Essential Home Appliances for Living Alone: A Guide to the Absolute Minimums You Need First

How to Choose Appliances for Solo Living

A new life starts this spring. Have you found your favorite appliances yet?
If you choose appliances based solely on design or functionality, you might find they don’t fit your space or actually make daily life less convenient. Because these are daily necessities you will use for a long time, let’s review some foolproof tips for choosing the right ones.

Check for Built-in Appliances

Before buying anything, be sure to check the existing fixtures and appliances in your new home. Some apartments may not come with an air conditioner, lighting, or a stovetop. Make sure to verify this during your property viewing or when signing the contract.

Match Appliances to Your Room Size and Layout

When selecting appliances, it is essential to ensure they fit the layout and available space in your new home.
To avoid critical mistakes like an appliance not fitting through the door or having nowhere to put it, always measure the width of the delivery route (entrance, hallways, and stairs) in advance. For washing machines, checking the size of the waterproof pan is crucial; for refrigerators, the direction the door opens must suit your layout. Choosing sizes that do not disrupt your daily flow is the key to living comfortably in a limited space.

Determine the Necessary “Capacity” Based on Your Lifestyle

We recommend choosing the capacity of your appliances based on how often you do chores. If they are too small, they will be inconvenient, but if they are too large, they will take up valuable living space.
If you do chores frequently, a compact, standard size is sufficient. However, if you prefer doing laundry in bulk or meal prepping on weekends, it is safer to choose a larger capacity with some room to spare. Identify the ideal size for your lifestyle rhythm to create a streamlined, comfortable environment.

“Multi-functional Appliances” are Recommended for Saving Space

In studio apartments or rooms with limited space, multi-functional appliances that serve several purposes in a single unit are your best allies. For example, opting for a microwave oven combination or a washer-dryer combo allows you to reduce the number of appliances while maintaining a high quality of life.
Keep in mind, however, that they tend to be more expensive and bulkier than single-function models. Consider both your budget and the dimensions of your installation space before purchasing.

The Absolute Minimum Appliance Checklist for Solo Living

Since you will need some appliances from the very first day you move in, it is important to check the absolute minimum appliance checklist beforehand.

Refrigerator

The ideal capacity for a refrigerator depends entirely on how often you cook at home. If you cook regularly, a capacity of around 150L makes it easy to stock up on ingredients. If you rely heavily on meal prepping, a roomier 200L to 300L class is ideal.
Even if you mostly eat out, a size of around 100L is recommended for storing drinks and light snacks. Additionally, since people living alone tend to use frozen foods more frequently, it is a good idea to choose a model with a separate freezer compartment or ample freezer capacity.

Washing Machine

Top-loading washing machines are the mainstream choice for solo living because they are affordable and easy to install in tight spaces. Choose the capacity based on your laundry frequency: 5-6kg is a good standard for washing 2-3 times a week, while 6-7kg is better for a single weekly bulk wash. If you want to wash bulky items like blankets or sheets at home, a more spacious 7-8kg model is appropriate.
While recent front-loading drum models have become more compact, they often face restrictions regarding delivery routes and installation locations, so it is crucial to check the size of your waterproof pan first.

Lighting

Lighting is an indispensable item from the day you move in. Always check in advance if lighting fixtures are provided; if not, prepare a model with a brightness suitable for your room’s square footage. If you are only replacing light bulbs, you must ensure the base size (typically E26 or E17) matches the fixture. Choosing a type with a remote control or dimming function will enhance convenience during relaxing moments or before bed.

Air Conditioner

An air conditioner only needs to be arranged before moving in if one is not already installed. When choosing one, you will check the “estimated room size” (in tatami mats), but it is best to cross-reference this with the building’s structure, as the effective range differs between wooden and reinforced concrete buildings.
For rooms with large windows or poor ventilation, selecting a slightly larger capacity than the standard estimate will ensure efficient heating and cooling. Since installing an AC requires not only purchasing the unit but also verifying the presence of a dedicated outlet and booking installation work, it is best to start preparations early and avoid peak seasons.

Rice Cooker

If you plan to cook for yourself while living alone, a space-saving 3.5-go (approx. 0.63L) capacity rice cooker is recommended. If you are particular about the taste of your rice, choose an Induction Heating (IH) or Pressure IH model for even heating. Recently, multi-functional models featuring a variety of cooking menus have also become popular.
For instance, TIGER’s “JPF-G055” is a versatile unit that not only cooks authentic rice despite its compact size but also handles dishes like curries and simmered meals. It enriches your daily menu while making the most of limited kitchen space.

Microwave Oven

Whether you cook or not, a microwave is a reassuring ally for a busy solo lifestyle.
If your primary use is reheating, a simple single-function model is enough. However, if you want to expand your culinary repertoire or prioritize time-saving cooking, a microwave oven combination is highly recommended. Choosing one that fits your dietary habits will make daily meal preparation much smoother.

Nice-to-Have Appliances for Solo Living

Even among people living alone, lifestyles vary greatly. We recommend starting your new life with the absolute minimum appliances and adding more as needed. Here, we introduce “convenient appliances that will enrich your life.” Figure out what suits you best and upgrade your space for maximum comfort.

Vacuum Cleaner

To efficiently clean up dirt and dust from your floors, a space-saving stick vacuum or a cordless model—which frees you from worrying about outlet locations—is ideal.
However, if your room mainly features hardwood floors, a simple floor wiper might suffice as a substitute. Consider your room’s flooring material and how much time and effort you can dedicate to cleaning when making your choice.

Electric Kettle

An electric kettle is invaluable for making drinks or instant foods, as it quickly boils just the amount of water you need. There are many designs that blend beautifully with interiors, but models featuring “vapor-less” or “reduced-steam” functions offer extra peace of mind by allowing flexible placement and minimizing the risks of burns or condensation-induced mold.
TIGER’s “PCS-A080/A120” balances space-saving compactness with the speed to boil one cup (approx. 140ml) in just 59 seconds. It is the lightest electric kettle in TIGER’s history*1, minimizing the strain of lifting, pouring, and carrying.
*1 As of July 31, 2024. Compared to our models of the same capacity.

Toaster Oven

With a toaster oven, you can easily enjoy not just toast, but also reheated deli items and grilled dishes. If you choose a space-saving compact model, it will naturally blend into your interior without crowding your limited kitchen space.

Grooming Appliances

Grooming appliances such as hair dryers and electric shavers are great for saving time during your daily prep routine. For hair dryers especially, a high-volume airflow model is recommended to cut down drying time. When it comes to electric shavers, considering your skin type and choosing a model that provides a close shave with fewer strokes will result in a smooth finish while minimizing skin irritation. Choose highly functional items to make your daily routine more comfortable.

Tips for Buying Solo Living Appliances on a Budget

Gathering a complete set of essential appliances requires a substantial upfront cost. Here, we introduce practical tips to help you stay within your budget without stressing.

Target Sale Seasons and New Model Release Windows

If you want to buy appliances at a discount, it is best to aim for the manufacturers’ “model changeovers” and electronics retailers’ “financial closing periods.”
About one to two months before new products are released, older models often drop in price for inventory clearance. For example, August to September is ideal for refrigerators and front-loading washing machines, May to June for top-loading washers, and May to July for rice cookers.
Additionally, large-scale sales tend to happen during the electronics retailers’ financial closing months in March (annual closing) and September (interim closing).

Utilize Thrift Shops and Second-Hand Items

If you aren’t overly particular about an item being brand new, purchasing second-hand appliances at thrift stores is a viable option.
The biggest advantage is significantly reducing your initial costs, but be sure to inspect the actual product in the store before buying. It is especially important to check for dirt, scratches, and operational condition in person, and select items in the best possible shape.

Start a Comfortable Solo Life with Your Favorite Appliances

Home appliances are crucial items that support your daily life. Because of this, we recommend choosing them from various perspectives, such as the size of the room they will be installed in and the vision of your lifestyle. Please use the essential appliance checklist and selection tips introduced in this article as a reference to kick off a comfortable new life.