Kitchen appliances used to be a one-size-fits-all kind of purchase. Thankfully, manufacturers have recognised that more and more of us don’t have as much room to move as we’d like in the kitchen, and have started designing appliances to suit. But don’t be fooled – even though they’re small, they still cut the mustard when it comes to performance. Being economical to run, some will even save you some cash. Here are a few ideas to consider:

If you’re already short on cupboards, sacrificing one to a dishwasher can seem like a hard decision to make. That’s when small dishwashers come into their own. A number of manufacturers produce them, so shop around to find one that suits your needs. Another way to avoid standard-sized models is to install a double-drawer dishwasher. These consist of two smaller ‘drawer’ dishwashers that work independently of each other, and in some models the drawers can be installed at different locations in the room. This allows greater flexibility in the layout of a small kitchen.

If you have a small kitchen and are not much of a cook, a good space-saving option is to choose one of the new combined microwave/convection/grill ovens that can do everything an oven and a microwave can do, all in the one machine. The catch is that they are pretty small, so while some are certainly large enough to cook a roast chicken, there won’t be much room to squeeze the potatoes in. If you do want a full-sized oven – which at the very least is wise in terms of resale – consider installing a freestanding unit, which has the oven and cooktop combined, rather than a ‘built-in’ model. Apart from the fact that freestanding models are available in smaller dimensions than built-in units, it will give you more flexibility with your layout.

The fridge is the one appliance that has been available in various sizes for some time, and while most of us always think bigger is better, that’s not necessarily the case. Apart from the fact that large fridges are hard to fit into smaller kitchens, buy one that’s too big for your family (the general rule of thumb is that if you don’t keep the fridge at least two-thirds full the majority of the time, then it’s too large) and you’ll also chew through the energy. A fridge with empty shelves uses more energy than one that’s relatively full.

A good idea to save space in your kitchen is to install a small, under-shelf unit and place a larger, full-sized fridge-freezer in another room, like your laundry or garage.

Contact a kitchen appliance specialist in your area to find out which appliances would be suit your kitchen: