Whether you are moving into a new home or designing one from the ground up, space is always a factor. You want to make sure that your bedroom has enough space for your bed, bedside table or tables, cupboards, and all of your personal belongings like your clothing. The same goes for your kitchen. When planning the design of your kitchen, you’ll need to set aside space for your sink and appliances like your oven and fridge. Then there are other appliances that will also require space and, if you don’t account for them, you might not have room to accommodate all of your needs. Fortunately, there is good news for those with small homes. Compact home appliances make it possible to fit your favorite appliances in smaller spaces.
When the time comes to choose your home appliances, the first thing you will need to do is take stock of what you already have. If you are moving from a larger home to a smaller one, you might need to sell or give a larger appliance to somebody before buying a smaller one.
Compact Refrigerators
Not all refrigerators are big and bulky. Sure, there are the double door varieties with all the extra features like ice makers, but you can find smaller ones to fit in the space you have available. Some models are shorter, some are taller yet narrow. There are also those that are fridge/freezer combos which also help save space since you will need a single appliance instead of two. This may come as a surprise but there are also fridge/microwave combos available! With this appliance, you don’t have to worry about your microwave taking up any counter space.
Cooktops
Induction cooktops are available in various models. They can be built into your countertop or used as a stand-alone appliance without the need for a full stove and oven combo. Some of these cooktops are portable for single-pan use. They can easily be packed away when not in use. Inductions cooktops heat up faster than electric or gas varieties which makes them great for cooking in a hurry.
Dishwashers
Many people think that they need to have a lot of space in their kitchen in order to own a dishwasher. This is not entirely true. While a full-sized dishwasher will require a fair amount of space, there are smaller and more compact options. Some dishwashers are slimmer and there are also single-drawer varieties for very small kitchens. This way, you can still enjoy the convenience of a dishwasher repair and the hygienic benefits without sacrificing too much of your storage space.
Washers and Dryers
You might think that a washer and dryer will inevitably take up a lot of space but this does not have to be the case. There are some large models on the market but there are also smaller, more compact washers available. If you don’t have much space to place your washer and dryer beside one another, you could opt for those of the stackable variety instead. This way, you have two full appliances without taking up all the floor space. Think about the way all those dryers at your local laundromat are stacked and how many more they can accommodate simply by making use of this valuable space. Then there are washer repair/dryer combos. You can invest in a single appliance that both washes and dries your laundry. Not only does it take up half the space, but it also does not require the same ventilation system as regular dryers.
Multipurpose Appliances
Apart from smaller versions of popular household appliances, you can also invest in multipurpose appliances. In other words, instead of buying a simple blender and separate food processor, you can buy an appliance that performs both of these tasks. Another example is a sandwich maker that also operates as a grill and waffle maker. Another good tip to remember is to keep your appliances in their boxes and packed away when not in use. Of course, this does not apply to appliances that are used on a daily basis or several times a day. If you only use your blender/food processor a few times a week, you can keep it backed away neatly inside a kitchen cabinet so that you have more space on your countertops for food preparation.
