Here is another of those kind of articles which are so much fun to write: when comparing both cultures based on a topic. In this case, a scenario: the kitchen. How does a kitchen in Spain compare to a kitchen in the United States?
It definitely depends on the state/area. But here are some of the differences that you might find when entering your new apartment in Spain and exploring the kitchen for the first time.
Where is the dishwasher?
This might be one of the first questions, right after a general view: where is the dishwasher? The reality is that many apartments in Spain don’t include this appliance. This could be explained by a more reduced space. Or it might be more of a cultural thing, with people not needing a dishwasher and doing the dishes the traditional way (but it might be changing in the past years). Anyway, for some reason a dishwasher is not that common in an apartment in Spain. So when finding an apartment in Barcelona, don’t take for granted that a dishwasher will be there obviously installed in the kitchen. It might not be included among the kitchen appliances!
Apartment in Spain: a washing machine in the kitchen
But do you know what you might find in a kitchen in Spain instead of a dishwasher? (Or sometimes, along with a dishwasher). A washing machine. So, we can’t find a clear explanation here, but what we do know is that this is pretty different in the United States. Washing machines in apartments are not that common in the US, and the laundry is done way different. It might require a trip to the nearest laundry in the neighborhood, or to the shared washing machines in your apartment building.
Apartment in Spain: do they have a garbage disposal in the kitchen sink?
Having a garbage disposal in the kitchen sink is not as common in Spain as you might think. What’s more: the landlord probably will give you a weird look if you ask about it. So from our experience, and compared to the United States, a garbage disposal is generally not included in a kitchen in Spain. And not everyone knows about the existence of this appliance! For instance, when it comes to small and old apartments in Barcelona, most of them don’t have a garbage disposal in the kitchen sink.
Size and number of cupboards in a kitchen in Spain
This is the one difference that possibly varies the most depending on the area that you are going to live. But the truth is that, in general, the apartments in Spain have smaller cupboards (and number of cupboards) when compared to the apartments in the United States.
And this could be a general difference not only when it comes to the kitchen room, but also in other spaces of the apartment. For instance, in the bedrooms. Wardrobes are usually more spacious in apartments in the US than in apartments in Spain. Not only in terms of space but also in terms of quantity. But again, this is a general assumption that will probably vary depending on the town, city or state that you live in.