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Renovating? Here's How to Pick the Right Kitchen Appliances
Choosing the right appliances is more than just finding those that match your kitchen’s décor. This is not a smart basis for selecting your appliances. After all, the second costliest component of kitchen renovation is the appliances.
Nowadays, home television shows are quite popular, and they’ve influenced how we see our homes. More and more homeowners are getting their kitchens done so that they’d have that shiny sparkling kitchen they see on their television.
One great way to achieve this look is to get the right appliances. Unfortunately, people can get so hung up on specific items like stainless steel appliances when they could get the same item at a lower price.
Keep in mind that the latest technology may cost more and may look flashy, but don’t necessarily mean they’re better.
So, how do you choose the right appliances without going broke?
Do Your Research
You need to do your research before you actually purchase anything. If you need the appliance immediately, you will less likely do your research. You will probably end up buying whatever catches your fancy.
It might also be a great idea to time your kitchen renovations with the expiration of your kitchen appliances. This will give you a longer time to save up for expensive renovations; you will also fully maximize the use of your appliances.
Updating appliances at once also gives you the opportunity to buy them in packages. You can buy all the major appliances like the fridge, stove, microwave and dishwasher in a package, and you’d be able to save a significant percentage of the total price. You could look for a sale and shave off hundreds of dollars off the purchase price.
Read the Big Yellow Stickers
Let’s take for example a dishwasher. Most dishwashers show usage based on 194-531 kilowatt hours every year. About ten years ago, the Energy Star program was created. Nowadays, to meet a Star qualification, a dishwasher has to run on a 331 kWh/year.
You also need to take into consideration that for most appliances, the Star rating doesn’t include water consumption usage. Dishwashers, for instance, use an average of four gallons of water per normal cycle.
Some brands would actually use as much as eight gallons per cycle.
You need to read the label to know if the appliance is worth buying. Otherwise, you could end up with an appliance that consumes so much energy and water.
Get an Appliance with Built-In Timers
Built-in timers can help you save energy, so you need to check this feature when buying new appliances for your kitchen. The built-in timer in your dishwasher, for instance, can help you save electricity. With timers, you can program your machines to cease operating after a certain time has passed.Don’t Buy Into the Hype
Energy and water consumption are not just your sole consideration when shopping for a new kitchen appliance. You should avoid buying hyped-up appliances that don’t live up to expectations. The truth is that a $1,200 microwave could perform much worse than a $300 microwave. Your $60 slow cooker may actually be better than a new range that costs about $2000!
Separating the wall-oven and the cooktop makes it easier to cook. Not only will you avoid all the bending and heavy lifting, but you will also be able to enjoy a bigger cooking space. This is perfect during the holidays when you have several family members cooking different dishes at the same time.
When it comes to ranges, you might want to check out ovens and ranges that offer induction cooking technology. And if you’re planning to get a new dishwasher, you might wish to look into buying the ultra-quiet dishwashers.
You don’t have to obsess over certain things to the exclusion of everything else. Some people would get stuck on stainless steel or marbles. Don’t be one of them. Instead, take into account your whole kitchen. It should match your home’s style after all, and that would affect your choices when it comes to kitchen design and appliance finish.
Consider Your Budget
If you are trying to do some basic remodeling, it won't make sense to splurge on expensive appliances when you’ve built quite basic cabinetry. Instead, consider buying appliances that would give your kitchen a clean and fresh image.
Choose appliances that would complement your kitchen’s design correctly. They should be able to blend in and serve a function. For necessary appliances, you may have to spend about $1,500 on basic white appliances. You can also find package deals for the stove, fridge, and dishwasher. If you add a couple of hundred bucks, you can likely get something black or stainless steel.
If you would like to have a custom remodel of your kitchen, you may have to spend about thousands of dollars on your appliances. But no matter what your budget is, you need to your research. Look for great value for your money. Don’t buy into the hype. Instead, look for items that complement your kitchen but are functional and useful.
Image Credit:
Sample Energy Guide Label via consumer.ftc.gov
White Appliances via community.southernliving.com