A modern kitchen plays host to many appliances that make our lives easier, some that we couldn’t – or at least wouldn’t want to – live without. However, all these electricals can make a kitchen resemble a miniature power station, which is not typically a favoured look for the heart of the home.

Hiding kitchen appliances discreetly and conveniently is possible, it simply requires a bit more thought – especially if you are working with a kitchen that is already built.

We should note that there has been recent debate amongst interior designers about whether we should be more honest in our designs – for example, should we really be hiding speakers and wires when they are a real part of everyday life?

Our view is that this is a very personal choice – it is your kitchen, so whichever approach will work for you is the best one. You can also choose a bit of both styles, choosing which appliances you may prefer to have on show and which would be better concealed.

For those that wish to, let’s look at the best ways to hide those electricals.

Hiding kitchen appliances when designing a kitchen from scratch

• Choose built-in appliances where possible

If you are looking for a sleek, streamlined kitchen, start by integrating your fridge, dishwasher, oven and washing machine into the design, either by concealing them using bespoke joinery doors or by fitting them neatly alongside your other units.

Many of us today desire a kitchen that more resembles a living room in aesthetic, and discreetly hiding kitchen appliances is a great way of making the room feel warmer and less clinical.

Ovens can’t be concealed behind traditional joinery. However, they can be designed to look unobtrusive, for example by keeping the unit doors and the oven front flush and choosing cabinet handles that are similar to those on the oven.

You can also choose to build in various smaller appliances if you are designing a new kitchen from scratch, such as putting a microwave oven in the island, running all cables up the back of units.

Build a scullery to support the main kitchen

If you’re remodelling your kitchen and have a lot of gadgets you want to include, perhaps more gadgets than you have space, then consider remodelling a smaller adjacent room to act as a scullery. This room can act as an overflow space, where you can keep and use your practical yet unsightly electrical appliances out of the main entertaining space.

Create a pulldown concealment wall

Perhaps you have an open plan kitchen and living room, and you wish to completely hide the kitchen surfaces and appliances when not in use. This is more easily done than you may think, with a pull-down wall that comes to the top of the worktop and effectively makes the kitchen disappear.

Tips for concealing electrics in your current kitchen

• Build an appliance garage

A common way of hiding kitchen appliances is to build a gadget garage – this allows heavy equipment to be easily accessible but hidden out of sight, behind either a classic cupboard door or a pull-up door. Whichever you choose, this door can easily match the aesthetic of the rest of your kitchen.

You could also repurpose an existing cabinet to become your appliance garage if you don’t want to build one from scratch. The most important thing about these garages is that the electricals inside are easily accessible. Ideally, you want something at counter height that you will not have to lift, stretch or bend to reach – having to move heavy appliances will become a cumbersome part of your day if not.

Add an appliance lift

Another way of discretely storing your appliances is by installing a platform that lifts out of a cupboard when needed, but folds back in when the appliance is not in use. This can be useful for appliances such as standalone mixers, waffle irons, or anything that you may use regularly but not every day.

Install a pop-up extractor fan

If you don’t have an extractor fan or the current fan is large and unsightly, why not install a sleek pop-up extractor fan, which can disappear as soon as it is not in use. These can be hidden in the worktop and called upon at the press of a button, meaning clean lines are maintained for the majority of the time. Cupboards can also be installed above, maximising storage.

Conceal wires in table legs

Standalone pieces of furniture like tables have to function for the modern-day cook, but they are often chosen at least partially for their beautiful design.

If you don’t want to spoil your architectural joinery aesthetic with unsightly cables, not to mention have a potential tripping hazard in your kitchen, fear not! Innovative joiners are now creating tables with hollow legs, allowing the cables to run through these cavities. Of course, you will want to think carefully about which cables you want to run up to your table, as these will be a pain to change if you ever need to.

There are plenty of ways of hiding kitchen appliances, for those who have decided you want to keep cables and gadgets out of sight. Whether you are building a new kitchen or adapting your current kitchen, you have options.

Do remember that if you are using a scullery or an appliance garage to both hide and utilise gadgets in, ensure that these areas have adequate ventilation to avoid appliances overheating.

Other than that, see this as an opportunity to get creative, hiding electricals in places that only you and your family know about and displaying only the items you want on show. Dream kitchen, here you come.