When remodeling your kitchen, one of the most important aspects is finding the best kitchen appliances.
If you’re doing a total kitchen remodel, you are also faced with some Big Appliance decisions. Not just big literally – but choosing the right refrigerator, range, stove, dishwasher and other kitchen appliances can feel almost like purchasing a new car. There are so many options out there and lots of advice and opinions.
To help choose the right kitchen appliances, you actually can use some of the same key decision points as in a car purchase. Even though you don’t get to do a test drive around the block, the exhilaration is still there when you use your new kitchen for the first time.
Here’s are the main points to think about:
1. Budget
This one is so obvious that you may overlook it. Before you can start listing off your dream kitchen items, you’ll need to have a budget in mind. Even better, set your remodeling budget, and add 10% to that amount. Even if you manage to get a great deal on a floor model, you can still apply the savings to another appliance’s upgrades.
Break out the calculator, and get your figures firmed up. List off each appliance you’ll be purchasing. When you’ve got your amount, you can proceed with the fun parts. There’s nothing worse than having your heart set on a kitchen remodel that you can’t afford.
On the other hand, there’s nothing like finding a bargain that will fit your budget.
2. Finish
This is your first assignment: What do you want your appliances to look like? There aren’t quite as many choices for the exterior of an appliance as you’ll find on the car lot, but there are quite a few current trends that you’ll need to choose from.
Here are some of the most popular:
-Stainless Steel:
This type of finish has been popular for some time now. It’s neutral, looks light and cool, and has turned into a classic look. It looks good with kitchen color schemes from light to dark.
If you’ve avoided stainless steel before because of the glossy finish, be sure to check out the matte finishes that are available. They are fingerprint-resistant and great for homes with active kids or just spouses who come in with greasy hands.
-Black
Black is unobtrusive and easy to match across manufacturers. It works best in kitchens that aren’t small and dark and can either contrast beautifully with white cabinetry, or make a real statement with dark countertops.
Like stainless steel, black has become available in a matte finish that doesn’t show smudges or fingerprints. If you’ve previously experienced some anxiety with trying to keep your black kitchen appliances as shiny as the day you got them, you will be delighted with the new finishes.
-White
White appliances are still here and have the benefit of brightening up small kitchens and making them feel larger. They’re also easy to find in stock.
If you’re looking for a color that will be appealing to future buyers, white will always be a clean classic look that anyone can work with.
-Colored Finish
Colors have come back, and allow you to make a statement. This is where it gets fun!
If you really want to commit to color, you can mix and match smaller appliances with your larger ones and have a kitchen that is ready for Instagram.
3. Size
The next thing you must consider during your kitchen remodeling project is the size of your kitchen appliances. Be sure that you are working within your limits on appliance sizes. If you will be keeping your existing cabinets, you’ll need to make sure that your new appliances will fit the available dimensions.
Make sure you have the height, width, and depth for each space. Also, make a note of which way the refrigerator door will need to swing.
If you are completely redoing your kitchen, consider going larger on some appliances. You may not need a six-burner stove, but you may very well want to move up to a larger refrigerator.
If you’ve always wanted more room in your oven, now is the time to check the interior dimensions on the models you’re looking at.
4. Usage
Remodeling a kitchen always provides a chance to evaluate our lifestyles and needs. Kitchens are central to our lives, and being able to perform our daily chores and activities with ease and efficiency is one of the best things to come out of any remodeling project.
Now is the time to think about what you do most – is the dishwasher always running? Do you have to rearrange the refrigerator contents every time you come home from the grocery store? Would you like to be able to cook faster?
All these things should be taken into account when you’re looking at the different models of kitchen appliances. Make a wish list – you may be surprised at what’s out there.
5. Features
Just like cars, appliances have added a lot of new features in recent years. You might be interested in conduction cooktops or convection ovens. Or, one of the new “smart” appliances that can help you keep up with your shopping list, food inventory, or other reminders.
Energy Star ratings are now especially important, and you can save a significant annual amount if you purchase kitchen appliances with the best usage ratings.
Other new innovations are dishwashers that incorporate hard food disposers, ranges that have steam cleaning options, and more microwave options than you ever dreamed of. If your budget allows, do a little research on the new features, and see what you’d like to add to your kitchen.
6. Research Different Kitchen Appliances
Doing a little homework prior to heading out on your buying trips will be the best decision you make. It’s easy to get information online about all the features and price ranges of the specific models you’ll be looking for.
You can check reviews to find out which brands are the best buys, which ones have the fewest problems, and which ones you might want to avoid. Being a well-informed shopper will keep you from being talked into features you don’t have, or can allow you to know a good deal when you see it.
You’ll be able to decode those labels and understand BTU, induction and convection.
Conclusion
When you approach your appliance shopping with an eye towards the practical: budget, usage, research – you can enjoy the choices that relate to the more “fun” things such as color, features, and upgrades.
Don’t forget to utilize your kitchen remodeler during this process as well. They will work with you to determine your wants and needs, and have valuable insight into the latest appliances.
When you use your appliances on a daily basis – as you do in the kitchen – you want to be confident in your choices. Taking an approach like ours will help you enjoy your kitchen remodel even more.