Downsizing Appliance Guide: The Right Appliances for a Smaller Home
Moving from a large family home to a smaller house or apartment is a significant life change — and it's the perfect opportunity to right-size your appliances. This guide helps you choose appliances that suit a smaller home without sacrificing quality or convenience.
Why Downsizing Your Appliances Makes Sense
Large-format appliances designed for a family of 5 are wasteful when only 1–2 people are using them. An oversized fridge running half-empty, a 10 kg washing machine doing small loads, and a 90 cm oven for a household of one all waste energy and take up space you don't have.
Right-sizing your appliances can:
- Reduce your energy bills
- Free up floor and bench space
- Make your new home feel less cluttered and more comfortable
- Give you an opportunity to upgrade to quieter, more efficient models
Fridge: Right-Size Your Refrigerator
A single person or couple needs 200–350L of fridge/freezer space — not the 500L+ that filled your family home. Consider:
- Bottom mount 320–380L: Great for 1–2 people, fits most apartments
- French door 400–450L: If you like cooking and entertaining, slightly larger but efficient
Avoid taking your old 580L fridge — it won't fit most apartment kitchens and will cost more to run with half-empty shelves.
Washing Machine: Smaller Capacity, Same Performance
A 7–8 kg front loader is ideal for a 1–2 person household. It uses less water and energy per cycle while still giving you the full washing performance of larger models.
Consider a washer-dryer combo if your new home lacks a separate laundry. These combine a washing machine and condenser dryer in a single unit — perfect for saving space in an apartment bathroom or small laundry.
Oven: 60cm Is Usually Enough
Unless you're a passionate home cook who regularly cooks for large groups, a 60cm freestanding cooker or built-in oven is perfectly adequate for a smaller household. You'll save money on the appliance and energy costs compared to running a 90cm oven for smaller meals.
Dishwasher: Consider a Slimline Model
A slimline dishwasher (45cm wide, 10 place settings) may be enough for 1–2 people. These fit in smaller kitchen cavities and run smaller, more efficient cycles. Standard 60cm dishwashers are still appropriate if you do larger loads less frequently.
Dryer: Heat Pump for Apartment Living
If your new home doesn't have an outdoor line, a condenser or heat pump dryer is essential. Heat pump dryers are the most energy-efficient option and don't require external venting — perfect for apartments.
Tips for Measuring Before You Buy
Before purchasing any appliance for a smaller home:
- Measure the space with a tape measure — width, height AND depth
- Measure doorways and hallways the appliance must pass through on delivery
- Check that the power and plumbing connections are in the right locations
- For apartments, check body corporate rules about appliances (some restrict vented dryers)
Visit Our Showroom
At Oceania Appliances, we can help you find the right size appliances for your new home. Visit our Wetherill Park showroom at 2/14 Centre Place — open 7 days, 10 am to 8 pm. Free Sydney delivery, 3–6 month warranty on all appliances.