As we endeavor to fill our kitchens with charm, character, and cozy appeal, there's a new addition that's taking over trends: freestanding furniture.
Giving space to more statement designs and easy-to-add features, it's a trend you should expect to see a lot of this year. But as freestanding kitchens continue to prove popular, you might be wondering how to mix these unique pieces with your existing scheme.
From the best freestanding furniture to bring into your space to the secret to creating a sense of cohesion, here's how experts are making this trend work in 2025.
How to mix freestanding furniture into your kitchen
For most people, a fully fitted, built-in kitchen is the norm. With every element of your space perfectly designed to fit into the nooks and crannies of your kitchen, it can be tricky to know exactly how to style freestanding furniture in a way that feels cohesive.
However, experts are really encouraging people to start bringing these more unique designs into their existing schemes to reinfuse character and lived-in style.
'Freestanding kitchen furniture offers versatility, blending seamlessly into both fitted and freestanding kitchen schemes. The appeal lies in its adaptability as pieces can be rearranged or even taken with you when you move, which provides flexibility that evolves with your needs,' explains Fred Horlock, design director at Neptune.
The revival of introducing freestanding kitchen furniture, something that has always been a staple in more traditional kitchens, is also a result of the ever-evolving needs of our spaces.
'As kitchens increasingly become a social as well as practical space, the potential to create a more characterful personalized look with freestanding kitchen furniture becomes even more appealing.,' says Danielle Le Vaillant, head of photography and film at Cox & Cox.
'Used as much for working from home, watching TV, and homework as cooking and meal prep, our expectations of how the kitchen should look have changed. We want to create rooms with atmosphere and character and freestanding kitchen furniture is perfect for achieving a unique look that’s personal to us.'
5 ways to mix freestanding furniture into your kitchen
Mixing freestanding furniture into your kitchen is easier than you might think. Consider the pieces that will add style and function to your scheme – and how much space you have to accommodate them.
1. Make space for a traditional larder or dresser
If it's the more traditional freestanding furniture pieces that pique your interest, larders and dressers are great pieces to bring into your kitchen. They're not only stylish but practical additions too.
'Adding one or two freestanding pieces to an existing fitted kitchen is an easy way to transform and add character to the space without the expense and upheaval of having a brand-new kitchen fitted,' explains Danielle.
'You could remove just a double spread of wall and floor units to insert a freestanding larder cupboard and immediately create an attractive and stylish area of additional kitchen storage that breaks up the uniformity of a fitted kitchen,' she adds.
You don't necessarily have to remove any of your fitted units – and empty wall in your kitchen is the perfect spot for freestanding furniture, and you can find a design that fits the space you have available.
2. Add freestanding furniture to awkward kitchen corners
If your kitchen has any awkward architecture or corners that are difficult to design a built-in kitchen around, freestanding kitchen furniture is a wonderful alternative.
'Freestanding kitchens are particularly effective in period or industrial homes, allowing you to work around interesting features like an existing fireplace. You can also track down pieces to suit awkward angles and old walls where a more streamlined fitted kitchen might draw more attention to the “quirks”,' says Danielle.
In this dark kitchen, a recessed alcove means one wall is unusable for built-in storage, so a freestanding shelving unit has been introduced instead. This not only adds much-needed storage, but brings in a new texture with the dark wood, too.
3. Keep it simple with a butcher's block
'Deciding which additional freestanding pieces to add to your kitchen depends on factors like the main uses of your kitchen day-to-day, the size of the space, and existing built-in furniture,' says Fred.
If you want to bring in freestanding kitchen furniture in a more understated way, look to smaller pieces that don't compromise the existing layout of your scheme – especially in smaller spaces.
'If you already have a built-in island, consider a smaller addition such as our slimline Bourton chopping block which is perfectly proportioned to sit at the end of a row of cabinetry or serve as a mini-island in a small kitchen.'
A chopping or butcher's block adds warmth and function to your kitchen. They're available in plenty of different shapes and sizes (and sometimes even portable) to fit seamlessly into your kitchen.
4. Introduce freestanding furniture that complements your existing kitchen scheme
The key to bringing in freestanding furniture to your kitchen is to source pieces that complement your existing scheme. This could be through color, material, or hardware finishes.
'Mirroring finishes in cabinetry, countertops, or hardware will create a cohesive look while embracing subtle contrasts like pairing painted furniture with natural wood can add depth,' says Fred.
This kitchen is a perfect example. While the dresser adds a dose of color with its forest green doors, the wood inside and on the base match the wood tones used for the cabinetry and table, adding a sense of cohesion to the scheme.
5. Make a cook's table the focal point of your kitchen
If there's one kitchen feature that can easily be swapped for a freestanding alternative, it's the kitchen island. While you might lose some storage space, it's a great way to give your kitchen a more lived-in, unique style.
'Whilst kitchen islands remain a regular design piece, a Cook’s Table allows light and space to flow through the room offering an elegant and less obtrusive alternative – just as practical but bringing a romantic aesthetic with its history and rusticity. It’s a testament to the beauty of simplicity, achieving elegance alongside functionality,' says Bruce Hodgson, founder of Artichoke.
'A dramatic, large-scale piece creates a central focal point of the room and can elevate the space with painted versions adding color or beautiful natural wood as a contrast to painted cabinetry.'
Shop freestanding kitchen furniture
A hutch is a stylish addition to a kitchen. This design from Anthropologie comes in four colors, so there's something to suit most schemes. The mix of visible and closed storage is a huge bonus – you can display your favorite kitchenware behind the glass doors and store the less attractive items out of site.
A freestanding kitchen island is a great way to add a character feature to your space. This design comes in a rich wood tone with a marble countertop and has a lovely turned detail on the legs. There's also a decent amount of storage, with draw space under the counter and a large shelf at the base.
For something small and portable, you can't go wrong with a freestanding kitchen cart. With plenty of shelf space, a wooden block that forms a counter, and casters with breaks, it easily becomes one of the most versatile pieces in your kitchen, adding storage and doubling as a mini island.
Whether you swap out your kitchen island for a freestanding alternative or add extra storage with a larder or hutch, there are so many ways to mix freestanding furniture into your kitchen that feel timeless and cohesive.
