Dishwashers are critical appliances for any modern kitchen, and when choosing a dishwasher, it can be tempting to choose functionality above all else. However, whether you choose a built-in dishwasher or a portable dishwasher, there are a lot of dishwasher finishes available to choose from, which means that you can nearly always find an appliance that suits your decor as well as your functional needs. While stainless steel dishwashers are always popular, we can go beyond the stainless steel kitchen dishwasher and explore all the finishes that are currently available. Here are five of the most popular dishwasher finishes, including panel-ready dishwashers, and a listing of what styles of kitchen each one is best suited for.
Stainless Steel: A Match for Everything
Stainless steel appliances tend to go with everything, which is good, since nearly all kitchen appliances are available with a stainless steel finish. This makes it the easiest dishwasher finish option to match, and the first item on our list. Stainless steel dishwashers look especially striking in kitchens with a lot of wood cabinetry, regardless of the type of wood. A stainless steel dishwasher can also blend well with a stainless steel refrigerator, sink, and microwave oven.
Black: Sleek, Modern Elegance
If you want a dark and sleek appearance to your kitchen, consider getting a black dishwasher. These appliances provide a striking contrast to cabinets that are painted white, and they can make a traditional kitchen with dark wood cabinets look warm and inviting. Matte black finishes on appliances are extremely popular lately, and you can even coordinate a black dishwasher beyond the kitchen to match with appliances and furniture elsewhere in the home. As a bonus, black appliances are least likely to show fingerprints, making them perfect for houses with young children.
Black Stainless Steel: Sophisticated Contrast
Black stainless steel is one of the newer colors of finish available for dishwashers. Both striking in appearance and resistant to water spots and smudges, it's hard to go wrong with it. Especially consider black stainless steel if you have an all-white kitchen or dark oak cabinets. Black stainless steel dishwashers look particularly striking in contemporary kitchens.
White: Clean, Classic Appearance
There are a lot of white dishwashers on the market today, and for good reason! As the ultimate neutral color, white looks good in any style of kitchen. They blend well with nearly any color of cabinet and countertop, looking especially neat and clean with white cabinetry. White appliances (including dishwashers) are also less likely to gather fingerprints than their stainless steel counterparts, helping to keep your kitchen looking fresh and clean.
Panel-Ready: Seamlessly Match Any Cupboards
Panel-ready dishwashers are the ultimate in matching any decor: since you outfit them with custom panels that match the rest of your kitchen, you can use them to blend in with literally any cabinetry. This camouflages your appliances, which is especially useful in compact kitchens and in kitchens with a lot of wood. Panel-ready dishwashers can even come with hardware that matches your cupboards, for the utmost consistency in design. Especially consider a panel-ready dishwasher if you already have custom cupboards.
Related Questions
How do you know when to replace your dishwasher?
If your dishes aren't clean and hot when they come out of the dishwasher, if you keep finding puddles of water in the bottom of the cavity, if your dishwasher is excessively noisy, or if your dishwasher is more than 10 years old, it may be time to replace it with a newer, more efficient model.
What is the life expectancy of a dishwasher?
In general, dishwashers last about 10 years, according to most manufacturers. You can extend the life of your dishwasher by keeping it clean and well maintained.