The pros and cons of integrated kitchen appliances

Integrating your appliances into your kitchen is a straightforward process that offers a variety of benefits, from a sleek design through to space saving solutions. There are plenty of different options, so you can create a scheme that suits your lifestyle:

• Oven: Your oven can be integrated at a convenient height for you, either within your floor or wall units.
• Hob: Integrated hobs fit seamlessly into your work tops, maintaining clean lines and offering a sleek finish.
• Dishwasher: Fitted into your kitchen units, integrated dishwashers can either be exposed or hidden behind a cupboard door, giving you flexibility when designing your space.
• Fridge and freezer: An integrated fridge and freezer offers simplicity and a clean finish to your kitchen. Set flush with your cabinets, it can either be exposed or hidden behind cabinet panels that complement the design scheme of your kitchen.
• Accessories: There are a variety of accessories that can be integrated into your kitchen design, including wine coolers, chopping boards, and coffee machines.

Integrated appliances sit flush against the wall, giving a clean and sleek finish to your space. Versatile and stylish, they look just as at home in a contemporary kitchen as they do in traditional and country cottage kitchens.

The main benefit of integrated appliances is their space saving properties. As they only take up room that would have been used by cupboards, they are particularly effective in smaller kitchens where both floor and surface area is limited.

Aesthetically, integrated appliances have sleek and sophisticated appeal, helping to create a clean and fuss-free finish across your entire layout.

The most noteworthy point when considering integrated appliances is their permanency in your kitchen. While sitting flush against your wall can offer sleek sophistication and space saving qualities, there are times when you might wish to redesign your space. With integrated appliances, you must work around them instead.

Working integrated appliances into your kitchen can help you achieve a minimalist finish. Stainless steel or plastic appliances add a modern twist, especially when integrated against crisp white walls. Alternatively, paring dark appliances flush against bright walls can create a striking contrast and allow you to inject colour into your family kitchen.

In a classically designed kitchen, styling integrated appliances behind cupboard doors can help to maintain a traditional aesthetic. It allows you to get a consistent look across your whole kitchen, giving you the choice of any material, colour, or finish while still enjoying the space-saving benefits.

Freestanding appliances can be moved around the room, allowing you to manoeuvre them to suit your needs. While they don't offer as sleek a finish as integrated appliances, they do have a range of benefits such as movability, making them the ideal choice for people who like to rearrange their kitchen every now and then.

Other benefits of freestanding appliances include their practicality – when it comes to servicing your appliances, freestanding options can be easier to fix and maintain.

Most kitchens can benefit from a combination of both freestanding and integrated appliances to suit budget and layout, with both styles able to complement your space or offer contrast to your room.

When deciding whether to implement integrated appliances into your space, make sure to consider style, practicality, and value, as well as whether they will complement the design scheme and size of your kitchen. For inspiration, browse our full range of appliances.