In the design of any room, interior items are important, because they should not only be conveniently arranged, but also emphasize the refined taste of the owner.
Modern appliances in the kitchen are part of its interior, so you should think carefully about its placement.
Small appliances like a toaster or blender can easily fit in a closet, but the place for the refrigerator in the kitchen must be chosen carefully.
Where to put the refrigerator in the kitchen? It should not only match the style, but also not restrict the freedom of movement of household members. Look through the photos we have selected of the refrigerator in the kitchen to clearly see the above.
The classic option is to place it near a window so that you can often look out the window or see the reflection of nature in the glass insert of the refrigerator.
When arranging furniture, or any other interior items, you should take into account the size and features of the room.
If the footage is small, then the best option would be a built-in refrigerator in the kitchen. Firstly, it will not be visible, and secondly, it will not take up much space and will fit perfectly into the style.
Another option for placing a refrigerator in a small kitchen is to install it in the wall. This solution is suitable for a studio apartment, because it will not only save space, but also add spice.
General principles for arranging appliances in the kitchen
Whatever style you choose for your kitchen, you should adhere to the basic rules for placing appliances in the kitchen:
- The stove and sink depend on communications, so care should be taken to ensure that they are located close together. Please note that moving them from one place to another is quite difficult;
- In addition, the sink and dishwasher depend on drainage systems;
- The stove or hob should not be placed near a window or refrigerator;
- Follow the principle of placing equipment, adhering to the rule that all items should be conveniently located so that you do not have to run a lot from one corner of the kitchen to another.
Corner kitchens with refrigerator
The space you will have to work with is a triangle.
Part of the kitchen should be left for the table, and the other for interior items and appliances. How to place a refrigerator in the kitchen?
We have selected a few tips especially for you on how to install a refrigerator in the kitchen if you have a small area:
- Modern realities are such that in Khrushchev-era apartments, the kitchen area ranges from 5-7 meters. Few? Of course, not enough. But you still need to squeeze in a large “box” - a refrigerator.
- Manufacturers of household appliances took care of the owners of small kitchens and released a narrow model of refrigerators.
- Expansion of space. You can make an American kitchen-studio by combining it with the nearest room.
- To save space, designers recommend placing the stove, sink, and refrigerator on the same line. When choosing this solution, it would be preferable to place the refrigerator near the window.
- Buy the freezer and refrigerator separately. They can stand under the countertop or in a cabinet.
- Built-in kitchens
How to hide a refrigerator in the kitchen so that it does not stand out from the overall interior? Designers suggest using built-in appliances, where everything is covered with a facade.
But this is what attracts owners, because it is not only practical. You can choose a kitchen of any color and design; it makes no difference under what appearance the household appliances will be hidden.
Mint and blue colors look elegant, as does antique-style furniture.
It is not necessary to adhere to the rules for placing household appliances, but it is worth thinking about their design.
Manufacturers of household appliances sell many models of refrigerators. You can not only choose an individual design, but also turn everyday appliances into an art object. It all depends on your imagination and financial capabilities.
Photo of placing a refrigerator in the kitchen
The kitchen is the most popular place in the house, so you need to make it beautiful, comfortable and practical. In the kitchen, all details should fit harmoniously into the interior design, creating coziness and warmth.
Layout features
To create a cozy kitchen in which you want to spend time with the whole family, it is important to carefully consider the layout.
Since the space is small, many details need to be taken into account.
- You can move the dining area to another room. With this, the kitchen will become wider and will be easy to use for its intended purpose.
- Since the door takes up about half a meter of kitchen space, you can abandon the doors and remake the same part in the form of an arch.
- It is possible to purchase a long and closed kitchen set, putting all the kitchen appliances in their places.
For small kitchens, 2 options for installing furniture are mainly used:
- angular;
- in one row.
Using these methods, the kitchen visually expands. And When planning a kitchen, especially if it is small, you need to follow a number of simple rules:
- functionality;
- simplicity;
- conciseness;
- more light and bright colors.
Color combinations
The choice of kitchen color scheme is influenced by conditions such as the size of the room, its lighting, location to the cardinal points and design. Often in the interior they choose colors that are close to red. This color represents warmth and comfort. Blue is considered a cool color, which denotes neatness and convenience.
Let's look at color combinations. You can use a monochrome model - shades of the same color, or you can use a combination of two or three contrasting colors. For example, such as red with blue and yellow; yellow with red and green.
If kitchen furniture with fronts is made of natural wood, then you need to combine colors such as brownish, coffee and beige. A shade of white will make the space even larger, and a combination of colors against a snow-white background will visually enlarge the kitchen. You can also use black and white – a classic of elegance.
An excellent combination for creating a serene and balanced compact kitchen would be greenish and yellowish shades. And if you take blue as a base and mix it with yellowish and beige, you will get a suitable look for a rustic-style kitchen.
There is no need to use dark, bright tones; it is better to choose simple, light combinations. The walls are usually painted or covered with wallpaper in light colors, the floor is selected in colors to match the walls.
Where to put the refrigerator?
The refrigerator is a special part of the kitchen. If the kitchen is small, then the question arises of how best to place the appliance so that it can be used comfortably. Let's look at examples of how you can successfully place the device in a small kitchen, so that the room itself becomes comfortable.
In one of the corners
To avoid visual clutter in the kitchen, the refrigerator should be placed in the farthest spacious corner, then the appliance will not disturb the family. Using this method, household appliances will become less noticeable, and can even visually raise a low ceiling.
It's easiest to place all the huge items against the wall.
All kitchens have a corner in which one wall will turn into a workplace, and the other will be adjacent to the window. This is exactly the place that is most convenient to fit the device. If you plan to place the refrigerator in a corner, then you need to choose the tallest and narrowest model.
To prevent the room from seeming too small, you need to buy a device in light colors, such as white or metallic. To save even more space, you can place a microwave in the corner above the device.
Near the window
If you have a corner kitchen layout, then it is better to place the refrigerator near the window, not far from the work area; it will be convenient to use it while preparing food. This option allows you to avoid cluttering the kitchen and leave more free space in it. A long and narrow type of device is needed in order to move it closer to the wall.
It is also possible to place, on the contrary, a small refrigerator near the window, on top of which there will be a cabinet. You can store dishes or other kitchen items in it.
Near the car wash
There is always a free space near the sink where nothing is placed - that’s exactly where you can place a refrigerator. This could be an empty corner or niche. A household appliance placed there can transform a small kitchen. The space around will look lighter and larger.
To enhance the effect, you can use light-colored furniture and light-colored finishing materials.
To easily find space for a refrigerator in a small kitchen, try removing large and rarely used kitchen appliances and replacing them with more compact furniture and modern appliances. For example, you can choose an oven with functions such as a steamer and a microwave. Instead of a large food processor, use a simple immersion blender.
A dining area can be easily planned in the living room, and a light bar counter can be placed in the kitchen, which will serve as a dining table.
At the front door
There is another good corner for placing a refrigerator - near the front door. It all depends on the layout of the kitchen: perhaps a roomy corner or a flat wall is formed near the door. These methods are well suited to fit the device. The main thing is to correctly combine the device with the rest of the equipment.
In a niche
A good and comfortable way is to place the refrigerator in a niche. It is there that the device will be protected from sunlight, pollution and household influences. But you need to carefully consider all the rules for turning on the device, and make sure that nothing can prevent the door from opening freely.
To install a small refrigerator, you need to take up free space above shelves or cabinets to store dishes, seasonings and more.
If there is no niche, then you can arrange it yourself, but before that you need to consult with an architect, since arrangement will require approval from government agencies. It is necessary to establish air circulation in the niche so that in the future the refrigerator does not overheat and cannot disrupt its operation. In the instructions, the manufacturer must indicate the minimum dimensions of the niche required for installation.
The refrigerator can be placed against a wall with a window niche, and it can be placed next to a washing machine. You can buy a narrow type and build it into one of the cabinets.
But it is absolutely impossible to install a gas water heater next to the refrigerator, since the cooling system may suffer from overheating. The best way is to disguise the speaker in wall cabinets.
Under the windowsill
If the kitchen is small and there are two people living in the house who do not need to store a huge supply of food, then a good way is to install a small refrigerator under the windowsill. The window sill can serve as a dining table.
Under the table top
If a small family lives in the house, then you need to buy a small refrigerator and install it under the countertop. The device can be placed under the dining table or under the bar counter. The height of the device itself should be no more than 51 centimeters.
This model does not have a freezer, and therefore it will not take up more space. By the way, a freezer with the same height can be purchased separately, placed next to it.
In the closet
To place a refrigerator in a closet, you need to choose a kitchen set that is suitable in size, and the device itself must fit beautifully into the interior. This is a great way to maximize space.
To easily reach the necessary products without bending over, you need to place the refrigerator on the top section of the cabinet.
On the balcony
To place the refrigerator on the balcony, you need to take into account some rules: the kitchen needs to be heavily insulated, because if this is not done, the refrigerator will deteriorate from dampness. Good ventilation should be installed on the balcony.
The balcony itself must be in a reinforced state in order to firmly hold the huge mass of the household appliance. The device should be kept away from sunlight. It is better to use an extension cord to turn on the refrigerator, because it is prohibited to install sockets on the balcony.
The refrigerator is one of the vertices of the “stocks-washing-cooking” work triangle, which means the convenience of the kitchen and even the cooking time largely depend on its placement. And the size of the unit is so large that one way or another you have to carefully plan the place and method of its arrangement, especially if the kitchen is small. In this material we will tell you where it is best to install a refrigerator, how to plan the design of a small kitchen with a refrigerator, how to organically fit it into the interior, and what planning decisions should not be made.
13 principles for placing a refrigerator in the kitchen
1. The refrigerator should not “break” the working triangle
The main principle that should be followed when choosing a place for a refrigerator is the rule of the working triangle, which we have already mentioned.
The work triangle is the area of most activity in the kitchen, which includes three vertices: the storage area (refrigerator and supplies cabinet), the preparation area (stove) and the washing area. To make the kitchen as comfortable as possible, all these zones should form a triangle, ideally an isosceles one. At the same time, they should be in reasonable proximity to each other (no more than 200-180 cm), and on the way from one point to another there should be no obstacles in the form of, say, a table or a bar counter. If you break this rule by placing the refrigerator too far from the sink and stove, the triangle will break and during cooking/serving the cook will have to run back and forth with food in his hands, wasting extra time and effort.
Options for constructing a working triangle for the main types of kitchen layouts
Of course, in practice, it is not always possible to comply with the rule of the working triangle in kitchen planning, however, this should be strived for.
4. Convenient places to install the refrigerator - in the corner or near the door/at the entrance to the kitchen
Placing the refrigerator in the corner will save space, and a large unit will not look so bulky here.
Placing a refrigerator near the door, firstly, will be convenient for unloading bags of groceries, and secondly, it zones the space by creating an additional “partition”. With this layout, the refrigerator can be built into a plasterboard niche or the door can be removed, creating a wide and open portal that visually lightens the space.
5. Sometimes a refrigerator can be fit into a niche formed by moving a doorway
In this case, the entrance to the kitchen is blocked, and a new opening is created in the partition between the kitchen and the living room. Often this technique can be used in small kitchens in Khrushchev and some other typical houses.
Refrigerator in a niche in a redesigned kitchen in Khrushchev
6. The depth of the refrigerator must correspond to the depth of the cabinet
This way the unit will not break the straight line of kitchen furniture, and the interior will visually look orderly. This advice is especially relevant for free-standing refrigerators and small kitchens.
7. If possible, the refrigerator should be built into the unit
The built-in refrigerator saves precious centimeters and allows you to create uniformity on all kitchen surfaces, making the space visually lighter and larger, and the interior appears neat.
Built-in refrigerator in a small kitchen in Khrushchev
In addition, built-in equipment is much easier to keep clean - you just need to wipe the facades and the chamber itself. A free-standing unit requires cleaning the top, the space behind the back and around the walls.
- Embedding a refrigerator is especially desirable not only for small kitchens, but also kitchens decorated in classic style , rustic and ethnic style.
Built-in refrigerator in the interior of a kitchen in a classic Stalin style
8. For a small kitchen you should choose compact models
For example, a narrow but tall model (only 40-55 cm wide and up to 180 cm high), a mini-refrigerator that can be placed/built under the countertop, or simply a small-volume unit (for example, with a volume of 120 l).
- And of course, it is desirable that the refrigerator in a small kitchen be built-in.
Below are photo examples of the technique in mini format.
Small refrigerator built under the oven
Small free-standing refrigerator by the window
Embedding a mini-fridge under a countertop is as easy as, say, a washing machine, a large dishwasher, or a cabinet with shelves. For those who live alone or with a couple, this is a great solution.
9. If the kitchen is very small, then the refrigerator can be moved to an adjacent room or corridor
The main thing is that the design of the refrigerator matches the color and style of other interior elements, for example, curtains, an apron or furniture facades. It is also important to understand that a “designer” refrigerator presupposes a restrained kitchen interior, without an abundance of colorful and elegant details.
In new apartment layouts you rarely see a small kitchen anymore. Apparently, the architects studied the list of household appliances necessary to ensure life and organized the appropriate space for this. However, until recently apartments were built according to a completely different principle. Meet here kitchens from 4 m2 .
When there is a lot of space, organizing it correctly is not so difficult - here you can place what is really important and add all sorts of modules and interesting details like a minibar, a cabinet for cookbooks and many built-in household appliances. But what if there is not enough space? Here you already have to set priorities, and put in the kitchen only what is really needed in everyday life. One such essential item is a refrigerator. Without it, food storage becomes almost impossible.
Let's look at how you can correctly fit a refrigerator into the interior of a small kitchen.
Custom size
Who said that a refrigerator must be 60 x 60 x 180? You may well purchase a non-standard model, thereby significantly reducing the area occupied by the dimensions of the refrigerator.
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How can you store items above the refrigerator?
A) standard built-in refrigerator - it is slightly smaller in volume than a free-standing one, but it makes it possible to use storage space in the same cabinet above the refrigerator itself. About 40 cm high and 60 cm deep, this is a fairly wide shelf that can accommodate many useful but infrequently used items;
b) low refrigerator — there are models even 140 cm high. They are quite capacious, and at the same time give you the opportunity to use about 80 cm more height for cabinets above the refrigerator itself.
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Two in one - this is not about us
Again, let's return to the standard refrigerator model and try to divide it into two separate devices: a refrigerator and a freezer. First, think about it: do you really need a freezer? Or do you eat only fresh food and one quick-freezing compartment in a regular refrigerator will be enough for you? If you still need a freezer, place it and the refrigerator under the countertop, in the cabinet area in the kitchen. The built-in equipment looks very neat and is completely invisible. But, in fairness, it is worth recognizing that the option with a very small refrigerator is suitable for 1-2 people. When a third person appears in the apartment, such a small refrigerator will clearly not be enough.
Another option for “studio” layouts, when the living room and kitchen form a single whole. If you can afford to buy such a wonderful little designer refrigerator, like any other with an interesting appearance, it can be placed in almost the most visible place - and, of course, in a convenient place.
Original, funny and very stylish, this refrigerator will become the highlight of your interior. As they say, “if you can’t get rid of your shortcomings, make them your strengths.” Perhaps it is a small kitchen that will help you create an unforgettable interior.
We use niches
If you started thinking about the location of the refrigerator long before the renovation, you probably have the opportunity to partially redesign it. It’s not necessary to tear down all the walls, but it wouldn’t hurt to make some sort of niche for tall and bulky items in the kitchen, such as a food cabinet or refrigerator, if the opportunity arises.
This way, you will practically hide large pieces of furniture from view and save yourself from a situation where you simply have to say goodbye to the idea of a large and spacious refrigerator that you actually need.
Storage pantry
A pantry or spacious closet next to the kitchen also provides you with good options. You use the refrigerator quite often, and it is completely inconvenient to move it to another room (and it is also unaesthetic - what will the sound and general appearance of such an “elegant cabinet” cost, say, in a narrow hallway. And most likely yours is really small, since the kitchen is also modest in size). But the freezer can very well be hidden in this kind of cabinet or small closet.
Refrigerator in the loggia
In many small apartments they practice combining a living room with a loggia. And this is a pretty reasonable decision - if the apartment has another balcony, then it is quite rational to add a few more square meters of space to the kitchen.
After demolishing the section of the wall in which the window and door block were installed, load-bearing columns remain on both sides of the opening that formed, which must never be dismantled. So, it is precisely behind these columns that there is enough space on the side of the loggia to hide the refrigerator behind them. And it’s not far from the kitchen, and the large object is not visible at all.
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Finally:
Looking through other tips on this matter, you can still often see the idea of "installing" a refrigerator in one of the passages or, even worse, living rooms. And before you decide to take this step, ask yourself a few questions. You will understand for yourself whether it is worth doing:
- How loud is my refrigerator? Will this sound in the room interfere with our rest?
— how much space will it take up and will it interfere with movement from room to room?
— does it look harmonious and fit into the interior of the room in which it is supposed to stand?
— won’t you be bothered by the smell that is present in the refrigerator anyway?
— won’t your family members gain excess weight, because they don’t even need to go to the kitchen anymore?
If you are without a freezer, you should buy it as a separate element that can fit into the workspace under the countertop. Built-in equipment is the ideal way out of the situation - it doesn’t take up much space and is almost invisible. True, the option with a small refrigerator is good in an apartment where no more than two people live. The appearance of a third person will force you to change the refrigerator to a larger one.
A significant addition to the kitchen is often the living room, with which it has recently become increasingly combined. Stylish studio kitchen ideas can surprise and interest even those who recently did not take this decision seriously. For such interiors, you can sometimes purchase a small refrigerator, in which the bias is made towards the design component. This beautiful decorative refrigerator can become one of the interesting places in your kitchen and add charm to it.
We use niches
When open space in the kitchen is sorely lacking, additional space in the form of niches can come to the rescue. Of course, creating a niche will require more time, but it is not necessary to break down walls or move them - this is more difficult and must be coordinated with the relevant services. There is enough niche in which a cabinet for storing dishes or a refrigerator can fit. This solution is very original, and it can be designed to suit every taste.
Pantry for reserve
Another option is associated with the same principle of dividing the refrigerator into two parts. Moreover, it is the freezer that needs to be transferred, since it is undesirable to take the refrigerator itself out of the kitchen (and we are talking about taking it outside the kitchen). In the kitchen, it should always be at your side, and you can’t lock it in a small hallway (and this is most likely what it is in a small kitchen) or a pantry. But a freezer is perfect for this purpose. In addition to the pantry, you can use a spacious closet, if there is one nearby in one of the rooms.
Loggia as an additional area
Another room that can be combined with the kitchen space is a loggia. This will be especially practical if you have another balcony, and there is no need for two such rooms at once. Combining the kitchen with the loggia significantly expands its territory. When demolishing that part of the wall where the window and door to the loggia were located, two columns remain that cannot be demolished. It is behind them that frees up space where you can hide the refrigerator. Thus, it is located in the kitchen and at the same time is in a secluded place.
Moving a piece of furniture and especially equipment into a room that is not usually intended for it does not carry anything useful.
You can often come across advice that the refrigerator can be shoved into a walk-through room or simply into a living room. This solution is, to put it mildly, questionable, but if you are interested in it, do not forget to think about a few things:
1. The refrigerator is almost always an audible appliance, so think about whether its noise will disturb you.
2. How much space will the refrigerator “eat” and will it interfere with the freedom of movement between the rooms.
3. Will the refrigerator fit into the interior of the room where it will be located?
4.How do you feel about the smells coming from the refrigerator? There is no doubt that they will be there.
5.Will you or other household members gain excess weight when the distance to the refrigerator is reduced, and you don’t have to stomp to the kitchen to get to it?
If these conditions do not bother you, then you can try this option for placing the refrigerator. Otherwise, any of the options listed above may work well, depending on the decision you make.
3D layout of a refrigerator in a small kitchen 
Plan for placing a refrigerator in a small kitchen 
Top view of small kitchen layout with refrigerator