Aside from your furniture, your kitchen appliances take the most money out of your pocket when furnishing your home. While homes in Singapore have compact kitchens, homeowners invest in functional appliances to help them work at ease in their food prep and cooking areas. With lots of appliances available on the market, including those sold online, buying kitchen appliances can be a daunting and confusing process. From high-end models, affordable varieties, from compact to multifunctional, here are some kitchen appliance buying tips to help you make a purchase that is worth the price and your effort.
Budgeting is the Key
Kitchen appliance brands offer quality kitchen appliances that can fit any budget. Setting up your goals and budget before purchasing will help you narrow down your choices and prevent you from overspending. Although there's a big chance you'll deviate from your budget, setting up a plan will help you keep track of your expenses.
Do Not Impulse Buy- PLAN
Big sales, bundles, and new releases! These offers might sound like a good opportunity to buy your latest kitchen appliance, but being tempted to buy during these times can lead to regretful purchases where you're unable to weigh your choices well because of the pressure to make a quick purchase. Before jumping into a sale or checking out new releases, it's good to do your research and base your purchase on your needs vs. wants and spending capacity.
Identify Your Appliance Needs
Aside from your budget, the most important thing to consider when buying your appliances is your kitchen's needs. While appliance brands offer different models that cater to specific kitchen operations, it's essential to focus on appliances you will 100% use. Do you love to bake? Then you need an oven. If you only use an oven to heat food, go for a more compact microwave oven. If you love cooking and entertaining guests, try investing in larger appliances. On the other hand, if you rarely use your kitchen, small to medium-size appliances will work better. The size and operating capacity of your appliances should depend on how you use them and how often you use them.
Consider the Size and Shape of Your Kitchen
When buying kitchen appliances, it's good to consider the size and configuration of your kitchen. If you have a compact kitchen, a large range hood or refrigerator might not fit in. A sizable hood is beneficial for an open HDB kitchen, where grease and smoke spread all over the place.
Choose the Right Features for the Right Price
Shopping for cheaper kitchen appliances doesn't mean that you save more money. Buying smarter and more expensive appliances doesn't mean you have the best buy. So what is the best buy? The best buy is having suitable appliance functions for your needs without breaking your budget with unnecessary upgrades. It's better to invest in relatively expensive appliances that will benefit you more than cheaper ones that won't last long. Buying "smart appliances" may not be the best choice if you are not comfortable with the technology. It is still important to get items that you're comfortable with.
Choose the Style that You Love
Although function, price, and energy efficiency are important, the style of your kitchen furniture should not be compromised. It's good to work in a space that gives you comfort and satisfaction. So when you buy your kitchen appliances, choose units that are not just functional but also aesthetically appealing.
Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances
As long as your budget allows, when buying appliances, choose energy-efficient models. In Singapore, energy efficiency is measured via the NEA (National Environment Agency) tick rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the appliance is.
Read the Product Features Properly
When buying your appliances, it's not enough to settle on photos and video marketing demonstrations. It's important to pay close attention to product specifications to ensure that you get the right size, quality, and functions that you are looking for. If you can, do some research to understand what the specifications mean so you can maximise the use of your appliances. Remember, making an informed purchase makes a big difference in improving your lifestyle and cooking experience.
Look for Online Reviews
One thing that worries online appliance buyers is that they might get a defective product or one that does not perform as advertised. Online reviews help a lot in this situation. When you browse through online reviews, you'll get a good idea of the products' reliability and the company's services. Online shoppers provide their honest experiences to help you pick out the best products and dependable shops.
Features to Look for When Buying Kitchen Appliances
Refrigerator
Ultimately, the refrigerator is the most used appliance in your kitchen, as it operates 24/7. Refrigerators look very high-end and innovative. Before being enticed by luxurious-looking units, start by assessing your needs. If you have a bigger family, it's good to invest in a large-capacity refrigerator with high-end functions that can help you store more food for longer. Energy-efficient models cost more than classic units but can help you save more in the long run.
Dishwasher
Like your refrigerator, your dishwasher's capacity depends on your lifestyle and how big your household is. If you entertain guests often and have more family members, a large-capacity dishwasher will be much more helpful in your household than investing in more compact models that use more water and electricity. Conventional dishwashers offer simple controls, while high-end models have more elaborate functions and energy efficiency.
Oven/ Kitchen Hob
Convection ovens and kitchen hobs are on the more expensive spectrum but are easy to use and are energy-efficient. If you are a newbie home chef or a baker, convection varieties will help you explore your newfound love of cooking without much hassle. Convection units are also safer to use.
Cooker Hood
When buying major kitchen appliances, don't forget about your kitchen ventilation. Various cooker hoods offer different functions and efficiency. Some units have more innovative functions than others and, thus, are more expensive. When buying a cooker hood, consider the size of your cooktop, the view of your kitchen zones, and other heat elements.
Confidence is one of the key factors that will help you get through your appliance purchase. If you do enough research and put some effort into getting to know your prospective products, you can ensure that you'll fill your kitchen with the right appliances that you'll surely enjoy using.