Washing dishes by hand is my least favourite household task. Not only do I dislike putting my hands in hot water, I also hate looking at piles of dirty dishes in my sink (especially when walking into the kitchen having just woken up in the morning). Fortunately I am very creative about how I can install a dishwasher when living in a home that doesn’t have a purpose-built space for one.

If your kitchen doesn’t have the space or the water, drainage, and electrical connections required, an adjacent Laundry can be a perfect space as it will have the latter features and hopefully room for the dishwasher too. If this option works for you make sure you buy a ‘freestanding’ model (i.e. with a worktop and side panels). These are also weighted so they do not tip forward when you open them. You’ll have the option of 600mm and 450mm wide models. Don’t be put off by the narrower 450mm if that is all you have room for, they hold a surprising amount. 

The image above is of my own kitchen. It had no dishwasher space when I moved in last year and, not wanting to replace the whole thing but gagging for a dishwasher, I was delighted to discover that one of the cupboard units was exactly 450mm wide. It took some effort to demolish and remove this without damaging the adjacent joinery however the end effect looks as though a dishwasher had been there all along. I also had to get an electrician in to install a power outlet and a plumber to add a water tap and replace the drain pipe under the sink to incorporate a waste point. Always ensure these items are not installed behind the dishwasher but rather in adjacent cupboards so you can turn them off easily if needed.