Why Freestanding Kitchens are Making a Comeback
As kitchens are now more used than ever before by households and families, the kitchen has to be practical and also look good to keep up with cooking, eating, socialising and working from home. Freestanding kitchens have previously been seen as old-fashioned but are becoming popular again.
A freestanding kitchen is made up of individual pieces of furniture rather than a continuous run of fitted units. Whether rustic, Scandi, period style or industrial, any style works well, and there are no rules.
What makes a freestanding kitchen different
In a fitted kitchen, cabinets are fixed to the walls and joined by a single worktop, but a freestanding kitchen is made of single items, which can include a dresser, a larder cupboard, a butcher’s block, a table-style island and even a range cooker. Many kitchens are a hybrid of the fitted kitchen with the freestanding items used around a fitted run for the sink and appliances.
Why freestanding kitchens are popular again
The greatest benefit of being able to purchase individual pieces is the flexibility. You can move the pieces around as needed, add to them over time, and even take them with you if you move to a new home. Households also prefer to have a kitchen that is personal to them, rather than a typical ‘off-the-peg’ design, and a collection of different pieces adds character.
- A tall pantry or larder unit adds a lot of storage in a smaller kitchen.
- A freestanding island or table puts dining at the heart of the room.
- Separate pieces make it easy to create zones for cooking, baking, coffee or homework.
- Old houses with uneven walls and floors can be easier to furnish than to fit.
- Pieces can be bought over time, spreading the cost.
Design around how you cook
When choosing freestanding kitchens it’s best to design them around your lifestyle and how you cook. If you’re frequently in the kitchen baking then perhaps a kitchen with a table-height workstation or a butcher’s block with a cool stone top would be ideal. You could roll out your pastry and knead your dough on the workstation. A family that frequently cooks up large meals for lots of people may require a larger range cooker and a deeper larder to store more ingredients in bulk. The route between the sink, hob and fridge must be short and clear and you should position the most used pieces within a couple of steps to ensure the kitchen functions as well as it looks on a busy weeknight.
For ideas on getting the best from the kitchen once it is built, see our tips on methods to cook perfect dishes.
Things to consider
A freestanding kitchen is not for everyone. A fitted kitchen is one of the best ways to use all of the space in a small room. Pieces of furniture in a freestanding kitchen have spaces between them and can collect dust and crumbs. Also, when choosing a freestanding kitchen, the plumbing and appliances still need to be thought about carefully, as a sink, dishwasher and hob need fixed services.
| Freestanding | Fitted | |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Pieces can move or go with you | Fixed in place |
| Use of space | Some gaps and lost corners | Every centimetre used |
| Look | Relaxed, collected over time | Streamlined and uniform |
| Cost | Can be spread over time | Usually one larger project |
A lighter-touch refresh
If you like your existing kitchen layout but want a change, you don’t have to start from scratch and have the disruption and cost of a complete kitchen refurbishment.
Specialist suppliers of replacement kitchen cabinet doors such as https://www.happy-doors.co.uk/ can assist with your kitchen refurbishment vision.
Many colours, finishes and sizes of doors are available to give your fitted kitchen a complete change of look at a fraction of the price of a full kitchen renovation. Adding one or two freestanding pieces such as a dresser or a kitchen island to your kitchen, alongside new kitchen doors, can provide the character of a freestanding kitchen without the cost of a complete kitchen renovation.
Frequently asked questions
Can you mix freestanding and fitted units?
Many people incorporate a fitted run down one wall to accommodate the sink, hob and other appliances and then add freestanding pieces such as a larder, a dresser or even an island to add extra storage and individuality. As long as the colour or material chosen for the two different elements can link together successfully, the kitchen can look planned rather than mismatched.
Are freestanding kitchens more expensive?
Handmade pieces can be costly, but cost doesn’t have to be a concern as you can mix new with second-hand and upcycled pieces. In most cases, the cost of each piece can be spread over time.
Where to go next
If you would rather have a kitchen made to measure, read about the advantages of a bespoke kitchen.
