The kitchen is a central part of any household, serving as the backdrop to cooking, entertaining, and even arts and crafts.
Everybody values the kitchen space and it’s no surprise it's the most highly regarded area when looking at a house to buy, and often the first place you remodel when tackling a home makeover.
Whether the kitchen is the heart of your home, or you are looking at selling a property or leasing one as a rental, nothing screams deal-breaker like an old broken kitchen.
Remodelling a kitchen can be an overwhelming process, but don’t worry. Appliances Online is here to help your tired old kitchen look great again. Keep reading to discover our quick kitchen renovation tips.
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Upgrade Your Kitchen Appliances
A new cooktop, dishwasher, fridge, or even a simple toaster and kettle can make your kitchen look fantastic, as well as more simple to use. Replacing your outdated appliances can also lead to exceptional savings on your utility bills when you select energy-efficient models.
An up-to-date kitchen with new appliances not only sets your home apart from the rest; it also adds resale value to the property. There are also tax benefits for claiming depreciation on permanent fixtures if you own a rental property. It’s important to know that new appliances account for 15% of the cost to remodel your kitchen; these purchases can set you back approximately $5,000 or more depending on the styles and brands you select. So, before you start surrendering your old products, here are five things you should consider when buying new appliances:
5 Tips When Buying Appliances
- Check The Energy Rating Label - The cost of an appliance isn’t just what’s on the price tag. It’s just as important to consider the long-term running cost of using the appliance over time. Energy-efficient appliances with more stars tend to cost a little more upfront but often pay for themselves in the long run.
Simply put, the more stars an energy label has, the more energy-efficient the appliance is, and the greater the savings in your back pocket. The energy label can be found on the top-right or top-left of the appliance and, at a glance, you can work out the rough running costs with some simple maths.
Take the energy consumption figure and divide it by 4. For example, if the energy rating label on a fridge says it uses 595 kWh, it means it will roughly cost you $150 per year to run. Easy!
Tip: When buying a new fridge, look for one with Eco or Holiday mode to save power when the fridge isn't being used every day.
- Consider Buying A Set - Should you require replacement of all your kitchen appliances, you can sometimes save money by buying a package. At Appliances Online, we’ve put together a range of kitchen packages to make creating a new kitchen easy. Whether you’re building your dream home or looking for a modern update, just select from one of the package options above to find a solution that's right for you. However, if top performance is your goal, you’re better off mixing and matching brands to get the best models.
- Pay For Quality & Look At Reviews - When it comes to selecting new appliances and getting the best performance, you want to check reviews from independent sources rather than relying purely on brand names. At Appliances Online, we provide product reviews from real people just like you. Our product reviews are from customers who have bought and used the appliance, so you can feel confident knowing you are reading honest feedback, whether it’s good or bad. Alternatively, you can consult consumer advocacy groups like CHOICE, who have tested, reviewed, and rated top products.
Tip: Read online product testimonials and reviews before making a purchase.
- Check The Clearance Section - Clearance products are a great choice for those who need a brand new appliance but don’t want to pay the full sticker price. These products tend to be unboxed or have a minor cosmetic imperfection which is sometimes not even visible once the appliance is installed. At Appliances Online, we offer clearance products that have simply reached the end of their manufacturing lives. Alternatively, you can visit our Home Clearance outlet, where you’ll find products reduced up to 60% off RRP—a huge reduction for appliances that have minor flaws.
Tip: When purchasing clearance products, don’t fear their reliability. All clearance products are sold with a full manufacturer's warranty.
- You don’t need to replace ALL your appliances - Firstly, consider whether you can work with your old appliances. If they’re in good working condition, there’s no point tossing them out. Look at purchasing items that will make your life easier in the kitchen, like a dishwasher.
Dishwashers can save you time, money, and energy. The last thing you want to do after cooking up a storm is hand-wash a sinkful of pots and plates. View our wide range of dishwashers and find one to do the dirty work for you, so you can leave more time for things you love.
Tip: Make sure you measure the area where your new dishwasher will live. Simply measure the depth, width, and height dimensions of the space. Dishwashers and benchtop dishwashers come in a range of unique styles, so it's important to get this right!
Splashback makeover
When you’re experimenting in the kitchen, things can get a little messy. By installing a splashback behind your cooking area, you can prevent this mess from doing any permanent damage to your walls. Additionally, a splashback is a great way to tie the decor of your kitchen design with your new stove, cooktop, or rangehood.
They work with almost all kinds of kitchen benchtops, except for those where the cooking appliances are centred around a kitchen island.
The splashback is situated directly on the wall between your cooktop and rangehood, creating a barrier between your cooking and the wall itself, and extending the life of the paint. With a splashback installed, you won’t have to tile the entirety of a wall.. Having a splashback means the wall behind your stove or cooktop is completely protected from food or liquid spatters.
Tip: When selecting a splashback, you want to make sure it’s the same width as your cooktop or stove. This promotes a more cohesive appearance and greater protection for the wall. For a standard size cooktop with four burners, you’ll want one about 60 or 70 cm wide.
At Appliances Online, we sell high-quality rangehood splashbacks in stainless steel or black, which will match most modern kitchens, from vibrant to monochrome colourways.
- Do you really need a splashback behind a cooktop?
A splashback protects the wall behind it from moisture, grease, oil, and food splatters when you're preparing food or washing up. Splashbacks is one of those additions that’s a great way to tie the decor of your kitchen design in with your appliances.
- Can glass splashbacks go behind a gas cooktop?
Yes, you can fit a glass splashback behind your gas cooktop. A glass splashback is easy to keep clean and looks amazing, whether coloured or left neutral. It’s important to know, you’ll pay more to have complicated shapes created from a single piece of glass.
- How do I clean my stainless steel splashback?
For stainless steel surfaces, white vinegar and apple cider vinegar are great cleaners. Use a mixture of vinegar and water and apply it to your splashback, leave it on for a few minutes and it should get rid of stubborn grease stains. Wipe it dry with a non-abrasive cloth, it’s that easy to clean.
