Once you’ve made the decision to give your kitchen an overhaul, the next thing you’ll need to think about is whether or not to go for a fitted design. Since, in all likelihood, you won’t be revamping your kitchen again any time soon, it makes sense to research the advantages and disadvantages of having a fitted kitchen.
Advantages of fitted kitchens
• Ideal for small spaces – if you frequently run out of storage space or you just can’t always find what you’re after, chances are, you’ve got a small kitchen. A fitted kitchen can solve some of these problems though. You’ll be able to design a kitchen which fits into every little nook and cranny, making the most of the available space.
• It will be designed specifically for your room – many fitted kitchen suppliers, including companies like Wren Kitchens, have online design tools to ensure you get everything you want out of the room. You’ll be able to measure up, with some expert help if you need it, so the units all fit perfectly in your space.
• Choose your own décor – one of the biggest advantages of having a fitted kitchen is that you get to design it yourself. You can choose the worktops, unit coverings and even the sink accessories to make sure it complements everything else in the space. Whether you choose to hide your fridge-freezer in a cupboard or put your hob on a kitchen island, the decision really is all yours.
• Cater for irregular-shaped rooms – not everyone is lucky enough to have a perfectly shaped kitchen. While free-standing units won’t really work in an irregular-shaped room, fitted units will. It’s far easier to put a kitchen designed for a space into it than it is to traipse around finding
Disadvantages of fitted kitchens
• It is static – once you’ve fitted a kitchen, it has to stay put exactly there. You won’t be able to move things around like you can with free-standing units, meaning you can’t add pieces to the space as you go along.
• Restrictive design – if you go for a fitted kitchen, everything has to slot into its rightful place. You only have so many options as to where you put the cooker and the deep drawers, giving you less flexibility
• Can be time consuming – if you’re short on time, a free-standing kitchen is bound to seem more appealing to you. Fitted kitchens can take a while to get everything in place, so you could stuck without essential things like an oven
Obviously, the kitchen you choose will very much be based upon your preferences. But what’s worth bearing in mind is that there are companies out there, such as Wren Kitchens, which offer fully assembled kitchen cabinets to their customers. This can knock some time off the installation process and you’ll find them at very decent prices. You’ll still need a couple of weeks to fit the kitchen, but you could probably do it quicker than that if you set some time aside and don’t just try to do it at the weekends.
Not everything is lucky enough to have a mansion-sized kitchen, but with a fitted design, you’ll be able to fit everything into your space regardless.
