Willow WFF157W 157L Freestanding Fridge Freezer review

Have you been looking for a compact fridge freezer that still gives you plenty of storage and doesn’t turn your kitchen into a noisy, high‑maintenance hassle?

Understanding What You Get with the Willow WFF157W

When you look at the Willow WFF157W 157L Freestanding 70/30 Fridge Freezer, you’re getting a practical appliance designed for small to medium households, flats, student homes, or as an extra fridge freezer. You’re not paying for gimmicks; you’re paying for everyday reliability, sensible storage, and easy cleaning.

This model balances capacity, noise, ease of use, and running practicality, so you have something that quietly does its job without demanding your attention every week.

Key Specs at a Glance

To help you quickly see what this fridge freezer offers, here’s a simple breakdown of the main features and specs you’re working with:

This table gives you a snapshot, but there’s a lot more to how these features actually feel in day-to-day use in your kitchen or living space.

Capacity and Layout: Is 157L Enough for You?

You get a 157L net capacity, split in a 70/30 ratio between fridge and freezer. That means the emphasis is clearly on fresh food storage, which suits you if you tend to buy fresh groceries more often than you stockpile frozen goods.

The fridge capacity sits at 109L, while the freezer offers 48L. For one or two people, or even a small family that shops regularly, this capacity can be more than adequate, especially if you use it smartly.

How the 70/30 Split Works in Daily Life

With the 70/30 layout, your fridge section dominates the space, so you can comfortably store fresh ingredients, leftovers, and drinks. The smaller freezer compartment is better suited to essentials rather than bulk freezing.

If you like to cook fresh most days but still want frozen pizzas, chips, a few tubs of ice cream, and some frozen veg, this ratio works well for your lifestyle. You’re not sacrificing too much freezer space, but you’re prioritising the part you probably open more often: the fridge.

What You Can Realistically Store

To give you a sense of scale, you might comfortably fit the following at once:

• In the fridge:

  • Several bottles or cartons of milk and juice
  • A week’s worth of fruit and vegetables in the crisper drawer
  • Sauces, condiments, and jars in the door trays
  • A few ready meals, leftovers, and lunch boxes on the shelves
  • Dairy items like cheese, yogurt, and butter

• In the freezer:

  • A couple of bags of frozen veg
  • A bag of frozen chips
  • Some fish fillets or meat
  • A pizza or two
  • A tub of ice cream or similar treats

You’re not going to freeze half a cow in this freezer, but you can definitely keep your daily and weekly essentials organized and accessible.

Fridge Section: Shelves, Door Storage, and Crisper Drawer

The fridge section of the Willow WFF157W is designed to make everyday organisation straightforward. You don’t get pointless quirky shapes; you get simple, flat, easy-to-clean surfaces.

3 Glass Shelves: Simple but Practical

You get three glass shelves, which are strong, stable, and transparent. Glass is much easier to wipe down when something spills, and it doesn’t trap odors like some older plastic designs.

You can use these shelves to separate different types of food:

• Top: dairy, leftover containers, small items
• Middle: cooked foods or “ready to eat” items
• Bottom: raw ingredients like meat or fish (if not in separate containers)

This structure helps you keep cross-contamination risks low and everything more hygienic.

3 Door Trays: Smart Use of Vertical Space

Those three door trays are perfect for everyday grab-and-go items. You can place:

• Bottles of milk or juice
• Jars of sauces and condiments
• Butter, spreads, and smaller bottles

Door storage often gets overlooked, but it dramatically increases how much you can store without cramming everything onto the main shelves.

Crisper Drawer: Keeping Your Produce Fresher

At the bottom of the fridge you have a crisper drawer (vegetable box). This is where you place fruit and vegetables to keep them fresher for longer.

By keeping produce in the crisper instead of just on the shelves, you:

• Help reduce wilting and drying out
• Keep your fridge looking tidier
• Prevent stray salad leaves and loose veg from rolling around

If you’re trying to eat healthier or just want your weekly produce to last a bit longer, using this drawer properly genuinely makes a difference.

Freezer Section: 3 Drawers for Neat Organization

The 48L freezer is compact, but the layout with three drawers makes it surprisingly usable. You’re working with vertical storage that helps you separate things easily.

Why 3 Drawers Make Your Life Easier

Having three distinct drawers means you can create your own system, such as:

• Top drawer: ice cream, desserts, “quick snacks”
• Middle drawer: fish, prepared meals, frozen leftovers
• Bottom drawer: bulkier items, frozen veg, chips

By dividing your food logically, you avoid emptying the entire freezer just to find one item. You also minimise the time you keep the door open, which is better for energy efficiency and frost build-up.

Practical Size Expectations

You shouldn’t expect each drawer to be huge, but for a small household, you can still:

• Store weekly frozen essentials
• Keep a backup stock of bread or rolls
• Freeze portions of home-cooked meals so you have easy dinners ready

If you’re someone who bulk-buys in massive quantities, you might see this as an additional freezer rather than your only one. But for everyday normal use, it works smoothly.

Noise Level: How Quiet Is 39dBA in Real Life?

The Willow WFF157W has a maximum noise level of 39dBA, which places it in the “quiet” category for home appliances. Noise matters more than you might think, especially if you live in an open-plan flat, have a small kitchen, or keep the fridge near a living area.

What 39dBA Actually Feels Like

To put 39dBA into context:

• It’s quieter than many older fridges
• It’s roughly similar to a quiet library or soft background hum
• Day-to-day, you’ll probably tune it out completely

You might occasionally notice a gentle humming sound when the compressor runs, but it shouldn’t disturb you while you talk, watch TV, or sleep in a nearby room.

Ideal for Kitchens, Studios, and Shared Spaces

If you’re in:

• A small flat with open kitchen-lounge layout
• A student house with the fridge near a living room
• A home where you work from the kitchen table

You can keep this fridge freezer running without it constantly reminding you it’s there. You get the convenience of a full fridge and freezer without the constant noisy background.

Mark-Proof Finish: Less Cleaning, More Relaxing

The mark-proof exterior is one of those features you only fully appreciate after you’ve cleaned fingerprints off a normal fridge for the tenth time in a week. This finish is designed to resist smears and marks, so your fridge freezer keeps a neat, clean appearance longer.

What Mark-Proof Really Means for You

Instead of constant streaks and finger marks ruining the look, the surface:

• Shows fewer visible smudges
• Is more resistant to small everyday stains
• Needs only a quick wipe now and then

If you have kids, or you’re just constantly opening and closing the door, you’ll notice it stays looking tidy far more easily.

How to Clean It Properly

You don’t need harsh chemicals or special sprays. You just need:

• A soft cloth or microfibre cloth
• Mild soapy water, if needed

You wipe it down gently so you don’t scratch the coating, and that’s usually enough to restore the fresh white look. This is particularly handy if you want your kitchen to feel bright and minimal without constant upkeep.

Easy-to-Clean Interior: Glass Shelves and Simple Layout

Inside the fridge, the glass shelves and straightforward design help you stay on top of spills. Food messes happen: a yogurt pot leaks, a sauce bottle tips, or a food container drips. Glass shelves mean the spill is contained on one level instead of seeping all the way down.

Why Glass Shelves Are a Good Choice

You benefit from:

• Flat, solid surfaces that are easy to wipe
• No awkward grooves where dirt can hide
• Better visibility of what’s on each shelf

If something spills, you can take out the shelf, give it a quick wash in the sink, dry it, and put it straight back. You don’t need complicated disassembly or special tools.

Staying on Top of Hygiene

When the fridge is easy to clean, you’re more likely to:

• Remove expired or forgotten items regularly
• Wipe up small messes before they turn into bigger problems
• Keep everything smelling fresh

That makes your overall food storage safer, more pleasant, and more organized.

Low Frost Technology: Less Defrosting, Less Hassle

The Willow WFF157W offers Low Frost rather than fully frost-free, which is a good middle ground. You still get some ice build-up, but much less frequently than in older, traditional freezers.

What Low Frost Means in Everyday Use

Low Frost uses temperature-sensitive technology to minimise ice formation. That translates into:

• Slower build-up of ice on the walls and shelves
• Less frequent need to defrost manually
• Easier and faster defrosting sessions when you do it

You won’t be hacking away at thick ice layers every few weeks. Instead, you’ll probably defrost much less often, and when you do, the job is fairly quick.

Why Reduced Ice Build-Up Matters

Too much ice is more than just an annoyance:

• It reduces your usable space
• It can make freezer drawers sticky or hard to open
• It slightly impacts energy efficiency over time

By reducing ice, your freezer works more efficiently, and you keep the full depth of each drawer available for food rather than for layers of frozen frost.

Adjustable Thermostat: Taking Control of Your Cooling

The adjustable thermostat lets you fine-tune the internal temperature of your fridge freezer. That gives you the control to tailor it to your home, your food habits, and your environment.

Why Adjustability Matters

Different situations call for slightly different settings:

• Hot weather may require a cooler setting to keep food fresh
• Cold kitchens (such as in garages or utility rooms) might need adjustments
• If you pack the fridge more than usual after a big shop, you may want it cooler for a while

An adjustable thermostat lets you respond to these changes so your food stays at safe temperatures and your energy use remains reasonable.

Shelves at 3 Levels and Veg Box Options

You also get shelves at 3 levels plus the veg box, which gives you flexibility in arranging space. Combined with the thermostat, you can:

• Adjust shelf height to suit taller bottles or larger containers
• Place more delicate items in spots with slightly more stable temperature
• Make room for special occasions or batch cooking

This balance of adjustable space and adjustable temperature gives you more control than a fixed, rigid interior.

Energy Class E: What It Means for Your Bills and Usage

The Willow WFF157W is rated Energy Class E under current EU/UK energy labels. The newer rating system is stricter than the old A+/A++ labels, so an E does not mean “bad”; it means it meets modern efficiency standards at a reasonable price point.

How to Think About Energy Class E

You’re getting:

• A fridge freezer that’s efficient enough to be run 24/7 without extreme cost
• A sensible trade-off between price and running efficiency
• Modern insulation and motor design, though not the very top of the efficiency scale

If your main priority is ultra-low energy usage, you might look at higher energy classes, but for most everyday homes, an E-rated fridge freezer balances affordability and acceptable running costs.

Tips to Use It Efficiently

You can still reduce your energy use through habits:

• Keep the door closed as much as possible
• Avoid putting hot food into the fridge or freezer
• Don’t overpack it so air can circulate properly
• Keep the condenser area (usually at the back) free of dust and obstructions

By treating the appliance well, you extend its life and keep running costs lower.

Design and Appearance: How It Fits into Your Kitchen

The Willow WFF157W comes in white with a mark-proof finish, making it a neutral, clean-looking addition to almost any kitchen style. It’s meant to blend in rather than stand out.

Clean, Simple Look

You’re working with:

• A classic white color that matches most kitchens
• A smooth, modern finish that doesn’t look dated
• A design that doesn’t dominate the room

If you prefer your appliances to quietly do their job in the background, this model fits that preference. It doesn’t scream for attention, but it definitely keeps your food where you want it: chilled or frozen.

Freestanding Convenience

As a freestanding unit, you can:

• Place it wherever you have enough space and ventilation
• Move it more easily if you rearrange or change homes
• Avoid the higher cost and complexity of integrated models

This flexibility is especially useful in rented accommodation, student houses, or situations where you might need to adjust your layout over time.

Who This Fridge Freezer Is Best For

Before you choose any appliance, it helps to be clear on who it actually suits. The Willow WFF157W has a sweet spot in terms of size, noise level, and function.

Ideal Users and Households

You’re likely a good match for this model if:

• You live alone or with one other person
• You’re a couple who shops a few times per week rather than doing monthly bulk shops
• You have a small kitchen and need to make smart use of space
• You’re setting up a student house or a rental property
• You want a secondary fridge freezer for a utility room or garage (within suitable temperature guidelines)

In these situations, the 157L capacity, 70/30 split, and low frost design give you exactly what you need without overwhelming your space.

When It Might Not Be the Right Choice

You may want to consider a bigger or different style of appliance if:

• You have a large family and cook in big batches all the time
• You rely heavily on frozen food and bulk-buy meat or freezer staples
• You need fully frost-free technology with absolutely no manual defrosting

In those cases, a larger, perhaps taller model with a bigger freezer section will probably serve you better.

Everyday Convenience: How It Fits into Your Routine

The true test of a fridge freezer isn’t just specifications; it’s how it fits into your routine and how little you have to think about it once it’s running.

Living with the Willow WFF157W Day to Day

Once set up and leveled, you can expect:

• Quiet operation that quickly fades into the background
• Easy access to both fridge and freezer with logical internal layout
• Simple cleaning routines thanks to glass shelves and a mark-proof exterior
• Occasional, relatively quick defrosting sessions rather than constant maintenance

You open it, grab what you need, clean it now and again, and it just keeps everything at the right temperature in the background.

Managing Space So It Always Feels Big Enough

To keep the 157L capacity feeling generous rather than cramped, you can:

• Rotate older food to the front so it gets used first
• Avoid hoarding condiments you never actually use
• Use clear containers in the fridge and freezer drawers to group smaller items
• Use the door for items that can handle slight temperature variations, like sauces and drinks

With a little organisation, you’ll find this size can easily handle a typical weekly shop for up to two people.

Warranty and Peace of Mind

You get a 2-year warranty with the Willow WFF157W, which gives you a reasonable level of security after purchase. For a mid-range appliance, this is a solid reassurance.

Why a 2-Year Warranty Matters

You’re covered for:

• Manufacturer faults and defects
• Issues that arise from normal use within the stated period

This doesn’t mean you don’t need to take care of it, but it does mean you’re not on your own if something goes wrong early due to a production problem.

Looking After Your Fridge Freezer

To get the longest life out of it, you should:

• Keep the internal temperature within recommended settings
• Avoid overloading the shelves and drawers to prevent damage
• Defrost the freezer section when needed
• Make sure the door seals stay clean and intact

These simple habits help your fridge freezer stay efficient and extend its usable life well beyond the warranty.

Pros and Cons of the Willow WFF157W

You’ll make a better decision when you weigh strengths and limitations clearly. Here’s an honest look at what you’re getting.

Main Advantages

You benefit from:

• Good capacity for small households: 157L with 70/30 split is ideal if you focus on fresh food.
• Quiet operation: At 39dBA, it’s suitable for open-plan and small spaces.
• Mark-proof exterior: Less visible grime and easier cleaning on the outside.
• Easy-to-clean interior: Glass shelves and a simple layout help with hygiene.
• Low frost design: Less frequent and easier defrosting than traditional freezers.
• Adjustable thermostat: More control over internal temperature.
• 2-year warranty: Extra peace of mind after you buy.

These strengths target everyday practicality, rather than fancy electronics or unnecessary extras.

Potential Drawbacks

You should also be aware of:

• Limited freezer size: 48L is fine for essentials but not for serious bulk freezing.
• Not fully frost-free: You still have to defrost occasionally, even if less often.
• Energy Class E: Reasonable but not the most energy-efficient rating available.
• Basic feature set: No advanced digital displays or smart features, if that’s something you want.

If your expectations match what this model offers, these points won’t be deal-breakers. But it’s better to know them up front.

Practical Tips for Setting Up and Using Your Willow WFF157W

Once you’ve chosen this fridge freezer, you’ll want to get it running properly from day one. A few simple habits can make a big difference.

Setting It Up the Right Way

When you first receive it, you should:

1. Place it in a well-ventilated spot, away from direct heat sources.
2. Make sure it’s level so the door seals properly and shelves sit straight.
3. Let it sit upright for a few hours (especially if it was transported horizontally) before switching it on.
4. Turn it on and give it time to reach temperature before stocking it with food.

This helps the internal components settle and ensures you’re not putting food into a warm fridge or freezer.

Everyday Best Practices

To keep it running smoothly long-term:

• Check the door seals: Make sure they close properly and are not blocked by items.
• Avoid crowding vents inside: Let cool air circulate freely.
• Organise your food: Use the crisper for produce, door trays for condiments, and drawers in the freezer for logical grouping.
• Defrost when needed: Don’t wait until ice takes over your drawers; a little, earlier effort saves you time.

These habits don’t take long but significantly improve performance and convenience.

Final Thoughts: Is the Willow WFF157W Right for You?

You’re looking at a fridge freezer that focuses on quiet, reliable, easy everyday use, not on flashy extras. The Willow WFF157W 157L Freestanding 70/30 Fridge Freezer gives you a sensible 157L capacity, a space-efficient interior, and a design that stays clean with minimal effort.

You get:

• Enough room for fresh food and essential frozen items
• A quiet appliance that won’t distract you in small or open-plan spaces
• A mark-proof, easy-to-clean exterior and glass shelves inside
• Low Frost technology that cuts down how often you have to defrost
• An adjustable thermostat and flexible shelving levels for better control
• A 2-year warranty for added reassurance

If you’re a single person, a couple, a small household, or you need an additional fridge freezer in a utility area, this model ticks the important boxes: quiet, practical, and straightforward to live with.

If you need a huge freezer, advanced smart features, or the absolute top energy efficiency rating, you might prefer a different model. But if your priority is a dependable, compact, friendly-to-use fridge freezer that just quietly gets on with the job, the Willow WFF157W is a strong option for your home.

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