Do Your Kitchen Appliances Really Need To Match?

It goes without saying that you should like your kitchen. Having a space to cook in that's visually appealing and functional brightens your mood while you're whipping up meals and can help you get a good start to your day every morning. That said, is it absolutely necessary for everything in the kitchen to match?

In short, no. There's no hard and fast rule stating that your oven has to come from the same brand as your refrigerator or that your blender and your toaster need to be the same color. While a cohesive kitchen does look nice, especially when you match appliances to your kitchen cabinets to help them stand out, it's your kitchen. At the end of the day, it all comes down to your personal taste, whether that's making sure every appliance has the same finish or you've collected a rainbow of them.

In fact, a little mismatching can add character and depth to your kitchen, making it feel more lived-in and increasing its appeal. As renovators and designers Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum — a.k.a., The Brownstone Boys — told Chowhound, "A little mix-and-match actually enhances the charm. We've combined matte black ranges with stainless refrigerators or integrated dishwashers hidden behind custom cabinetry. It all depends on the vibe." If you want a cohesive look without full conformity, using complementary colors, like black and white (or stainless steel), can go a long way towards brightening up an otherwise bland kitchen.

While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, there are some mistakes you can make when designing your kitchen, even if you're not worried about being matchy-matchy. For one, don't focus so much on aesthetics that you neglect function. It's better to avoid certain brands of kitchen appliances that have consistently proven to be of poor quality, even if you fall in love with their appearance. Disregard this tip, and you may find yourself paying more in electricity costs or dealing with annoying (and expensive) breakdowns.

On a similar note, while many types of quasi-mismatched old-school decor look fantastic, some things are meant to stay in the past. Many vintage fridges sadly have no place in the modern kitchen, since they're inefficient and may contain harmful materials like Freon and asbestos. If you're looking for a retro-styled kitchen, it's better to get a modern fridge designed to look like a blast from the past rather than the genuine article.

The only reason you really might want a unified look to come first is if you're trying to sell your home. Staging is a common real estate practice that involves redecorating the home using nice decor to make it look more appealing to a wider audience. If you're going to have potential buyers tour your home, you might want to match things up on the advice of your real estate agent, even if it's not strictly in line with your tastes.

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