If the kitchen layout hasn’t been finalised, start with the appliances you’ll need as soon as you move in – especially something to keep food cold and a way to cook, if these aren’t already provided. Leave appliances that depend on units yet to be chosen until later. If you’re choosing a built-in appliance, select it as part of your kitchen plan: the housing, door panel and installation instructions must all match the exact model. Before arranging each delivery, get the date or delivery timeframe confirmed in writing, and check that the appliance can be brought into your home.
If the housings and door panels are already planned, choose the relevant fridge, oven or dishwasher using the furniture plans. For an integrated dishwasher, Bosch recommends checking the housing and door system before buying.
If your home doesn’t yet have a fridge or cooking facilities, plan for these before ordering appliances that can wait. Get a delivery date or timeframe in writing for each order, then arrange to receive it after you’ve got the keys.
If the units aren’t finalised, a freestanding appliance means you don’t have to choose a door panel and built-in housing straight away. Whirlpool describes this type of fridge as generally easier to install than a built-in model. You’ll still need to check its overall dimensions, the required clearances and whether it can be brought through to the kitchen.
Start with the essentials you’ll need when you move in and the spaces that have already been planned. Choose appliances that need a housing or door panel alongside your kitchen units; the rest can be planned around how soon you need them and when they can be delivered.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility with your kitchen units | Compare the internal measurements of the housing with the instructions for the exact model. For an integrated appliance, also check the door panel and door mechanism. | If the units are already planned, I want to avoid an appliance getting in the way of installation or stopping a door from opening. Around 29% of consumers put this compatibility at the top of their list. |
| Keeping food cold and cooking from day one | Identify which facilities are missing from your home and check which temporary solutions are genuinely practical. Leave appliances that depend on unfinished units until later. | Without a way to store food or cook, I need to make the kitchen usable as soon as I move in. Around 29% of consumers put having these essentials straight away first. |
| Delivery and taking receipt | Get the date or delivery timeframe for each order confirmed in writing. Check access, routes through the property and where the appliance can be left. | If several appliances are due around the time I get the keys, I want to be able to receive them without having to store them elsewhere. Around 24% of consumers prioritise coordinating deliveries. |
| Energy use, noise and repairability | When comparing dishwashers, check the kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle and noise class on the energy label. Also look at the repairability index shown for the model. | Once I know the appliance will fit, I want to compare dishwashers based on everyday use and repairability. This is the main consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
For dishwashers, ADEME shows energy use in kWh per 100 reference cycles. Compare appliances using this figure on a like-for-like basis, rather than confusing it with energy use per cycle. The Ministry of the Economy presents the repairability index as a separate piece of information to check before choosing.
A category width alone doesn’t confirm that an appliance will fit a housing, door panel or hinge system. Bosch highlights this for integrated dishwashers; the dimensions of built-in fridges also vary by model.
Measure each space and compare the measurements with the installation instructions for your chosen model before ordering.
If an appliance arrives too early, you may need to store it temporarily; if it arrives late, your kitchen could be left without something you need. The Ministry of the Economy says that sellers must clearly confirm in writing when goods will be delivered.
Get the date or timeframe confirmed for each order, then make sure there’ll be access to your home and someone available to take delivery.
The number of programmes doesn’t tell you everything about energy use, noise or capacity. ADEME recommends using the information on the energy label to compare appliances.
For models that fit the space, compare figures shown in the same units and choose based on how you expect to use the appliance.
If you’re replacing an appliance, the old one could take up space when the new one arrives. You’ll need to know how the old appliance will be collected before arranging delivery.
Tell the retailer about the old appliance when you place your order and confirm where and when it can be collected.
Worth considering when comparing freestanding, integrated or compact dishwashers.
Worth considering if you’re choosing between a freestanding fridge and a model built into your kitchen units.
Worth considering if you want to browse several kitchen appliance categories in one catalogue.
Worth considering for a project involving several built-in cooking appliances, including compact models.
These models cover your needs for refrigeration, cooking and washing up when moving in, with both freestanding and built-in appliances. Start by choosing the function you need, then check the space and installation requirements for your chosen model.
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Worth considering if your kitchen plan includes a built-in oven. The model name indicates a capacity of 78 L and a power rating of 2 100 W. Check the housing dimensions and installation instructions before buying.
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This freestanding model provides refrigeration without the need for an integrated door panel. It’s listed as a four-door fridge freezer with a 467 L capacity and an E energy class. Check the available space, clearances and route into the kitchen.
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Consider this if your worktop is designed for a built-in induction hob. The model is listed as 59 cm wide and uses a two-phase Perilex connection. Before installation, check the cut-out dimensions and that your home’s electrical connection is compatible, using the instructions as a guide.
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This model is designed for a kitchen where the fridge is integrated into the units. It has a stated capacity of 249 L and an E energy class. Before choosing it, check the housing dimensions, fixing requirements and door compatibility in the instructions.
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Worth considering for washing up once you’ve confirmed the space and connections. The model is listed as 60 cm wide, with a noise level of 41 dB and a C energy class. Freestanding installation doesn’t mean you can skip checking the dimensions of the space you have in mind.
Choose appliances that need a housing, cut-out or door panel as part of your kitchen plan. These might include an integrated fridge or dishwasher, a built-in oven or a hob. Check the measurements and instructions for each model. Bosch, for example, highlights the importance of the housing and door system for an integrated dishwasher.
Yes, if you can manage without one in the meantime and buying it later won’t hold up the installation of your kitchen units. First, plan for any refrigeration and cooking facilities missing from your home, then order the dishwasher once its space and connections have been decided.
Get a delivery date or timeframe in writing for each appliance, then check the route into the kitchen and make sure someone can take delivery. The Ministry of the Economy says sellers must clearly confirm in writing when a product will be delivered. So, placing an order before you move in doesn’t guarantee it will arrive on the day you need it.
When placing your order, let the retailer know that a used appliance needs to be removed from your home and confirm the collection arrangements for that purchase. This will help you plan for the old appliance to be ready and ensure access to your home when the new one is delivered.
Compare their energy label figures on a like-for-like basis, including kWh per 100 cycles, litres per cycle, capacity and noise class. ADEME explains how to read these figures. Also check the model’s repairability index, but don’t assume its lifespan based on a single score.