Best Appliances for Small Spaces

More people are living in compact apartments and homes. Make sure you buy appliances designed with space optimization in mind to help make the most of your space.

Home living situations seem to be shrinking, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fit a high-end kitchen or laundry station in your apartment, condo, small home, or guest house. These dwellings’ precious limited space can make shopping for appliances torturous. Unlike traditional suburban homes with refrigerators the size of walk-ins and entire rooms dedicated to laundry, those living in smaller dwellings must balance style, space, and functionality.

Luckily, appliance manufacturers have responded to the changing demands and capitalized on the growth of the small space appliances market. There is even a growing demand for small space appliances in standard size dwellings, as they can make kitchens appear more spacious. Obviously, the greatest demand for small space appliances comes from owners of small homes, apartments, and condominiums to make the kitchen feel proportional and leave more space for storage and countertops.

With the right small space appliances, people can drastically increase the space in their homes without sacrificing performance.

Multifunctional and Vertical

With countertop space at a premium and measuring square inches, as opposed to the usual square footage, multifunctional and vertical are keywords to designing small spaces. Combining multiple appliances into one is a necessary space-saving solution. And often overlooked and underutilized vertical space is your best friend.

With these things in mind, here are Howard’s tips and suggestions for small space appliances.

Refrigerators

The standard refrigerator measures a whopping 36-inches, which is amazing when you have space. For tiny kitchens, consider 24-inch wide units meant for apartments or counter-depth designs. Two other options include dorm-style mini-fridges and innovative refrigerator drawers. These space savers are best utilized for temporary situations, like a guest house or airBnB.

The key to maximizing your small fridge is proper organization. With a bit of practice and labeling, you’ll have plenty of room and won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything.

Bonus tip: With all small space appliances, an overlooked area of design are the handles. Many manufacturers offer recessed or low-profile handles and drawer pulls for their products that give your home a sleek, unobtrusive appeal.

Laundry

Even a dedicated laundry room can use a few square feet or inches of extra room. When floor space is at a premium, the best thing to do is think vertically. Front-loading washers and dryers usually come with the ability to stack atop one another with a laundry stacking kit to secure the units together. These compact models often benefit from improved water and energy efficiency. If you’re worried about stacking units yourself, stacked laundry centers are becoming increasingly popular small space appliances.

Also on offer are innovative washer and dryer combo machines. Clothes are put in the unit for washing but do not have to be moved to be dried, saving space and effort. With the right choice, you can convert an existing space into a laundry room.

Microwaves

While not the first thing you think about in terms of small space appliances, picking the right microwave can save you precious counter space. Rather than having a vent hood and a microwave in the kitchen, look for an over-the-range microwave that can double as your range hood to help save even more space.

Dishwashers

Good small space appliances for compact kitchens are 18-inch-wide dishwashers, especially if sink and drying rack space is limited. Bosch dishwashers in particular consistently receive top billing from consumer magazines. Bosch appliances are extremely popular in Europe where kitchens are generally smaller. So, as American homes begin to replicate that lifestyle it’s best to learn from what works.

Primarily the 800 Series gains praise because it is quieter, which is invaluable in a small home, but options like a water softener and models with smartphone connectivity increase the value. The series offers a cornucopia of options and models to fit any home’s needs.

We Can Help

A small home doesn’t have to feel like it’s missing out on style, functionality, and comfort. With the right small space appliances, you can maximize your use of space and design your home around your life and not the other way around. Ask Howard’s how we can help you design your small space. Stop in today!