier for the child to independently fetch and put things back. Neither is better or worse - but it's a different philosophy.

If you want to label what goes where, Kulform's stickers work for both models - and fit just as well on the play kitchen shelves as on Trofast boxes.

A tip about the magnetic latches

Both Duktig and Silltrut have magnetic latches on the doors. In some cases the magnet can hold so firmly that it becomes difficult for the child to open on their own. A simple trick is to put a small piece of tape over the magnet or attach something thin over the metal plate - this creates a small gap and makes the door easier to open.

Decor and personality - both can become truly unique

Whichever kitchen you choose, you can make it your own. Kulform has decor specially designed for Duktig and Silltrut - stovetops, oven doors, pennants and much more that transforms an ordinary IKEA kitchen into something that feels truly like the child's own.

Explore play kitchen decorations

Summary - Duktig or Silltrut, which should you choose?

The most important differences to keep in mind when deciding: Duktig is the kitchen with glowing burners, sturdy handles and plenty of tried-and-tested makeover inspiration to draw from. It's also the kitchen that stays suitable a little longer as the child grows, thanks to its taller dimensions. Silltrut is the more modern choice with clicking knobs, open shelves and a slightly lower worktop for the very youngest.

Whichever you choose, it opens up the possibility of a fun project where you customize the kitchen to suit you and your little mini chef perfectly! What should it look like to fit into the kids room, the playroom - or perhaps the family's main kitchen so that big and small chefs can cook side by side?

Good luck with your choice - and with what is going to be the world's best play kitchen in your home!