Appliances In A Kitchen Renovation: A Guide for Every Space

Before looking at styles or brands, it’s worth taking a moment to think about your daily routine. Ask yourself:

• Do you cook most evenings or occasionally?
• Do you like everything tucked away or within easy reach?
• Are you someone who shops in bulk or picks things up as you go?
• Do you want your kitchen to feel quiet and calm, or will background noise of an appliance not bother you?

These kinds of questions matter more than you might expect. Someone who loves cooking might prioritise a larger oven or even a statement range cooker from brands like Rangemaster or Bertazzoni, while someone who prefers quick, simple meals might lean towards compact, built in options.

There isn’t a single right setup, only what works for you.

In a smaller kitchen, the focus is usually on making the space feel as open and uncluttered as possible.

This is where integrated appliances can really help. Because they sit behind cupboard doors, they create a smoother look that makes the room feel less busy. Instead of lots of different surfaces and finishes, everything blends together.

Integrated fridges from brands like Liebherr or NEFF are particularly popular in compact kitchens for this reason, they quietly do their job without drawing attention.

Of course, there’s a balance to strike. Integrated appliances are often slightly smaller inside, so it’s worth thinking about how much storage you actually need. If you regularly cook or store a lot of fresh food, you might find a freestanding fridge more practical, even if it’s more visible.

Another thing that often gets overlooked in smaller kitchens is ventilation. Extraction units aren’t the most exciting part of a renovation, so they tend to get pushed down the list. But in a compact space, they make a huge difference. Without one, cooking smells and moisture can quickly build up.

With a little more space, you have more flexibility and more decisions to make.

This is where many kitchens naturally settle into a mix of integrated and freestanding appliances. You might choose a built in oven and hob for a tidy, seamless look, but keep a freestanding fridge for extra capacity. Brands like Samsung and LG are well known for larger fridge freezers that work well in this kind of layout.

At this stage, it helps to think about how you’ll move through the space:

• Where will you stand when you’re cooking? 
• Is your fridge close enough to your prep area to feel convenient?
• Would you prefer your oven at eye level rather than bending down?

These small details shape how your kitchen feels to use, not just how it looks.

Medium kitchens are also where people often forget about the “in between” appliances. Not the big ones, but the appliances you may use every day. The microwave is a classic example. If you don’t plan a space for it, it usually ends up sitting on the worktop, taking up valuable room.

The same goes for kettles, toasters, and coffee machines. Without a plan, they quickly create clutter. Thinking ahead about where these will live, whether that’s a dedicated cupboard or a tucked-away corner, can make a big difference to how your kitchen feels once it’s finished.

A larger kitchen opens up more possibilities, but it also requires more discipline.

Instead of trying to fill the space, it helps to think about how to organise it. Larger kitchens often work better when they’re divided into zones; one area for cooking, another for prepping, maybe even a separate space for drinks or entertaining.

This is where statement appliances can really shine. A range cooker from brands like Rangemaster or Bertazzoni can become a focal point, adding personality as well as function.

At the same time, it’s easy to get carried away. Just because you have space for a wine fridge, warming drawer, and extra oven doesn’t necessarily mean you need them.

It’s worth asking yourself whether each addition will genuinely make your life easier, or simply add complexity. The most successful large kitchens tend to feel considered rather than crowded.

Open plan kitchens look fantastic, but they come with a hidden challenge – noise.

In a separate kitchen you can close the door and forget about the hum of appliances. In an open plan space, that same noise becomes part of your living area.

You might not notice it at first, but over time it can make a difference. The sound of a dishwasher running during a film or a fridge cycling on while you’re working can become surprisingly distracting.

This is where quieter appliances are really worth considering when planning an open plan kitchen.

Quiet Mark is an independent certification that highlights appliances designed to operate at lower noise levels. It’s not something every product achieves so it can be a helpful guide when you’re comparing options.

Brands such as Miele, AEG, and Siemens are often associated with quieter, premium appliances, particularly dishwashers and washing machines. But it’s always worth checking the specific model rather than relying on the brand alone.

When planning an open plan kitchen, it helps to think about where noise will travel. Small decisions like these can have a big impact on how the space feels:

• Is your dishwasher close to where you relax?
• Is your extractor fan positioned near your dining area?

One of the most common questions in any renovation is whether to go for integrated or freestanding appliances.

Integrated appliances are designed to blend in. They sit behind cupboard doors and help create a clean, seamless look. This makes them especially useful in smaller kitchens or open plan spaces where you want everything to feel calm and cohesive.

Freestanding appliances, on the other hand, are easier to install and replace. They often offer more internal space and can add character to your kitchen, especially if you choose something with a bit of personality like a Smeg fridge.

In reality, most kitchens use a combination of both. You might integrate your dishwasher and fridge to keep the look streamlined, while choosing a freestanding cooker as a feature.

The key is deciding early which elements you want to stand out, and which you’d prefer to keep hidden away in the background.

Even the most carefully planned kitchens can miss a few things.

Extraction units are a common one. They’re essential but are often left until late in the process, when it’s harder to plan ducting or placement properly.

Microwaves are another. Without a clear plan, they tend to end up wherever there’s space which usually means the worktop.

Then there are the extras that only come to mind once it’s too late, such as wine coolers, warming drawers and boiling water taps. These all need space and connections that are much easier to plan from the start.

And finally, the everyday items like kettles, toasters and coffee machines. These are used constantly, but rarely considered during the design stage.

A simple way to avoid this is to ask yourself this one question early on: 

• Where will these live when I’m not using them?

If you can answer that, you’re already ahead.