Freestanding vs. Built-in Appliances

Buying a new kitchen appliance involves a lot of considerations, including model, colour, size and budget. If you're buying a cooker, fridge, dishwasher or washing machine you'll also need to decide if you want one that will be built-in to your worktops and cupboards, or one that is freestanding. Here's all you need to know to make that important decision.

How are they different?
A freestanding appliance is one that is portable and can be slotted into a space in your kitchen. On the other hand, a built-in appliance is fitted or integrated inside your units or cupboards, with a door so that it is out of view.

Cost
Because of the work involved to integrate a built-in appliance into your kitchen units, you'll usually find that built-in appliances are more expensive than freestanding ones.

Convenience and flexibility
Freestanding appliances can be easily moved from one part of the kitchen to another. Or, if you move house, then they can be taken with you. However, once you've got your built-in appliances installed they are there to stay. If you want to make any changes or upgrades to your appliances, then it's a more difficult task with built-in appliances because it could involve having to make changes to your kitchen carpentry, and you'll most certainly need to call in an engineer to install the appliance.

Aesthetic appeal
Appliances that are built-in to your kitchen units look sleek, sophisticated and have a contemporary edge. You don't have to have them on show, which gives your kitchen a tidier and more organised look. Because they are hidden away behind doors, they're also more likely to stay clean. Having them kept away can also be useful if you have children at home, as they don't have as such easy access to any buttons on the appliances. They are an attractive feature to potential house buyers, should you ever decide to sell your home.

However, that's not to say that freestanding appliances aren't attractive. With increasing colours and more sophisticated designs, a freestanding appliance can still look appealing in a kitchen.

Availability
You'll probably find more choice of appliances if you opt for a freestanding one compared to a built-in appliance. However, the good thing about built-in cooking appliances is that you can often mix and match using gas and electricity. You're usually limited to either one or the other with most freestanding models.

However, you can usually still get built-in appliances with the same functions and features as freestanding ones; it's usually the dimensions that are the varying aspect. Built-in ovens often have a larger capacity cooking area, which makes them ideal for larger families.

Space saving
Many people argue that built-in appliances can save space in a kitchen, especially those such as wall ovens, which make use of vertical space. Microwaves are also increasingly being integrated as part of a kitchen unit, thus saving space on the worktops.

So, with all of this information at your fingertips, you can now make an informed decision whether you prefer a built-in appliance or a freestanding one for your kitchen.

This post is written for Appliance City.