Apartment living has its challenges. If you’re looking for apartments for rent in New York City or Boston, for example, available space is likely to be a big issue. There won’t be much of it. That’s something you need to consider when shopping for appliances. Here are some compact appliances that will get the job done without taking up too much space.

1. Countertop Dishwasher
Doing dishes can be a chore, especially if living with roommates. If your apartment does not come with a full size dishwasher, you’re stuck washing dishes by hand or eating out. Another option is to give a countertop dishwasher a try. Countertop dishwashers can be easily placed inside a cabinet if you have one with enough room. The only requirement is that it’s not too far away from the sink since you’ll need to attach a hose to the faucet. Most of these dishwashers have a heating mechanism inside so heating  water to a high enough temperature shouldn’t be an issue. You can pick one up for about $200.

2. Washer-dryer combo
It’s a bird… no it’s a plane… no… it’s a washer-dryer all in one. Washer dryer combo machines are becoming more popular in North America. Previously, they were only available in South Korea, home of LG is located (a main manufacturer of these units).  Washer-dryer combo units do not require humid air venting (the long hose that typically vents humid air outside), making them very convenient and versatile. You can place these units pretty much anywhere, as long as there is access to a water source, a drain, and an electrical plug. These combo units cost between $1000 and $2000, depending on the model.

3. Convectional Toaster Oven
Most apartments come equipped with a regular ovens. These use up a lot of electricity and can be a pain to clean. Countertop toaster ovens are versatile, heat up quickly, and don’t take much space. If you do decide to get one of these portable ovens, go with one that has a convectional cooking feature. Convectional units have a fan inside that circulates the hot air and cooks your food faster as a result. You can find these toaster ovens for about $100.

4. George Foreman Grill
Lean, mean, fat grilling machine. Yes, food prepared on an electric grill doesn’t taste as good as the same thing prepared on a regular charcoal or propane grill, but it’s convenient. These grills are easy to use, easy to clean, and inexpensive.  Some of them turn into a griddle, allowing you to make pancakes, scrambled eggs, and etc.  Depending on the model and size, cost for these grills ranges from $20-200.

5. Mini Fridge
These can come in handy even if you already have a full sized fridge. Mini fridges are perfect for dorm rooms as well. There are two main types: one piece fridges and ones with a separate freezer compartment. The second kind is more convenient because the freezer has its own door. Mini fridges go for about $200 a piece. If you live near a college, you may want to check out their classifieds at the end of the semester. Many students will try to sell theirs when they graduate.

As you can see, some of these appliances are not cheap. Keep in mind though: if you buy new, you usually get a warranty and if you keep them in good shape you can resell them and get a good portion of your money back when you move out.

If you have any other examples of good compact appliances, feel free to share them in the comments section.

Sources:
Apartment Therapy

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 and is filed under Apartment Living, Rental Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.