How to Choose the Right Home Appliances in Ireland: A Room-by-Room Guide

Kitting out a home is a big spend, often made in a rush when something breaks. A room-by-room approach helps avoid mismatched buys. This guide to home appliances in Ireland covers the kitchen, laundry and living spaces, with the specs that matter and the traps to avoid.

Quick answer: Start with your household, not the brand. Size kitchen appliances to how you cook, laundry appliances to your weekly loads, and floorcare to your floors and storage. Compare the kWh figure as well as the energy rating. Fridge freezers show it per year; washing machines, dishwashers and the newest tumble dryer labels show it per 100 cycles.

Room-by-room appliance checklist

Start with your household, not the showroom

Before comparing models, ask how many people live in the house, how often you cook, how much laundry you run and what space you have. These answers decide capacity better than a list of features.

Then compare purchase price with running cost. SEAI's examples use about 35c per kWh; use your own electricity rate for a realistic estimate.

The kitchen

Fridge freezers

Your fridge freezer runs constantly, so check its annual kWh figure. As a starting point, consider 250 to 300 litres for a couple and 300 to 400 for a family. Frost-free avoids manual defrosting. SEAI notes that a large, highly rated model can still use more energy than a smaller one. Our fridge freezer buying guide explains the choices, or browse the fridge freezers range.

Ovens

Match capacity and functions to your meals, then check the cabinet opening and electrical requirements. The Electrolux KOHGH40BX 60cm built-in fan oven (€369.00) is one option for everyday cooking. Our oven buying guide explains the main choices. Check shelf positions and whether your largest roasting tin fits before choosing.

Dishwashers

Choose freestanding or integrated to suit the kitchen, then compare place settings, noise and kWh per 100 cycles. The Servis S2612M2WH 60cm freestanding dishwasher (€369.95) has 12 place settings. Browse all dishwashers to compare both fit types. Leave room for the open door and check water and waste connections before ordering.

Small kitchen appliances

An air fryer can suit smaller meals, but check basket size against your household. A matching kettle and toaster set keeps the worktop coordinated without replacing larger appliances.

The laundry room

Washing machines

Match capacity to your loads: around 7kg may suit a couple, while a family may need 8kg or more. For a smaller household, the Servis S35106SKW-A 6kg washer (€259.95) is a compact-capacity example, not a family-size pick. Compare kWh per 100 cycles for the eco 40-60 programme between similar-capacity models. SEAI advises washing at 30°C when clothes are not particularly dirty. See our guide to the best washing machines by budget, or browse all washing machines.

Tumble dryers

Many Irish households lean on a dryer for part of the year, although SEAI suggests using a clothes horse or washing line on warm, dry days. Heat-pump models cost more to buy but use far less energy to run, and the European Commission says switching to one of the most efficient dryers can cut energy use by around 60%. That makes a heat-pump dryer the better long-term choice for most homes that dry regularly. Our tumble dryer guide compares vented, condenser and heat-pump types, or you can browse all tumble dryers.

Living spaces and cleaning

A cordless vacuum suits quick cleaning; a robot suits routine maintenance. Match the cleaner to floor types, stairs and storage. For homes with pets or long hair, consider anti-hair-wrap features. The Shark IA1241UK PowerDetect Speed cordless vacuum (€499.99) has Anti-Hair Wrap technology and a folding wand. Our guide to cordless, cylinder and robot vacuums explains the differences, or browse the Shark range.

The one spec that matters across every room: the energy label

The energy label helps compare efficiency, but read the kWh figure as well as the letter. SEAI explains that consumption is shown per year or per 100 cycles. Fridge freezers use kWh per year. Washing machines, dishwashers and washer-dryers use kWh per 100 cycles, as do tumble dryers on the newer label introduced on 1 July 2025.

Multiply kWh by your electricity unit price to estimate cost. SEAI's example uses about 35c per kWh: a fridge freezer using 525 kWh a year costs about €184. This is an illustration, not a current tariff quote. Compare similar-size models and weigh any higher purchase price against likely running costs.

Buying and delivery in Ireland

Appliances Delivered offers appliance delivery across Ireland, with next-day delivery available in Dublin, Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, and removal of your old like-for-like appliance. Check delivery options and prices, warranty terms, access and installation requirements before ordering. Measure the appliance space, doorways and hall so the model you choose can reach its room.

Frequently asked questions

What home appliances should I prioritise buying first?

Start with the appliances you cannot do without and that run most: the fridge freezer and the washing machine. These have the biggest impact on daily life and running costs, so it is worth getting them right before spending on extras.

How much do energy ratings really matter?

A lot, especially for appliances that run constantly, like fridge freezers, or often, like washing machines and dryers. SEAI's example puts a fridge freezer using 525 kWh a year at about €184 in electricity. Compare the kWh figure between models of a similar size, because it shows what a model will cost to run and the letter alone does not.

Where do I find the energy use on an energy label?

Look just below the A to G scale. The figure is in kWh and is shown per year or per 100 cycles, depending on the product. Fridge-freezers use a yearly figure. Washing machines, dishwashers and the newer tumble dryer labels use a per-100-cycles figure.

Is it better to buy home appliances online in Ireland?

For most people, yes. Buying online gives you a wider range, easier price comparison and home delivery, so you are not limited to what one shop happens to have in stock.

How do I choose the right size appliance?

Match the capacity to your household and space. Size the fridge freezer and washing machine to the number of people in the home, and measure your gaps, doorways and hall before buying so nothing arrives too big to fit.

Ready to buy home appliances in Ireland, room by room?

Pick the room you are starting with and browse from there: kitchen appliances, laundry or floorcare. Compare energy figures, sizes and prices side by side, and check the delivery options for your area before you order. If you are not sure which model suits your household, get in touch with the Appliances Delivered team and we will point you to the right range.