Fortunately, it’s not a case of style over substance. The kettle boiled a litre of cold water in two minutes and 20 seconds and was easy to lift and pour from. Filling was less straightforward – there aren’t any markings on the water window and there’s only a max marker inside, meaning you may end up boiling more water than you need each time. However, we did like the discreet light on the lever and the kettle’s good build quality overall. Sage by Heston Bluementhal (Breville) Tea Maker Kettle and Smart Toast 4-Slice Toaster– Contemporary

If you're not willing to settle for anything less than perfect performance (and why should you?), you may have to compromise a little on the aesthetics of your kettle and toaster. These tips will help you to achieve a colour-co-ordinated look without being tethered to the same manufacturer or range: The toaster comes in a two- or four-slice version, the latter of which we tested. Its wide slots, lift-and-look feature, defrost and reheat buttons make it ideal for any busy household, especially one where it’s out on display, so its elegant exterior can be properly appreciated.

Whether you plump for bright colours or sleek design, these are the best toaster and kettle sets for highlighting your style credentials

This set’s glossy faceted exterior with geometric shapes belies its modest price. Despite being one of the more affordable options in our roundup, it still has some premium features, such as a defrost option on the toaster and internal kettle illumination. To make it easy to choose, we group the kettle and toaster sets into the following catergories: retro, modern and contemporary. Think about where you place your appliances on your kitchen worktops: If they’re not right next to each other, you’ll be able to get away with models in slightly different shades of the same colour rather than exact matches. The kettle has a wider than usual spout but still pours smoothly. There’s also a clearly marked water window, showing the max and min fill, as well as cups from four to seven (not litres). Its water window lights up blue when it’s on, while a button on the lid flips it up for filling – good for those who sometimes mix up levers. It’s speedy, too: a litre of cold water took just two minutes and 12 seconds to boil. What could prove to be a problem is the kettle’s minimum fill – around 900ml – meaning that if you only want to make one or two small cups, you will always be boiling more than you need.

ENERGY EFFICIENT » The Heritage Kettle boils water, and fast! The clear water window has markers indicating the water level in the kettle, so you only use what you need. It also features a removable filter to prevent limescale build up. Additional filter includedEmbrace a slightly more eclectic look: Sometimes a deliberately mismatched kitchen can look even better than a completely uniform one – and it gives you complete freedom too. For kettles, we time how long it takes to boil a full kettle of cold water from the tap, as well as 1l for comparative purposes. Each litre of water was measured using the same jug, as it’s not uncommon for litre markings on a kettle to be incorrect or unavailable.

Ensuring simple maintenance, the toaster has a removable crumb tray, while the kettle is completed with a removable limescale filter For the products that go the distance, see our guides to the top kettle brands and top toaster brands. The problem with matching sets This kettle and 2 slice toaster set from the Salter Elder range fits effortlessly into any kitchen and is ideal for new homeowners or those wanting to refresh their kitchen appliances. With 3 kW of power for rapid boil and a 1.7 L capacity, this kettle is ideal for busy families allowing hot drinks within minutes, while the toaster is complete with 6 levels of browning plus defrost, reheat and cancel functions, and easily makes your perfect piece of toast so you can start your day the right way. Focus on overall appearance rather than specifics: Think retro-style, textured finishes or clean, modern lines – these are common themes in the world of small appliances so you won’t struggle to get your hands on a kettle and toaster in the same style.

In most cases, you're simply paying for looks over performance, and that only really works if you plan on using your kettle and toaster as decorative features rather than functioning appliances. Ideal for updating your kitchen or gifting a new homeowner, this set from Salter includes a stylish teal kettle and 2 slot toaster The coordinating toaster has a high lift function to help prevent burnt fingers and even a reheat button, which is a useful extra on an affordable model such as this. Homemade bread fitted in the slots comfortably, even though they’re not the widest, and toast emerged evenly done, with only slight singeing at one corner. STYLISH SIMPLICITY » Pretty and practical, what’s not to love? The conveniently cordless kettle has a BPA free lightweight stainless-steel body and 360° swivel base. The traditional design makes this kettle both easy to use and easy on the eye