There are many reasons why a homeowner might be in the market for new appliances: a move to a new home where they aren’t included or need updating, a big kitchen remodel, the appliances have broken, or, you’re just ready for a change. Regardless of the reason, shopping for kitchen appliances can seem like a daunting task, leaving homeowners unsure where to start. Fortunately, there are a couple of tips you can follow to get you on the right track and make sure you invest in the right appliances for your family’s kitchen, both aesthetically and functionally!
Start by narrowing down what overall aesthetic you’re looking for.
While the look of your appliances isn’t necessarily the focal point of a kitchen, they play a major role due to how much space they tend to take up. One of the first things that should be taken into consideration is whether or not you care about the appliances all matching one another. Once this has been decided, next is choosing the finish that would best suit your lifestyle as well as the look of the kitchen. Are you ok with upkeep when it comes to cleaning them? Then you might want to consider the sleek and modern look of stainless steel or black stainless steel. If easy upkeep is an important factor, a standard matte white or black might be your best option. If you’re really going for a high-end, chef’s kitchen look, look into investing in concealed appliances to really make a statement!
Make sure to measure everything, and then measure again!
You can’t be too careful when checking your calculations. Before you choose any appliance, make sure to measure the space in order to ensure that your purchase will fit! This is especially important if you’re updating or replacing your sink. While not technically an appliance, sinks tend to be replaced with kitchen remodels as well and they vary significantly in both overall size and depth.
What to consider when looking at a new stove and oven.
Start at the beginning with this one: are you looking for a standard oven/stove combination or a separate range cooktop and oven. Once you have this sorted out, you can move on to specifics. As far as cooktops and stoves are concerned, the two most common choices are gas or electric. While gas is often the popular choice in upgraded kitchens, it isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea. While they certainly look impressive and many cooks prefer to cook on them, they also take more effort to clean and have a slight learning curve involved when figuring out heat and cooking times. If you’re looking for something that will get the job done as quickly as possible, induction cooktops are increasingly becoming more popular. They are both energy efficient, making the cooking process a quick one, and flat, making the upkeep less time-consuming.
If you make the decision to go with a range cooktop, you’ll also have to figure out what kind of oven is best suited for you. Convection ovens circulate heat in a way that allows your food to cook more evenly and faster than that of a traditional oven. However, this option often doesn’t come with the bake/roast/broil settings. if both seem like must-haves for your kitchen, you can opt for both and stack them.
What to consider when looking for a refrigerator.
For a refrigerator, you’ll want to start with the quality of performance. There are two different types of compressors – a single-compressor and a dual-compressor. If you’re a family who prefers more of a “on-the-go” and take-out lifestyle of eating, a single-compressor might be your best option, as it’s functional, not overly priced, and will get the job done. However, if you take your produce and organic foods seriously, you should look into investing a little more into a dual-compressor. This option is known to keep food fresh for longer periods of time and, although it typically costs more, you’ll more than likely get your money’s worth.
As far as aesthetics are concerned, when talking about a refrigerator, it really is just up to preference. The French door style is widely popular in newer kitchens these days and it’s no wonder why. The refrigerator-only French door option offers up quite a bit of space and also makes it easy to locate where items are located. With this option, there is usually a deep, pullout, freezer attached at the bottom. There is also a tall, slim, French-door option that has the refrigerator on one side and the freezer on the other. This is a wonderful option for spaces in the kitchen that aren’t quite as wide. When thinking about an ice maker, make sure to do your research! If you’re wanting an ice maker built into the refrigerator, make sure you’re aware of whether or not it filters the water as it dispenses it, or not. This is especially important for homeowners with well water!
What to consider when looking for a dishwasher.
Since there aren’t many discrepancies between the various dishwashers available, this isn’t quite as difficult of a choice. More often than not, experts and homeowners agree that drawer dishwashers are the way to go. So, your biggest choice will circle back to the beginning, dealing with what material you want it to be, from stainless steel to one that will blend in with your kitchen cabinetry.
Appliances are a big part of a kitchen and also quite an investment, regardless of the price point. So, make sure to do your research in order to ensure you are happy with your purchase because you’ll be, hopefully, using and looking at them for quite some time! As long as you’re happy with them, your kitchen will be, too!
Make sure to reach out to Rob Washburn, the most trusted realtor in the Council Bluffs and Omaha area, on Facebook and our website, for all of the latest home trends and listings throughout the area!
