How to Choose a Rangehood That Works as Well as It Looks

Because great kitchen design should smell fresh, not sound like a jet engine.

How to Choose a Rangehood That Works as Well as It Looks

Because great kitchen design should smell fresh, not sound like a jet engine.

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Top tips for choosing a rangehood that won’t kill your kitchen’s vibe

Because great design should smell fresh, not sound like a jet engine

A rangehood isn’t the most glamorous appliance in your kitchen, but it’s one of the most important. Get it right, and you’ll barely notice it’s there. Get it wrong, and it can be noisy, clunky, or completely ineffective. Worse, it can wreck the aesthetic of your space, or leave cooking smells lingering long after dinner.

Here’s how to choose a rangehood that works hard, sounds quiet, and blends beautifully with your kitchen design.

1. Start with extraction, not looks
It’s easy to get swept up in sleek designs and hidden models, but the main job of a rangehood is to remove steam, grease, and odours. Make sure the model you choose has enough power (measured in cubic metres per hour) to suit the size of your kitchen and the style of cooking you do. If you’re a regular stir-fry cook or have a gas cooktop, you’ll need more grunt than someone who cooks lighter meals a few times a week.

2. Choose a style that suits your space
Canopy rangehoods are classic and often used as a statement feature, but they’re not for everyone. Power packs (built into overhead cabinetry) offer a clean, seamless look and let you keep valuable storage above the cooktop. Downdraft models and vented hobs are great for island kitchens or minimalist spaces where you don’t want anything overhead. The best option is one that complements your layout, not competes with it.

3. Think about where and how it vents
Good extraction depends on more than just motor strength, it also depends on ducting. Long, bendy duct runs reduce performance and increase noise. If you can, vent the rangehood directly outside with minimal turns. For apartments or homes where external venting isn’t possible, recirculating options with quality filters are available, but they won’t be as effective. It’s worth planning venting routes early in your renovation to get the best results.

4. Keep noise to a minimum
A powerful rangehood shouldn’t drown out your dinner conversation. Some of the quietest models use off-board motors, where the motor is installed in the ceiling or outside wall, rather than inside the unit itself. You still hear the air moving, but the mechanical noise is dramatically reduced. Variable fan speeds also help: you don’t need full power for everything, so you can run it quieter most of the time.

5. Don’t forget lighting and cleaning
It’s a small thing, but good lighting over your cooktop can make a big difference to how you cook. Look for rangehoods with built-in LED lighting that’s bright, even, and energy efficient. And make sure the filters are easy to remove and dishwasher safe, because a rangehood only keeps working well if you keep it clean.

Make it functional and beautiful

The best rangehoods do their job quietly, effectively, and without getting in the way of your design. Whether you want it to disappear into cabinetry or become a bold design feature, there’s a model to suit, just don’t compromise performance for looks.

For more practical advice on planning a kitchen that’s stylish, functional and built for real life, check out our Renovating Your Kitchen to Stay Guide. Because good kitchens don’t just look good, they work.

The hidden hero of kitchen design

A rangehood might not be the most exciting appliance in your kitchen, but it’s one of the most important. The right one keeps your air fresh, your surfaces clean, and your kitchen design looking seamless. The wrong one can be noisy, ineffective, or visually distracting.

Choosing a rangehood is about finding the balance between performance, quiet operation, and aesthetics. Here’s how to make the right choice for your home.

1. Start with performance, not appearance

It’s easy to focus on design, but a rangehood’s first job is to remove steam, grease, and cooking odours. The key measure of effectiveness is extraction rate, shown in cubic metres per hour (m³/h).

If you cook often, especially with gas or high heat, choose a model with a higher extraction rate. Lighter cooking habits can get by with less power. Getting the right capacity means cleaner air, less residue, and fewer lingering smells.

2. Match the style to your kitchen layout

The best rangehood for your kitchen depends on your space and design goals.

  • Canopy rangehoods make a statement and suit larger kitchens with generous ceiling height.

  • Power packs integrate neatly into cabinetry, keeping a streamlined look and maintaining storage above the cooktop.

  • Downdraft and vented hobs work well for island layouts or minimalist designs where you want an uninterrupted view.

Choose a model that complements your layout and enhances the overall flow of your kitchen.

3. Plan your venting early

Good performance relies on proper venting, not just a strong motor. Long or twisted ducting reduces airflow and increases noise. For best results, vent directly outside with minimal bends in the ducting.

If external venting isn’t possible, consider recirculating models with high-quality filters. They won’t match full extraction but can still manage odours effectively. The key is to plan venting routes early in your renovation, before cabinetry or walls are locked in.

4. Prioritise quiet operation

A powerful rangehood doesn’t need to be loud. The quietest models use off-board motors, placing the motor in the ceiling or outside wall. This separates the sound of the fan from the kitchen, so you hear the airflow without the mechanical noise.

Adjustable fan speeds also help. Most day-to-day cooking doesn’t need maximum extraction, so you can keep noise levels low while still maintaining fresh air.

5. Choose good lighting and easy cleaning

A rangehood can also improve visibility while you cook. Look for models with built-in LED lighting that’s bright, even, and energy efficient.

Maintenance matters too. Filters should be easy to remove and dishwasher safe. A clean filter ensures consistent performance and helps the rangehood last longer.

A balance of form and function

A well-chosen rangehood works quietly in the background, removing steam and smells without interrupting your design. Whether you prefer it hidden within cabinetry or standing out as a statement piece, make sure performance comes first.

Good design should not only look good, but also feel comfortable to live in, and that starts with clean air and a calm, quiet kitchen.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a podcast featuring insights from experienced professionals and is intended for general information and inspiration only. While we aim to share valuable guidance, please seek personalised advice from qualified professionals before making decisions about your property, finances, or renovation plans.

Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Visit Top Tips Hub

Our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From budgeting and layout to appliances and cabinetry, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.

View GuidesJoin MyTrends

Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Visit Top Tips Hub

Our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From budgeting and layout to appliances and cabinetry, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.

View GuidesJoin MyTrends

Search similar articles


Top tips for choosing a rangehood that won’t kill your kitchen’s vibe

Because great design should smell fresh, not sound like a jet engine

A rangehood isn’t the most glamorous appliance in your kitchen, but it’s one of the most important. Get it right, and you’ll barely notice it’s there. Get it wrong, and it can be noisy, clunky, or completely ineffective. Worse, it can wreck the aesthetic of your space, or leave cooking smells lingering long after dinner.

Here’s how to choose a rangehood that works hard, sounds quiet, and blends beautifully with your kitchen design.

1. Start with extraction, not looks
It’s easy to get swept up in sleek designs and hidden models, but the main job of a rangehood is to remove steam, grease, and odours. Make sure the model you choose has enough power (measured in cubic metres per hour) to suit the size of your kitchen and the style of cooking you do. If you’re a regular stir-fry cook or have a gas cooktop, you’ll need more grunt than someone who cooks lighter meals a few times a week.

2. Choose a style that suits your space
Canopy rangehoods are classic and often used as a statement feature, but they’re not for everyone. Power packs (built into overhead cabinetry) offer a clean, seamless look and let you keep valuable storage above the cooktop. Downdraft models and vented hobs are great for island kitchens or minimalist spaces where you don’t want anything overhead. The best option is one that complements your layout, not competes with it.

3. Think about where and how it vents
Good extraction depends on more than just motor strength, it also depends on ducting. Long, bendy duct runs reduce performance and increase noise. If you can, vent the rangehood directly outside with minimal turns. For apartments or homes where external venting isn’t possible, recirculating options with quality filters are available, but they won’t be as effective. It’s worth planning venting routes early in your renovation to get the best results.

4. Keep noise to a minimum
A powerful rangehood shouldn’t drown out your dinner conversation. Some of the quietest models use off-board motors, where the motor is installed in the ceiling or outside wall, rather than inside the unit itself. You still hear the air moving, but the mechanical noise is dramatically reduced. Variable fan speeds also help: you don’t need full power for everything, so you can run it quieter most of the time.

5. Don’t forget lighting and cleaning
It’s a small thing, but good lighting over your cooktop can make a big difference to how you cook. Look for rangehoods with built-in LED lighting that’s bright, even, and energy efficient. And make sure the filters are easy to remove and dishwasher safe, because a rangehood only keeps working well if you keep it clean.

Make it functional and beautiful

The best rangehoods do their job quietly, effectively, and without getting in the way of your design. Whether you want it to disappear into cabinetry or become a bold design feature, there’s a model to suit, just don’t compromise performance for looks.

For more practical advice on planning a kitchen that’s stylish, functional and built for real life, check out our Renovating Your Kitchen to Stay Guide. Because good kitchens don’t just look good, they work.

The hidden hero of kitchen design

A rangehood might not be the most exciting appliance in your kitchen, but it’s one of the most important. The right one keeps your air fresh, your surfaces clean, and your kitchen design looking seamless. The wrong one can be noisy, ineffective, or visually distracting.

Choosing a rangehood is about finding the balance between performance, quiet operation, and aesthetics. Here’s how to make the right choice for your home.

1. Start with performance, not appearance

It’s easy to focus on design, but a rangehood’s first job is to remove steam, grease, and cooking odours. The key measure of effectiveness is extraction rate, shown in cubic metres per hour (m³/h).

If you cook often, especially with gas or high heat, choose a model with a higher extraction rate. Lighter cooking habits can get by with less power. Getting the right capacity means cleaner air, less residue, and fewer lingering smells.

2. Match the style to your kitchen layout

The best rangehood for your kitchen depends on your space and design goals.

  • Canopy rangehoods make a statement and suit larger kitchens with generous ceiling height.

  • Power packs integrate neatly into cabinetry, keeping a streamlined look and maintaining storage above the cooktop.

  • Downdraft and vented hobs work well for island layouts or minimalist designs where you want an uninterrupted view.

Choose a model that complements your layout and enhances the overall flow of your kitchen.

3. Plan your venting early

Good performance relies on proper venting, not just a strong motor. Long or twisted ducting reduces airflow and increases noise. For best results, vent directly outside with minimal bends in the ducting.

If external venting isn’t possible, consider recirculating models with high-quality filters. They won’t match full extraction but can still manage odours effectively. The key is to plan venting routes early in your renovation, before cabinetry or walls are locked in.

4. Prioritise quiet operation

A powerful rangehood doesn’t need to be loud. The quietest models use off-board motors, placing the motor in the ceiling or outside wall. This separates the sound of the fan from the kitchen, so you hear the airflow without the mechanical noise.

Adjustable fan speeds also help. Most day-to-day cooking doesn’t need maximum extraction, so you can keep noise levels low while still maintaining fresh air.

5. Choose good lighting and easy cleaning

A rangehood can also improve visibility while you cook. Look for models with built-in LED lighting that’s bright, even, and energy efficient.

Maintenance matters too. Filters should be easy to remove and dishwasher safe. A clean filter ensures consistent performance and helps the rangehood last longer.

A balance of form and function

A well-chosen rangehood works quietly in the background, removing steam and smells without interrupting your design. Whether you prefer it hidden within cabinetry or standing out as a statement piece, make sure performance comes first.

Good design should not only look good, but also feel comfortable to live in, and that starts with clean air and a calm, quiet kitchen.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a podcast featuring insights from experienced professionals and is intended for general information and inspiration only. While we aim to share valuable guidance, please seek personalised advice from qualified professionals before making decisions about your property, finances, or renovation plans.

Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Visit Top Tips Hub

Our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From budgeting and layout to appliances and cabinetry, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.

View GuidesJoin MyTrends

Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Visit Top Tips Hub

Our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From budgeting and layout to appliances and cabinetry, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.

View GuidesJoin MyTrends

Search similar articles


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