ADU Appliances

Appliances are a vital part of any modern house, including an ADU. Nowadays, it’s hard to find a person who can live completely without a single appliance. Since ADUs are small buildings, it’s better to use compact appliances in them. Thankfully, they’re often just as powerful and functional as full-sized ones.

In this article, we’ll tell you about appliances that can help you optimize your ADU space. This material will be useful to any homeowners remodeling or building their ADUs. We’re going to share with you some tips from property managers and contractors with extensive experience in optimizing a given space. We hope our article will be useful for you. And, of course, we look forward to any feedback!

HVAC System

The best solution for regulating the temperature is a ductless mini-split air conditioner and heater or simply a mini-split. It’s an effective and reliable appliance that can help you get the most comfortable temperature in the ADU. A mini-split is very easy to install compared with a full-ducted system. You probably won’t even need a builder company for this. Also, it’s way more effective than central HVAC or a window unit.

ADU Water Heater

A tankless (also called on-demand or instantaneous) water heater provides hot water only if it’s necessary. Such an appliance doesn’t store it in a reservoir, which makes it much more cost-effective despite the higher initial price. Also, it lasts 5-10 years longer than a classic heater and has plenty of changeable parts. In addition to that, tankless water heaters require less energy and maintenance than ordinary ones. There are both outdoor and indoor models on the market, which means you can find a suitable variant for any ADU type and size.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Kitchen Appliances

Minimalism is trendy now, especially among younger clients. Lots of people get rid of their unused possessions, move into smaller houses, and use smaller kitchen appliances. Now, you can find tiny dishwashers, stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, and other such things. They are in many showrooms — especially in every showroom dedicated to ADUs.

Despite their size, small appliances look very stylish and have all the necessary functions for your dream kitchen. It’s easy to find models that would fit the style of your ADU with excellence.

Small Dishwashers

An extra-thin dishwasher (only 18″) is suitable even for the tiniest of kitchens. So, it’s an amazing option for an accessory dwelling unit. But in spite of its size, such a dishwasher can hold approximately ten place settings in every load, which is very practical. Also, it has a very sleek and stylish appearance.

Tiny Refrigerators

For many ADUs, a standard 36″ refrigerator is too big. Any general contractor will confirm this. But there are lots of amazing models with a width of 30″ or even less, such as 28″ or 24″. Also, there are under-the-counter options. Often. They have a special door-locking system to protect the food from kids or animals.

Compact Ovens

Typically, the width of a kitchen oven ranges from 30” to 36″. However, there are also miniature variants suitable for an ADU – for example, 24″ ovens with four-burner cooktops. You can find even a 20″ oven! It can fit even in a kitchen that really lacks space.

The Range Microwaves

An over-the-range microwave oven combines the functions of a microwave and a cooktop vent. These devices have lots of different variants, shapes and sizes, so you’ll definitely be able to find something suitable for your ADU – especially if you team up with a good contractor.

In case your additional house has a large kitchen, we’d recommend you a 30″ micro hood with 1,000 watts and 2-speed ventilation. If your kitchen is not so big, the optimal choice can be a 24″ microwave with the same parameters as we’ve mentioned above.

If there’s enough space for normal-sized kitchen appliances, a good variant is a multifunctional set that consists of a microwave, a dishwasher, an oven, and a refrigerator.

Smaller ADU Kitchen Gadgets 

Since ADUs usually don’t have lots of space, you’ll need to maximize their use of it. You can do it with the help of various kitchen gadgets that make the storing of different items much simpler.

Sink Gadgets

To optimize the space around the sink, kitchen designers recommend using a so-called workspace sink — an appliance that will give you additional countertop space. Another useful option is a big, 2-tiered dish-drying rack. Thanks to it, you’ll be able to dry dishes in a compact way. Also, it will help you conveniently keep the cutting board. Below the sink, you can put an expandable organizer to place various household items and free a lot of space in the rest of the kitchen.

Drawer and Cabinet Gadgets

Use the most out of your kitchen cabinets with a pull-out shelf. This appliance can help you store things more compactly and access them much easier. To save some space inside the cabinets, use a spice gripper. You’ll need to attach it to a cabinet’s door, and put your spices into it. Another useful appliance that can help you free up cabinet space is a drawer organizer. With it, you’ll be able to easily get rid of clutter and thus get some extra space.

Countertop Gadgets

Many kitchen designers who specialize in ADUs say that even the vertical space of the countertops may be useful. For example, you can keep your pots there with the help of a pot rack organizer. Oftentimes, it has the function of adjusting height so you can accommodate your pots much better. For those who don’t have much vertical space in the kitchen, there are also horizontal pot racks. 

ADU Efficiency Kitchens

In a junior ADU, there has to be an efficiency kitchen with the maximum size of 6 sq.ft. The simplest and most comfortable variant is a modular or compact kitchen. Such kitchens come in many shapes and sizes, often equipped with a fridge, storage place, sink, faucet, and a cooktop. A real dream kitchen, isn’t it?

In addition to that, some of them have mobile multipurpose workstation islands with the following appliances:

• A towel rack;
• A spice rack;
• A drawer;
• A cabinet or two.

Laundry Room Appliances

Regardless of the size of your ADU, a laundry area there is absolutely necessary. Most home builders who decided not to include it during the construction process, regret it later. Fortunately, there are many places in an ADU where laundry appliances can be installed.

For instance, you can put a compact washer and dryer in the closet. It can have enough space for these appliances, so they won’t bother you too much — you won’t even notice them in your daily life.

A great variant for an ADU is an electric dryer that has a ventless condenser system. The main distinctive feature of this appliance is that it doesn’t require outside venting. It may need a special stacking kit for its installation, but its compact size can help you save plenty of space (especially if it’s vertical). In addition to that, there are also 2-in-1 devices that function as both washers and dryers. Such a machine is extremely convenient for an ADU.

Furniture for the Bedroom

The efficiency of bedroom space use greatly depends on furniture and appliances. If it’s compact and ergonomic, it can help you free plenty of space and make the room look visually larger.

A great example of such furniture is a folding bed. During the day, you can turn it into a pretty cabinet. Many such beds have a large place to store various things. Additionally, some models have sofas for those who still need a seat, even when they don’t use the bed.

Furniture for Living Area

In an accessory dwelling unit, the living space can get cramped very fast. But you can avoid it by using compact multifunctional furniture, such as a storage ottoman. It provides both a place to sit and to keep various belongings. A storage sofa is even better – it can help you turn the living area into a bedroom for guests, in case they visit you.

In case your ADU is a bit more spacious, a great choice can be a multi-sectional sofa with additional storage space. For a TV, use a special wall-mount appliance that can turn in various directions, so that your TV will be watchable from different angles.

Alternatively, you can buy an entertainment center — a TV cabinet with sliding doors and adjustable shelves. It looks very stylish and has extra storage space under the TV.

Dining Room Furniture

Most dinner tables are large and space-consuming. Fortunately, this piece of furniture also can be compact and suitable for a small ADU. Take, for example, a wall-mounted foldable table for two people. If you need more seats (for example, friends often visit you), a drop leaf folding table can be a great option.

In case you’d prefer something more stable, we can recommend a counter-height dining table equipped with multifunctional shelves. Those shelves also support the table on one of its sides. Also a suitable variant can be a folding, rolling kitchen set. When you don’t use this appliance, you can fold it and roll away.

How to Choose the Best ADU Appliances

Selecting the most suitable appliances for an ADU is essential to make it both comfortable and practical. Nowadays, their assortment in shops and showrooms is so huge that the choice can be very hard to make. To help you a little bit, we’ve listed several recommendations for you.

They are the following:

1. Think about the square footage of your ADU space. This factor should play a significant role in the appliance selection. Avoid buying large models — they’ll take up a lot of space. But, at the same time, appliances need to be functional. Thankfully, many shops have a vast choice of compact-sized models in stock. To estimate their size better, visit various showrooms and sales. Don’t limit yourself to online buying;
2. Pay attention to the appliance material. It should be durable and low-maintenance. One of the best variants is stainless steel;
3. Estimate your necessities. It’s crucial not only for choosing the appliances but also for projecting the ADU itself. For example, if you’re going to use it as a personal mini-office, a microwave and a refrigerator might be enough for you. On the other hand, if you want to use it as a living space with a garden, you’ll need more different appliances;
4. Don’t forget about the energy efficiency range of the appliances. It should be one of your main priorities. If an appliance uses little electricity, it’s way better for the environment. Also, it’s cheaper for you, since the bills are lower. Most home builders and property managers recommend searching for the Energy Star label, which means that the energy consumption of an appliance is very low;
5. Look at the design. It’s also very important to mention. The appearance of the appliances should harmonize with the whole interior style of your ADU. For instance, if it’s modern and minimalistic, choose sleek, clean-lined models made of stainless steel;
6. Read about the models and companies. Search for information about different brands to find the best ones for you. Look through client reviews to figure out which appliances are the most reliable and long-lasting. For instance, high-quality brands are Bosch, Wolf, Miele, and so on. In case your family members or friends have bought any appliances recently, you can also ask them. Additionally, you may schedule a visit to a specialist for a consultation;
7. Think about your financial possibilities. Often homeowners remodeling their ADUs want to splurge and purchase expensive appliances, but it’s much better to stick to your budget. Search for models of affordable price range, and spend your money reasonably. Good things don’t have to be super costly. Pay attention to such events as sales. A sale is a great appliance source, where you can buy something cheap but of decent quality. So, we’d recommend you to include it in your schedule.

Selecting the best appliances for your dwelling unit is an extremely important process that determines how convenient it will be to live there. By following our simple recommendations, you can make your tiny house super comfortable and fully functional.

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ

What are the kitchen requirements for ADU in California?

Main kitchen requirements are the following: it should be at least 50 sq.ft, have a proper countertop where you can prepare food, spacious cabinets and a fridge to store it. However, these requirements continue to change and evolve, so you’ll need to look up their latest versions.

What is an efficient kitchen in California?

An efficient kitchen is a small kitchen with limited facilities such as a fridge, a sink, storage cabinets, a counter for preparing food, and compact appliances that need only 120 V. You can see such kitchens in many showrooms of contractors and builder companies that specialize in ADUs.

Does an ADU need a bathroom in California?

According to California local laws, an accessory dwelling unit should have at least 3/4 bath (which includes a shower, a sink, and a toilet). A junior ADU, on the other hand, can share bathroom facilities with the primary residence (although it can have a separate bath too).

How many bedrooms can an ADU have in California?

In California, there’s no limitations on ADU bedrooms. Typically, classic ADUs have one or two bedrooms, while JADUs have only one due to their small size. ADUs with three or more bedrooms are quite rare.