Studio flat or very small kitchen
If floor space and worktop room are limited, compare an appliance’s footprint with its usable capacity. A tabletop dishwasher, for example, frees up floor space but takes up part of your food-preparation area.
Who is this guide for?
Replacing an appliance in a rented kitchen
Before replacing an appliance, check your tenancy agreement, inventory and existing fittings. If it’s a built-in model, measure the housing unit too and check how the existing door panel is attached.
Renovating a compact kitchen
Plan where your fridge, cooking appliances and water fittings will go before choosing your appliances. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking movement around the kitchen and worktop space into account, as well as keeping the sink and dishwasher close together.
What to consider before buying
Start with any constraints that could prevent an appliance from being installed or its door from opening. Then compare the available sizes with your washing, food storage and cooking needs.
| Priority | What to check | For shoppers who… |
|---|---|---|
| Layout and movement | Measure the space, door clearances and the gaps required by the instructions, with the appliance connected and installed. | want to open the fridge and move around without interrupting meal preparation. Around 33% of consumers would make freedom of movement a priority. |
| Washing and connections | Compare the location near the sink, water supply, drainage and place settings capacity. | want to wash dishes without blocking the available space, and need to choose between a slimline model and a countertop appliance. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Everyday refrigeration and cooking | Compare the required capacity and features with the housing unit dimensions and installation instructions. | don’t want an appliance that fits in the kitchen but no longer meets their food storage or cooking needs. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise these uses. |
| Long-term use of space | Check which functions can be combined and, where relevant, compare the repairability information. | want to combine several food-preparation tasks in one appliance and still have room to use it every day. Around 20% of consumers would make this a priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Relying only on the external dimensions of a built-in appliance
A fridge might fit in a housing unit, but its hinges or door-panel fixing may not be compatible. Bosch highlights the importance of checking these details when replacing a built-in model.
Measure the housing unit and check the existing door system, then compare them with the installation instructions for the model you’re considering.
If the appliance isn’t compatible, you may need to adapt the cabinet or arrange another installation visit.
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Assuming a slimline dishwasher will solve every space issue
A 45 cm model takes up less width, but not necessarily less depth. A tabletop model, meanwhile, takes up worktop space. Either way, its location must allow for the necessary connections.
Work out which dimension is actually limiting your options, then check the capacity, hose routing and connections for your chosen model.
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Positioning appliances without thinking about everyday routines
According to UFC-Que Choisir’s kitchen-planning advice, how the food storage, cooking and water areas relate to each other matters just as much as the space each appliance takes up. Open doors or an obstructed walkway can reduce the usable food-preparation area.
Mark door openings and your usual routes on a plan before deciding where everything will go. If the layout allows, position the dishwasher near the sink.
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Confusing a commercial warranty with your statutory rights
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer, as the Ministry of the Economy points out. A commercial warranty is separate.
Before taking out an extended warranty, compare exactly what it covers and excludes with the applicable legal guarantee and the seller’s terms and conditions.
Brands to consider
These ranges and models give you specific sizes to compare. A brand name alone is no substitute for checking the product details and instructions for the appliance you choose.
Bosch
Worth considering when replacing a built-in fridge in an existing housing unit.
- Bosch recommends checking the dimensions and hinge type of the old appliance.
- Check that the door panel is compatible and confirm the required clearances in the instructions for your chosen model.
Electrolux
Worth comparing if you need a compact integrated dishwasher for a low housing unit.
- Electrolux describes the ESL2500RO as a fully integrated 55 cm model with a capacity of 6 place settings.
- These details apply to this specific model. Check the installation dimensions and required connections.
Candy
Worth considering when choosing between a slimline dishwasher and a freestanding compact model.
- Candy offers 45 cm models as well as the freestanding compact CP 6E51LS, which is listed as having a capacity of 6 place settings.
- A freestanding model takes up worktop space. Make sure its capacity and connections suit the way you plan to use it.
Whirlpool
Worth considering if you need several cooking functions in a compatible built-in space.
- Whirlpool describes the WCT11A9FHTSSMAF as a 52 L compact combination oven with several cooking modes.
- Check that its capacity, features and dimensions suit both the dishes you cook and the housing unit available.
Appliances to suit your available space
These appliances cover three layout options: a tabletop dishwasher, a built-in fridge-freezer or a multifunctional cooking food processor. Compare each size with the space it will actually occupy and the tasks it needs to handle.
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COMFEE CDWMT305WD, tabletop dishwasher with a capacity of 3 place settings
Worth considering if you need a freestanding appliance to wash a small number of dishes. The listing states that it has a capacity of 3 place settings and 7 programmes. Make sure you have enough worktop space and that the water supply and drainage arrangements suit your kitchen.
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SMEG S4C122E, 188 L built-in fridge-freezer
Combines refrigeration and freezing in a compatible housing unit. Its stated total capacity is 188 L. Before replacing an appliance, check the housing unit dimensions, door-fixing system and clearances specified in the instructions.
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Heinrich's HTG 8840 Schwarz, tabletop dishwasher with a capacity of 6 place settings
Worth comparing if you’re looking for a freestanding model with a capacity of 6 place settings. The listing states that it has 7 programmes and a noise level of 47 dB. Measure the space available and check the water supply and drainage before choosing where to put it.
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Robby, multifunctional cooking food processor with built-in scales
Worth considering if you’d like to combine some food-preparation tasks in a countertop appliance. Compare its features with the ones you actually use, then allow space for it and the clearances specified in the instructions. A food processor won’t automatically replace every cooking appliance.
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AEG NSC6M18FES, 249 L built-in fridge-freezer
For a total food storage capacity of 249 L in a built-in appliance, provided your kitchen layout is suitable. Check the housing unit dimensions, door system and ventilation clearances. The stated capacity alone isn’t enough to confirm that it will work in a small kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
In what order should I choose appliances for a small kitchen?
First measure the housing units, connections, door clearances and available worktop space. Then choose the capacity and appliance sizes you need. UFC-Que Choisir recommends planning the food storage, cooking and water areas around how you move through the kitchen, including placing the dishwasher near the sink where possible.
Can a compact dishwasher replace a 45 cm model?
It can, if its capacity suits the amount of washing up you do and its location allows for the necessary connections. To compare Candy models, the compact CP 6E51LS is listed as having a capacity of 6 place settings, while some of the brand’s 45 cm models are listed as having capacities of 10 or 11 place settings, depending on the model. A freestanding compact also takes up worktop space.
What should I measure when replacing a built-in fridge?
Measure the housing unit and check how the door panel is attached, as well as the hinge type. Bosch recommends checking that the new appliance matches the old one. Also consult the instructions for the new model to check its ventilation requirements and clearances.
How should I check which appliances are included in a rented kitchen?
Check your tenancy agreement and inventory to find out which appliances are included before considering a replacement. ANIL points out that landlords aren’t generally required to provide a fully fitted kitchen, so check which appliances are included with your specific property.
What should I compare besides a dishwasher’s dimensions?
Compare the place settings capacity, energy consumption and noise levels shown on the energy label, as well as the repairability index where applicable. Check the terms of any commercial warranty separately. In France, it doesn’t replace the legal guarantee of conformity that applies to goods sold by a business to a consumer, as the Ministry of the Economy points out.