Why choose an integrated dishwasher?

Choosing the right dishwasher for your home depends on a lot of different factors, including availability, price, what will fit in your kitchen and what will look good.

While there are several types of dishwasher available these days, including slimline, DishDrawer and Benchtop designs, the three most popular styles are freestanding dishwashers, built under (or under bench) dishwashers, and integrated dishwashers.

A freestanding, or standard, dishwasher is pretty much what you expect – a freestanding appliance that doesn't need any carpentry or trim kits, and requires only connection to power and water. Freestanding dishwashers can be installed under kitchen benchtops - and often are - but they don’t have to be, as they have a finished surface that can be used as a benchtop.

Freestanding dishwashers are fairly flexible when it comes to their setup. If you have a gap or cavity in your kitchen cabinetry with access to power and water, connecting a freestanding dishwasher in this space should be quite straightforward. And if you move house, it should be relatively simple to disconnect the dishwasher and bring it with you.

When choosing a freestanding dishwasher, it’s important to pick one that will not only do a good job of cleaning the dishes but also complement your other appliances and cabinets. If a stainless steel freestanding dishwasher doesn’t match your kitchen's black oven, cooktop and fridge, it can stick out like a sore thumb. That's one situation when you might contemplate getting an integrated dishwasher.

Integrated dishwashers are built-in appliances by definition, much like wall ovens or microwaves with trim kits. They require some carpentry to install them as well as a cabinetmaker to make and affix a front panel that matches the surrounding cabinetry, effectively making the dishwasher invisible.

As integrated dishwashers become more or less permanent fixtures of the kitchen, they’re often trickier to install, and you would be unlikely to take them with you if you moved house.

A fully integrated dishwasher is completely concealed when closed, and has its control panel on the inside top of the door, rather than on the exterior.

Semi integrated dishwashers, meanwhile, have a matching cabinetry panel covering the entire front except for the top few centimetres, where the control panel remains visible and accessible when the door is closed. At a glance, you’ll see that the dishwasher is there, but it won't disrupt the flow of your kitchen’s aesthetic.

Compared with standard and semi integrated dishwashers, fully integrated dishwashers are ideal for anyone wanting to create a minimalist kitchen with smooth, uninterrupted lines.

1. Measure your kitchen’s available space - Remember to leave some extra room at the rear for the power and water connections so the appliance will fit nice and flush. Always measure twice, buy once!

2. Find your dream dishwasher - Search Appliances Online for a semi integrated or fully integrated dishwasher of the right size.

3. Organise a matching front panel – Check the door measurements of the integrated or semi integrated model you have chosen and then talk to a kitchen cabinetmaker to create a matching panel for you.