Suppose you are serious about wine collecting and want to stay chilled to the best temperature possible. In that case, you must have the most suitable wine cooler available to you, especially if you do not have a cellar or basement within your home. However, with so many choices, such as integrated or freestanding units, what wine cooler is the best investment for you? In this article, we'll tell you how integrated wine chillers differ from freestanding coolers, as well as which wine cooler is right for your home and your needs.
Design
Freestanding wine coolers are typically designed with a glass door and internal shelves. What makes each model unique is how many shelves the refrigerator has. There is a lot of storage potential in tall wine chillers, making them some of the best coolers.
Conversely, integrated models allow you to hide the cooler behind a cabinet door that matches the style of the cabinet and the room. The integrated wine cooler of your choice is a fantastic option if you have the space available within your cabinets to accommodate it. You can find the wine cooler with both an opaque and a glass door.
Placement
One of the benefits of a freestanding wine cooler is the ability to move it anywhere you like. Usually, this style of wine cooler is situated within an alcove to maintain a discrete appearance. In re-decorating or redesigning your kitchen, utility room, or garage, your wine cooler can simply be relocated where it looks best.
However, the integrated model is ideally suited for positioning under counters. Although this model can be repositioned, it is much more difficult to do so. While the integrated option is a great choice, if you want something that fits into a large cabinet structure or underneath a counter within a garage without having to move it, then the integrated option can be an excellent choice. If you're smart about how you position your wine cooler, it shouldn't even matter that it's integrated.
Capacity
Indeed, integrated wine coolers are usually more compact than other alternatives. They're designed to be placed under the counter or inside a cabinet. It allows them to fit perfectly into the structure of a kitchen. However, their size limits their capacity to hold wines. In contrast, limited space may be ideal for a modest consumer. However, if you have a large collection, a freestanding refrigerator will be able to accommodate it.
Pros and Cons of Freestanding and Integrated Wine Coolers
Freestanding Wine Coolers: Pros & Cons
Pros
· There are more choices available on the market for freestanding wine refrigerators.
· The installation is easy and doesn't usually require a professional's help.
· There is great flexibility in where to place them.
· You can easily access the power source, the window for ventilation, and the water outlet.
· They are generally less expensive than integrated wine coolers.
· They are easy to move around if you decide to rearrange the furniture.
Cons
· The wine coolers tend to be much bulkier than integrated models.
· This makes them hard to integrate into your home seamlessly.
Integrated Wine Coolers: Pros & Cons
Pros
· The design and aesthetic of your kitchen won't be impacted.
· It looks sleek, stylish, and very modern.
· You have many options when it comes to choosing your power source.
Cons
· They are more expensive than free-standing models.
· There is a limited bottle capacity, so this may not be the best option for those with exceptionally large collections of wine.
How to decide between integrated and freestanding units?
It might seem difficult to decide between freestanding and integrated wine coolers since both offer many advantages. Integrated wine fridges are a great choice if you're short on space. If you're looking for a wine cooler to fit into a small space, such as in a kitchen or apartment, or if you have a man cave, then this is a great option. You should also look at a sleek and compact wine cooler if your collection is small and you have no plans to add more bottles.
Freestanding wine coolers are ideal for wine lovers who want to store their collections anywhere. Investing in a large wine cooler is a smart decision if you intend to expand your wine collection.