How and where to hide a refrigerator in the kitchen: 7 interesting ideas

To preserve the overall style of the kitchen set, one cannot avoid solving the problem of disguising the refrigerator if its appearance does not fit into the main interior design. Modern and high-tech units with many capabilities and functions seem rude and huge if the kitchen is made in an elegant Provence or Baroque style. There are several ways to help avoid discrepancies in the appearance of the room and successfully arrange this essential household item.

Built into a closet

One of the most common, but also expensive options is built-in equipment. Such a refrigerator will fit comfortably in an accessible area of ​​the kitchen; its design will become a logical continuation of the overall interior. Depending on the needs of the family, you can purchase a kitchen with a built-in large refrigerator or a compact minibar. A less expensive, but more labor-intensive solution would be to independently integrate the purchased refrigerator into the cabinet. To safely use built-in appliances at home, you should follow several rules when installing them:

1. The cabinet should not have a bottom; the refrigerator is installed on the floor using adjustable legs.
2. The back wall of such a cabinet is not mounted to provide ventilation for the operating unit, or it must contain a grille.
3. To create a stable structure, it is better to use the principle of a sliding wardrobe, the doors of which are made taking into account their frequent opening and closing.

Two low refrigerators installed next to each other under the work surface look very original. This option will help eliminate differences in height along the entire line of the kitchen unit.

Using vinyl stickers: stylish, cheap, creative

The beauty of vinyl stickers is their affordability and ease of use. They are sold in various places: from boutiques offering art supplies to hardware stores. The design options are also different.

To realize a grandiose idea, you can use the services of a printing house, but in this case, making your dream come true will cost more. Simple elements can be easily cut out from regular self-adhesive paper. For convenience, you can use templates, stencils, and curly scissors.

Put it in another room

Before taking the refrigerator outside the kitchen, you should listen carefully to the sounds it makes. An engine that is too noisy can interfere with rest if the adjacent room is a bedroom. A popular option in new buildings and beyond is to move the refrigerator onto an insulated loggia. In this case, before the relocation, a redevelopment is carried out, agreed with the necessary authorities, which provides for the demolition of the partition between the loggia and the kitchen. This option will not only allow you to move the refrigerator to a remote corner, but also expand the space for the dining area.

Operational requirements of the equipment

Certain characteristics of the device do not allow the freezer to be used on the balcony in principle, although each rule has its exceptions. After all, one of the main conditions for successful use is maintaining the appropriate temperature range. If the temperature is constantly changing, and condensation and dust accumulate on the body, then the performance of the equipment will be extremely low.

Damage can also occur due to direct exposure to sunlight. After all, overheating is detrimental to such equipment - it causes the refrigerant to heat up and cause malfunctions.

Important: Much depends on the specific manufacturer. Some models cannot withstand low temperatures at all, and some will work in such conditions, but only for a limited time, that is, the overall service life will be reduced.

The operational differences are explained very simply - different oils are used for different models. It could be:

• synthetic. Remains operational within the range of -3...-5 degrees;
• mineral. Thickens quickly when the temperature drops below zero;
• polyester;
• polyvinyl ester. The most modern solution suitable for working in harsh conditions.

Almost all models of freezers are designed for use at above-zero temperatures. The following climate classes are distinguished:

• N, normal – temperature within +16…+32;
• SN, subnormal - from +18 to +38;
• ST, subtropical - +18…+ 38;
• T, tropical - +18…+ 43.

In addition, a special refrigerant is selected for each climate class of equipment. As a rule, it is designed for circulation at positive temperatures and will not function properly in the cold.

In addition to installing a freezer, you can also carry out design work and arrangement of the balcony. and thereby significantly transform this room, because there are a lot of interesting ideas for this.

An option for storing vegetables on the balcony is a special oven that maintains a certain temperature. You will find more information about its varieties here.

Build a plasterboard structure around it

To implement this option, you must follow the following rules:

1. Drywall and the walls of the refrigerator must be at a certain distance from each other - at least 5 cm for the side surfaces and 15 cm for the back.
2. On the side on which the door is hung, it is necessary to increase the gap between the surfaces so that it opens freely.
3. On the convenient side of the unit you will need to install an outlet and supply electricity. If the outlet is located in an accessible place, you will not have to move the equipment to disconnect it from the network.
4. When constructing the upper part of the niche, you need to leave a distance to the refrigerator of at least 15 cm, this will ensure normal air circulation.

When calculating the internal width and depth of a niche, it should be taken into account that frame racks and drywall have a certain thickness. In order for the refrigerator to fit inside the building and leave the necessary gaps, the total thickness of the niche walls must be added to the original parameters.

Useful tips

It is best to plan the placement of furniture and equipment in the kitchen when moving in, renovating or remodeling the kitchen. Rearrangement may be an option. But, in all cases, the main role is played by the area of ​​the room.

Reference! Proper arrangement of the kitchen requires the presence of free space (countertop) next to the main items (refrigerator, sink, cast) on which you can unload food, process it, cut it, or stack washed dishes.

According to Feng Shui, installing a stove next to a refrigerator is not recommended. It is believed that the stove is the element of fire, and the refrigerator is the element of water. Therefore, there should be a distance between these objects at which you can arrange a tabletop, other furniture, decor or flowers.

Install under the stairs if it is a private house

If in an individual residential building there is a staircase next to the kitchen or directly in it, then the space under it can be used to place a refrigerator. Decorative fences with doors will allow you to disguise the unit.

When choosing a point for installing equipment, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of a convenient approach to it and free opening of the door.

For normal operation of equipment in a closed area, it is necessary to consider a heat sink so that the unit does not overheat.

Materials

In order to get to work, and not be distracted by searching, you need to better prepare everything you need in advance.

To make a box you will need:

• solid wood MDF or chipboard;
• accessories (hinges, screws, bolts, etc.);
• drill, file, ruler, chalk (or soft pencil), centimeter or tape measure;
• finishing materials.

By making furniture yourself, you can turn your personal fantasies into reality, taking into account details such as shape, size and design. If you make it yourself, you can take into account the design of the room and harmoniously fit the refrigerator into this style.

Separate freezer from refrigerator

In a small kitchen it is not easy to place a bulky refrigerator with a freezer as a “second floor”. To adjust the dimensions of the unit, you can install these parts separately. Small appliances can easily be placed under the countertop or in a cabinet. To freeze food in this case, you should buy a separate chamber, which may be located in an adjacent room.

Ideas for small kitchen spaces

Let's look at how to properly hide a refrigerator in the kitchen if the room is extremely small.

Initially, let's approach the choice of refrigerator correctly, because it does not have to be a standard size of 60*60*180. You can purchase a smaller model and thereby reduce the usable area that it will occupy.

Next, you should think about how you can ergonomically place interior items above the refrigerator. So, there are three ways:

1. You can purchase a built-in refrigerator model, which is much smaller in size than the standard one. Thus, a place for storing essential items can be organized directly on top of the cabinet in which the equipment will be located. We will get a shelf of impressive size - 40 centimeters high and 60 centimeters deep.
2. Sometimes it is worth buying a low refrigerator, for example, 140-150 centimeters high. These models are quite roomy. Moreover, you can build a cabinet 80 centimeters high on top of such a refrigerator, divided into two spacious compartments. The option with a small refrigerator is very suitable for families with 2-3 people.
3. Next, think about whether you need a large freezer compartment in your refrigerator, or whether you can simply purchase a model with a compartment for quick freezing. This technique is very compact and at the same time roomy. In this case, all free space above or near the refrigerator can be equipped with kitchen furniture.

You can cleverly hide the refrigerator and freezer under the kitchen countertop. In this case, you should purchase built-in models of equipment - a separate refrigerator, a separate freezer. This method of installing equipment will allow it to look very neat and completely invisible.

It is also worth approaching the layout of the room wisely if it is under renovation. Perhaps you should organize a “studio” room option, where the kitchen and living room form a single whole. In such a room you can wisely use all the useful areas of the area.

If the dimensions of the room are non-standard and there are some niches or protrusions in the walls, then they can be equipped as areas for placing a refrigerator. By placing interior items in niches, you can successfully hide them from prying eyes and thereby free up useful space in the room.

Buy a small refrigerator initially

Very compact, but small-capacity units are suitable for those who live alone. This option will also be acceptable in a small family where they do not like to cook at home. Some small refrigerators have a built-in freezer inside, while others don't have one at all. The mini-unit will fit in a cabinet under the window or in a cabinet under the dining table. It can also be placed at the bottom of the unit under the kitchen countertop. Such a solution is easy for those who do not like to make grocery purchases for future use.