When equipping a home, start with the essentials you need to get up and running — keeping food fresh, cooking, doing the laundry and, depending on your household, washing the dishes. Then choose appliances that suit the available spaces and connections. An existing built-in space calls for different checks from an area for a freestanding appliance. If you’re buying a refurbished or clearance item, also check the condition of the specific appliance, its accessories and the delivery arrangements before you order.
You may need to organise several purchases around your everyday needs. First, check what’s already there, then decide what matters most for food storage, cooking, laundry and washing up. In its study of French households’ appliances in 2023, ADEME and EDF R&D identified fridges, hobs and washing machines among the appliances most commonly owned.
If you’re replacing or adding a built-in appliance, measure the space and check the clearance beneath the worktop, along with the door and front panel, before choosing a model. Bosch specifically recommends measuring the space for a built-in dishwasher before buying.
A washer-dryer can make it possible to use a single space for both tasks, particularly if you have smaller loads. However, compare its washing and drying capacities separately: they can differ on the same model, as Whirlpool’s product specifications show.
Start by listing your household’s needs and the spaces available. For each appliance you choose, check its specifications against the planned installation and the date you’ll be able to receive it.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday needs | Make a list of the appliances already in the home. Work out what you need for storing food, cooking and doing the laundry, then decide whether a dishwasher would suit your needs. | I want to get the essentials up and running as soon as I move in, without ordering an appliance the home already has. |
| Space and connections | Compare the appliance’s dimensions with the space available and check the required clearances, sockets, water supply and drainage. For a built-in model, also check the housing, front panel and door system. | My kitchen is fitted, so the appliance must fit the space provided and work with the available connections. |
| Washing and drying | Choose between two appliances and a washer-dryer according to the space available. For a combined model, check the washing and drying capacities separately; Whirlpool’s specifications show that they can differ. | If I only have room for one appliance, I want to know how much laundry it can dry after a wash cycle. |
| Energy use and maintenance | Compare the energy information for compatible models on the same basis of use. Check any durability or repairability information relevant to the category, as well as the maintenance requirements for each model. | I want to compare appliances that already suit my home, without mistaking the stated energy use for how much I’ll actually use at home. |
| Delivery and your old appliance | Confirm the delivery date, access to your home and what any installation service includes. If you’re replacing an appliance, ask about collection when you order; ecosystem describes a free ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme when you buy an equivalent new appliance, including online purchases. | I need to receive the new appliance at the right time and avoid having to keep the old one in the home after moving. |
| Condition of the specific appliance | For a second-hand, refurbished or clearance appliance, check its stated condition, accessories, seller and delivery terms. The DGCCRF says refurbished products must be tested before being put on sale. | I want to know what the specific appliance being delivered is like, rather than relying only on the specifications for a new model. |
A compatible width doesn’t guarantee that the height, door or front panel will allow the appliance to be fitted. Bosch recommends measuring the space before choosing a built-in dishwasher.
Take a photo of the space, note down its dimensions and compare them with the installation requirements for the exact model.
A washer-dryer may be able to wash more laundry than it can dry, so you may need to reduce the load before drying.
Check both capacities in the model’s specifications and compare them with your usual loads.
The condition and accessories of a second-hand, refurbished or clearance appliance should be checked for the specific item being sold. The DGCCRF says a product described as refurbished must have been tested before being put on sale.
Before ordering, check the description of the specific appliance, the professional seller’s details, and the warranty and returns terms that apply to your purchase.
Without a planned collection, a large used appliance could need storing or transporting while you move in. ecosystem says a free ‘one-for-one’ take-back option must be offered when you buy an equivalent new appliance, including for online purchases.
Tell the retailer which appliance you want collected when you order, and confirm the practical collection arrangements.
A brand’s range can help you find the type of appliance you’re looking for, but compatibility depends on the exact model and space.
Worth comparing for laundry appliances and dishwashers, depending on your home’s layout.
A brand to explore if your kitchen has spaces designed for integrated appliances.
A brand to explore when comparing several categories, including laundry, drying, dishwashing and refrigeration.
These Joybuy options cover food storage, laundry and dishwashing. Start by choosing the category you need for your move, then check the space, connections and delivery arrangements for your chosen model.
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A good fit for a laundry space without a built-in housing. The model name indicates an 8 kg capacity, a 1 400 tr/min spin speed and an Inverter motor. Check the dimensions, clearances and connections before ordering.
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Worth considering if you need one space for both washing and drying. This freestanding model is listed as 11 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying, so an 11 kg wash load would exceed its stated drying capacity. Check the available space and connections.
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For a kitchen with a suitable space for a built-in appliance. This model is listed for 13 place settings, is 60 cm wide and has a B energy rating. Measure the housing and check the front panel, door and connections before ordering.
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Another model to consider for a fitted kitchen with a compatible housing. This model is listed for 14 place settings and has an E energy rating. Compare its installation requirements with the space you have, then check the front panel, door and connections.
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For getting food storage set up in your new home. This model is listed as 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer, is 54 cm wide and has a reversible door. Also check its height, depth and the clearances needed in your chosen space.
Measure the housing and check the available height, installation type, door system and front panel. Bosch offers built-in models in 45 and 60 cm widths, but the stated width alone isn’t enough to confirm that a dishwasher will fit your kitchen.
Yes. The DGCCRF says the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods in relevant sales made by a professional seller. Before buying, identify the seller and check the condition and details of the specific item on offer. Any commercial warranty is separate from this legal guarantee.
When you buy an equivalent new electrical appliance, the retailer must offer free ‘one-for-one’ take-back, including for distance sales, according to ecosystem. Tell the retailer about your old appliance when you order and confirm the collection arrangements.
Some models can drain directly using a compatible kit. Electrolux, for example, offers a kit that drains water into a sink, a U-bend or a waste pipe. Check that it’s compatible with your tumble dryer and that your home has a suitable drain.