Ex-Display Kitchens: A Buyer's Guide to Saving Thousands
A new fitted kitchen is one of the largest single spends most homes ever make, which is exactly why the ex-display route is worth a serious look. A showroom kitchen that has only ever been looked at can be sold on for a fraction of what the same design costs new. Get it right and the saving runs into thousands. This guide covers how to buy an ex-display kitchen sensibly, and where the pitfalls are.
What you are actually buying
Kitchen showrooms rebuild their displays every year or two to show off the latest designs. When a display comes down, the units, doors and often the worktops and appliances have to be cleared, and that is what reaches the market. The cabinets are usually in excellent condition, the doors are current styles, and any appliances are frequently unused or ex-demonstration.
The one thing to understand from the start is that an ex-display kitchen is a fixed set of units in set sizes. It was built for the showroom, not for your room, so it may need adapting to fit rather than dropping straight in. That is not a problem, but it does shape how you buy.
Start with your measurements
Before you look at a single kitchen, get a rough plan of your space: the wall lengths, the window and door positions, and where the services, water, waste, gas and electrics, come in. With that in hand you can judge whether a display kitchen's run of units will work in your room, or how much would need changing. Buying a kitchen that is close to your layout saves both money and grief; buying one that is wildly different can cancel out the saving in extra parts and labour.
Read exactly what is included
This is the single most important habit when buying ex-display kitchens. Some listings are the full kitchen with worktops, sink and taps and appliances included. Others are the units only. The price can look similar, so check the detail before you compare. If you only need part of a kitchen, remember you can also buy the pieces on their own, whether that is units and cabinets, a run of worktop, or an oven and hob from a cleared display.
Budget for fitting and the extras
The purchase price is not the whole cost. An ex-display kitchen almost always needs a fitter, and depending on how well it matches your room you may need a few extra units, end panels or a length of worktop to finish it. Factor these in from the outset. Even with fitting and a few extras, the total usually still lands well under a comparable new kitchen, but you want to know the real number before you commit rather than after.
Appliances: a saving in their own right
Kitchen displays often come with the appliances fitted, and these are among the best-value parts of the deal. Display and ex-demonstration ovens, hobs and larger white goods have usually seen little real use. Check the model, the energy rating and whether any manufacturer warranty still applies, and remember that gas and electric appliances should be installed by a suitably qualified person.
The practical checklist
- Have a rough plan and measurements before you shop.
- Confirm exactly which units, worktops, sink, taps and appliances are included.
- Check the door style and finish are a range you are happy to live with.
- Budget for a fitter and for any extra parts to make it fit.
- Arrange delivery early, as a full kitchen is a large load to move.
Done properly, an ex-display kitchen is one of the biggest single savings available anywhere in the home. Browse what is currently available across ex-display kitchens and appliances, from complete kitchens to individual units and worktops.
