A Freestanding Kitchen Lets You Create the Versatile Space of Your Dreams

Ditch the built-in cabinetry for a freestanding kitchen that changes to meet your needs.

The kitchen is the heart of the home—the place where loved ones gather, kids do their homework, and you spend lazy Sunday mornings drinking coffee.

However, the best kitchen setup for drinks with friends might look different from the one for making cookies with your kids. In a perfect world, you could almost endlessly arrange and rearrange your dream kitchen to suit the day, event, or even the meal.

Well, freestanding kitchens make that possible.

Enter the Freestanding Kitchen

A freestanding kitchen, as opposed to a fixed island, is set up on wheels and can literally roll out of the way when meal prep is done. No more awkwardly-placed kitchen cabinets and bulky islands—this vintage storage unit brings a one-of-a-kind touch to your home.

While it might sound ideal in every way, a freestanding kitchens is a departure from how most people think about kitchen design, which can make it feel a little risky. To determine if a freestanding kitchen is for you, an expert shared the details on this trend and why you might—or might not—want to try it in your home.

Related: The 12 Best Kitchen Carts of 2024 for Every Style and Budget

What Exactly Is a Freestanding Kitchen?

“A freestanding kitchen is made up of freestanding furniture instead of built-in cabinetry,” says Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design. “Since a freestanding kitchen is made up of individual pieces, you can incorporate vintage furniture such as Welsh dressers or Hoosier cabinets, creating a relaxed, unique, and charming look.”

Meet Our Expert

Audrey Scheck is the founder of Audrey Scheck Design, a Texas-based interior design and remodeling firm specializing in comfy, beautiful interiors.

Why Freestanding Kitchens Are Trending Now

These kitchens are gaining popularity due to evolving lifestyle trends: We expect our rooms to be multipurpose; having an island on wheels that allows you to make more space when hosting or open shelving that can be switched up to create a makeshift bar for a cocktail party follows that sentiment.

More people are renting longer and want to invest in meaningful pieces that reflect their decorative point of view but can go with them when they move. Plus, this style fits aesthetically with current design trends.

“We’re seeing a surge in freestanding kitchens with the rise of the cottagecore trend, which embodies a cozy, romantic aesthetic coupled with English countryside charm," Scheck says. "Freestanding kitchens lean into this trend, as they often feature antique furniture, creating a layered and lived-in look."

Advantages of Freestanding Kitchens

“One of the biggest advantages of a freestanding kitchen is the flexibility of moving pieces of furniture around to best fit the room’s layout," Scheck says. "Additionally, using vintage furniture is a budget-friendly and sustainable way to outfit your kitchen. We recommend visiting your local antique mall to source vintage cabinets, dressers, or even a table to use as a freestanding island."

This budget-friendly style allows you to work with what you have and gather pieces over time instead of feeling like you have to overhaul everything at once. It also challenges the idea of a “perfect” kitchen that must have expensive marble countertops or brand-new, stainless-steel appliances to be “good enough.” It embraces a more laid-back, acquired look.

“With the flexibility of the freestanding furniture in the kitchen, it feels like a very accessible trend for people to join in on," Scheck says. "When sourcing furniture for this trend, look for warm wood tones with minor imperfections. It only adds to the charm, and creates that cozy, lived-in aesthetic."

Potential Drawbacks

There are definitely some elements of freestanding kitchens to keep in mind before you rip out all your cabinets.

Storage is a top concern in a kitchen, so if you decide to ditch a traditional design for a freestanding kitchen, you need to replace the cabinets’ function. A combination of a pantry and freestanding furniture can do this, but it’s something to think about as you plan the layout.

Related: 22 Kitchen Pantry Ideas for All Your Storage Needs

You also have to consider the future implications for resale. If you create a kitchen that's very taste-specific, potential homebuyers might not be able to imagine themselves living in the space. Plus, if you intend on taking some of the bigger pieces of furniture with you when you move (like the island or an antique dresser you converted into kitchen storage) it may be a dealbreaker for some buyers.

Despite the drawbacks, this trend has nearly unlimited possibilities for customization. If you’re looking to create a kitchen that is completely tailored to your lifestyle, a freestanding one just may be the way to go.

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