The refrigerator is the largest item of household appliances in the kitchen, and it’s also very important, and you can’t replace it, because there’s simply nothing to do with it. After all, somewhere you need to store food. Therefore, when planning any kitchen, the question always arises “where to put the refrigerator?”. Indeed, the reality is that large kitchens in an apartment are a rarity, although even in a spacious room you need to approach this issue wisely. And if the kitchen is small, the placement of furniture will turn into a whole problem. It is for this reason that you need to familiarize yourself with the topic in detail and find ways to solve the problem.
When planning the kitchen, the question arises where to install the refrigerator.
Which refrigerator to choose
It’s definitely not worth the rush to buy a refrigerator. First you need to analyze the features of the layout and interior. If this is a standard Khrushchev-definitely need to avoid large models. Plus, the color of technology plays an important role.
Going behind the refrigerator, answer a number of questions that will help you make the right choice:
- The refrigerator must be built-in.
- How much can you spend on this item of household appliances.
- What are the main colors in the design of your kitchen.
The refrigerator should be combined with the overall design of the kitchen.
Today, manufacturers offer a wide selection of a wide variety of models for any room. Increasingly, you can find color models, which is very good for certain design decisions. It is for this reason that the task of finding a suitable model in any price category has long ceased to belong to the category of super complex.
Kitchen interior with a two-door refrigerator.
The basic rules of location in a modern kitchen
The kitchen is the place where households visit most often during the day, and it is for this reason that it is important that everything on it is located extremely convenient and practical. The refrigerator is constantly used - it opens and closes, and therefore should be located so as not to disturb anyone. To do this, it is important to know some of the nuances:
- the most important factor is the shape and size of the kitchen,
- the working area of washing, processing and storage should be located at a distance from each other (how this distance will depend on the size and layout of the kitchen),
- ceiling height,
- the location of the windows and their sizes,
- the presence or absence of a balcony,
- the kitchen is a passage room or not,
- location of outlets.
When choosing a refrigerator, you need to consider the size and height of the kitchen.
At the same time, there are a number of factors that determine where it is definitely impossible to install a refrigerator:
- the refrigerator should not be near a stove or radiators - this can lead to malfunctions,
- can not be placed near the window to avoid heating from direct sunlight,
- indoors, the humidity in which can be more than 80%.
It is not advisable to put a refrigerator near the window and heating appliances.
Additional Information! If the choice fell on a stainless steel model, then the interior must necessarily have similar elements to complement it. So the technique organically fits into the style.
Corner is a valuable place
This arrangement is the best solution for a small kitchen. Such a arrangement will not spoil the design concept and fit into the layout organically. The refrigerator can stand on the side of the entrance, becoming as if a continuation of the headset. This way you save a lot of space and save free space for other purposes.
Fridge in the corner of the kitchen.
Choose a line
This option is suitable for spacious kitchens. The essence of the linear principle is that the headset and all household appliances line up along the wall in one straight line. The refrigerator can be built in between other elements of furniture, or can be placed on the edge.
Installing the refrigerator in line with the headset.
Kitchen with dining area
Such a kitchen, due to its size, greatly simplifies the problems of arranging equipment, because the dining area with a table can be located in the living room. Any model is suitable for such a room. The main thing is that it looks harmonious. Since this is a large-sized equipment, the refrigerator can be balanced by acquiring a cabinet or any rack of the same size. It is necessary that such furniture is combined with a refrigerator in size. Sometimes when using this technique, the rule on working areas is violated, but the aesthetic part wins and freedom of space is added.
Fridge in the dining area of the kitchen.
Built-in refrigerator
This option is often chosen for spacious spaces, because it additionally “eats” a few square meters. The main thing is not to forget that before you build in the equipment, you must leave room for air circulation, that is, there must be gaps between the walls, otherwise the equipment will not be able to work normally. This arrangement allows you to make the technique completely invisible. Particular care must be taken with the dimensions so that the selected instance exactly fits the dimensions of the prepared niche.
Design of a small kitchen with built-in fridge.
Disguised Fridge
One of the most interesting options is disguise as a closet. In this case, the integrity of the design is maintained. The equipment can be hidden under the cutting surface of the headset - in drawers (which is most convenient for a small kitchen). This arrangement has its advantages:
- Harmony with the overall concept of style,
- Savings due to additional thermal insulation of the walls,
- Low noise during operation,
- Protection against damage.
Fridge disguised as a cabinet in the interior.
Installing a refrigerator in a niche
If there are several ways to save a place in the apartment. This issue is especially relevant for owners of small apartments, Khrushchev. And one of the options for how to do this is to install the refrigerator in a special niche. In a small room, large objects seem especially bulky, and sometimes create a sense of disorder and clutter. Location in a niche is a great way to save space properly and hide bulky equipment.
Installing a refrigerator in a niche.
Placing the appliance on the balcony adjacent to the kitchen
If the kitchen has an exit to the loggia or balcony, then a good way to relieve the space is to install furniture on that very balcony. However, this option is not very popular, because in order to implement it, you need to warm the loggia in advance so that even during severe cold weather the room temperature remains there. It is also necessary to ensure high-quality ventilation of the balcony, which is important to prevent overheating or, conversely, the appearance of condensate in a large volume. In addition, direct sunlight should not fall on the refrigerator, and the base of the balcony should be fortified taking into account the weight of the refrigerator.
Fridge on the balcony.
Several solutions for a small kitchen
One of the most common accommodation options is moving the refrigerator to other rooms. But if this is not possible, then other options should be considered how to beat the space:
- take care of the kitchen set in advance with a special niche for the refrigerator,
- replace the stove with smaller equipment: microwave, slow cooker, double boiler,
- instead of a conventional stove, purchase a built-in,
- consider purchasing a desktop refrigerator and place it under the table,
- implement the above-described angular placement method.
The interior of a small kitchen with a refrigerator.
You can decide that placing a refrigerator in the kitchen is not an easy task. There are no general rules in this matter, so each case is individual. It is necessary to take measurements as carefully as possible, take into account the appearance and design, and also do not neglect the advice and advice of specialists.
Examples of placing a refrigerator in the kitchen
Reflecting on the question of where to put a refrigerator in the kitchen, many are at a standstill. After all, there are no universal rules regarding how best to put a refrigerator, for example, in a large kitchen? And what should the owners of small apartments do? How to put a refrigerator in a small kitchen correctly and without harm to space? In order to make it easier to make the right decision, you need to familiarize yourself with examples of ready-made kitchen plans and furniture layouts.
Design a large kitchen with a two-door refrigerator.
Useful Tips
Whatever question you are facing, do not be afraid to seek the help of professionals and more experienced specialists. Of course, you can figure it out on your own, but it can take too much valuable time. The problem with the placement of the refrigerator is no exception. Here you also need to familiarize yourself with the recommendations of experts:
- It is important to think carefully about the place where the refrigerator will be located, because the equipment should not interfere and create inconvenience.
- The choice in favor of glass! It is better when compared with plastic. Glass shelves last longer and are easy to maintain.
- Particular attention to the quality of the seals when buying: it is important that they are flexible and allow the refrigerator to be opened without additional effort.
- The best models are those equipped with the NoFrost system. Caring for these will be much easier.
- Be sure to inspect the model before purchase, right up to the moment it is plugged in. If you feel an unpleasant odor, then this means that the plastic is of poor quality.
- For an apartment in which a family of no more than 5 people lives, a model with a volume of not more than 300 liters is more convenient.
- For giving it is better to choose a single-chamber model. For the home, the best option is a refrigerator with two or three cameras.
- The recessed handle in the case visually helps to save space and will not pile it up.
- If your goal is to save space, consider a separate freezer.
- It is important to pay attention to the noise level - it should not exceed 40 dB.
- Wheeled models are especially mobile in mobility; they are more practical.
The refrigerator should be combined with the color of the kitchen set.
Following these recommendations will help everyone first choose the best model from the variety offered by modern manufacturers who supply the range, and then choose the most convenient placement option.
Conclusion
The choice of household appliances is always not an easy task. It is necessary to choose a model with optimal characteristics, suitable design, size, and price. In the case when the item is large, like a refrigerator, the question of competent placement also arises. However, only at first glance this may seem like a problem. Professionals have repeatedly tried many tricks in the most diverse kitchen areas, and they know exactly how to comfortably and functionally install a refrigerator in the kitchen. If you carefully study these recommendations and apply them in practice, taking into account the characteristics of your kitchen and your needs, then without much difficulty you can place the refrigerator so that it does not hurt, but rather, it will delight the eye.
Design a studio apartment with a refrigerator.
Video: How to place a Refrigerator in a Small Kitchen 4 square meters
1. The refrigerator should not “break” the working triangle
The main principle that should be followed when choosing a place for the refrigerator is the rule of the working triangle, which we have already mentioned.
The working triangle is the area of greatest activity in the kitchen, which includes three peaks: a storage area (refrigerator and cabinet with supplies), a cooking zone (stove), and a washing zone. To make the kitchen as comfortable as possible, all these areas should form a triangle, ideally an isosceles. Moreover, 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. 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 chef will have to run around with food in his hands here and there, spending 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 observe the rule of the working triangle in planning a kitchen, nevertheless, this should be sought.
- From this point of view, the kitchen is worth building L-shaped, U-shaped or in two rows as shown in the photo below.
An example of a convenient location for a refrigerator in a corner kitchen
An example of a convenient location for a refrigerator in an U-shaped kitchen
With a two-row kitchen layout, the stove and sink are located on one side, and the refrigerator and, possibly, the oven and microwave are on the opposite side
But the layout in which the refrigerator is on a par with the stove and sink will be the most uncomfortable. However, the exception is very small kitchens (see photo below), in which the distances between operating points will not be large.
Kitchen in Khrushchev with a linear layout
See also on the topic:
2. The most inconvenient options for placing a refrigerator are ...
- Placement in a row with a stove and sink (this has already been mentioned above),
- Placing next to the stove and / or too far from the sink (we will talk about this in the next paragraph),
- The unit is placed too far from the front door and dining table (in this situation, the products will have to be carried too long),
- Placement of the refrigerator at the dining table (see photo), bar counter or island table.
Kitchen with inconvenient location of the refrigerator
3. It is preferable to place the refrigerator closer to the sink rather than to the stove
This is logical, since the chain of the kitchen path looks as follows: we go to the refrigerator to get the food - we go to the worktop to unpack / cut the food - we go to the sink to wash the food / dishes / hands - we go to the stove to cook the dish. As for the distance between the sink and the refrigerator, it can be minimal, but it is best to place an area in this place for preparing food and unloading the packages that have just been brought from the store.
Refrigerator near the sink
If in your kitchen the refrigerator can stand only to the right or left of the stove, then keep in mind that the distance between the appliances should be at least 15-20 cm.
An example of proper placement of the refrigerator next to the stove
4. Convenient places for installing the refrigerator - in the corner or near the door / at the entrance to the kitchen
The location of the refrigerator in the corner will save space, and a large unit will not look so cumbersome here.
Fridge in the corner of the kitchen
Placing the refrigerator near the door, firstly, will be convenient for unloading packages with products, and secondly, it zones the space due to the formation of an additional "partition". With this layout, the refrigerator can be built into a niche made of drywall or the door can be dismantled, creating a wide and open portal that visually facilitates the space.
5. Sometimes a refrigerator can fit into a niche formed when moving a doorway
In this case, the entrance to the kitchen is laid, and a new opening is arranged in the partition between the kitchen and the living room. Often this technique can be applied in small kitchens in Khrushchev and some other typical houses.
A refrigerator in a niche in a redesigned kitchen in Khrushchev
Explains the practicing designer
# 1. Safe place
In order for the refrigerator to work properly, you must follow three rules.
1. Do not heat. When the device is heated from the outside, the inside temperature will increase faster, and the compressor (or no frost cooling systems) will turn on more often. As a result, this will lead to quick wear of the refrigerator.
2. Giving quality food. And it's not about your products, but about power supply: it should be without interruptions and leaps. Preferably through the stabilizer.
3. Allow the appliance to cool. The cold inside the refrigerator is maintained by heat from the outside. It is necessary to allow this heat to dissipate.
In practice, this means something like the following.
Network Connection - Through Wiring
The recommendation not to connect the refrigerator through an extension cord is dictated primarily by the low quality of extension cords. Most Chinese devices are designed for a rated current of 10 A, but they do not stand up to it, so they are not suitable for a refrigerator. However, if you buy (or make from individual parts) a high-quality extension cord designed for “honest” 16 A and fix it, for example, on the baseboard, this is equivalent to wiring. And therefore, no operational problems will arise.
Important: In no case should devices with a line filter be used: refrigerators have their own protection against voltage surges, and tees with a filter can, on the contrary, become a source of risk.
Stove and sink are not the best neighbors
No matter how constrained the conditions are, in no case place the refrigerator close to the stove. Not only will it overheat and work inefficiently, it will also get dirty very quickly. And its large, clearly visible surfaces are quickly covered with grease flying from the stove. It is, first of all, about a full-size free-standing refrigerator. The built-in refrigerator can be built in next to the built-in oven. As well as in the refrigerator under the countertop, located next to the stove, there is nothing wrong.
Spray from the sink, as well as increased humidity, can also quite quickly disable the refrigerator. Move the refrigerator at least 30 cm from the sink.
On the loggia - with a number of reservations
The instructions for any refrigerator indicate the temperature range at which the unit feels "normal". Many owners put refrigerators on insulated loggias, forgetting that in the summer two rules are violated at once: the unit’s walls are “warmed by the sun”, and the air temperature usually exceeds the permissible value. Therefore, it is permissible to place a refrigerator on the loggia only when it is built-in or has a "tropical" design (can withstand temperatures up to +30 degrees).
The lower temperature threshold of the refrigerator is usually +5 degrees. And if the loggia without quality insulation (just glazed), in the winter the refrigerator will be too cold on it.
Easy access. It is advisable that access to the refrigerator does not have to go around any obstacles (for example, a table or cabinets). In this context, decisions stand out when the refrigerator is taken outside the kitchen (for example, to the loggia). Such an approach is permissible only in the case of a critical lack of space in the kitchen and the inability to safely position the refrigerator.
- Embed under the countertop. That is, place a refrigerator or freezer in the bottom row of the kitchen unit. This decision migrated to the design of home interiors from a professional kitchen, where freezer tables and refrigerator tables are an integral part of the work process. This is really convenient, because the time for extracting products will be not only small, but minimal. And in the case of the kitchen-living room, the equipment will not be noticeable. But to fit everything you need - a dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, drawers for kitchen utensils, shelves, etc. - you need a very large kitchen, with a total molding of a headset of 6 meters or more.
- Hide behind the facade. This move allows you to filigree integrate the device into the image of the kitchen, regardless of its style. The main thing here is to correctly correlate the proportions so that the refrigerator fits well compositionally. Best of all, when he is in an extreme position: begins or ends the kitchen. Free-standing refrigerators are usually a little cheaper than built-in refrigerators, plus you will have to pay for a “cabinet” for embedding the refrigerator itself.
A fridge in a niche - if you want a retro interior
Personally, I avoid placing the refrigerator in a niche - the air circulation will be worse, which means the device will start to overheat. If the refrigerator is completely pushed into a niche (the door does not protrude, as in the example in the photo), you run the risk of having problems opening the doors. In addition, this solution has an obvious retro taste - not all interiors need it.
For small kitchens, instead of a niche, fully built-in refrigerators are preferred, which seamlessly integrate into the furniture set. And in the niche, if it is in the kitchen, you can organize a rack.
Where you can install a refrigerator in a small kitchen - the best options
In one of the corners of the kitchen - so that the refrigerator does not visually clutter up the room and does not interfere with households, designers advise installing it in the farthest free corner. This technique will make the refrigerator less noticeable, in addition, it visually raises the low ceiling.
All large items are best placed against the wall - this also applies to the refrigerator. As a rule, in every, even the smallest kitchen, there is a corner, one of the walls of which passes into the working area, and the second adjoins the window.
The distance from the window to the walls in this case can be very different, however, this place will be the most convenient for placing the refrigerator.
The main thing - households do not have to constantly trip over the refrigerator. If you also choose its dimensions correctly for the dimensions of the room, it will take up quite a bit of space.
If you decide to place the refrigerator in a corner, it is recommended to buy the highest and narrowest model.
It is desirable that it be light - white or metallic in color, then the room will not seem crowded. To save even more space, right above the refrigerator in the corner you can place a microwave.
Refrigerator installed near the kitchen window - this type of placement is most often chosen when the kitchen has an angular layout. A free-standing refrigerator by the window is not far from the work surface, therefore it is quite convenient to use it in the cooking process.
However, he does not clutter up the kitchen and leaves quite a lot of free space on it. It is important to choose a tall and narrow model, which will need to be pushed as tightly as possible to the wall.
Another option is a small refrigerator by the window, above which is a hinged cabinet for storing dishes or other utensils.
Refrigerator installed near the sink - often near the sink there is a fairly spacious “dead” zone in which nothing costs. There is also a free corner or a niche. You should take a closer look at this place, because the refrigerator installed there can completely transform a small room.
With this version of the layout, the rest of the space will look lighter and more spacious. To enhance the effect, you can use light furniture and the same finishing materials.
To make it easier to find a place for a refrigerator in a small kitchen area, designers advise getting rid of some bulky and rarely used kitchen equipment - it can be replaced with a more compact one.
For example, it is worth choosing an oven with the function of a double boiler and a microwave. The massive food processor is easily replaced with a conventional hand blender. You can easily equip a full-fledged dining area in the living room, and in the kitchen itself install a light and compact bar counter that replaces the dining table.
Refrigerator near the front door - This is another fairly popular place for the location of the refrigerator. Depending on which layout of the kitchen was chosen, either a roomy corner or a flat wall can form there.
Both options are great for installing a refrigerator. The main thing is to combine it correctly with the rest of the furniture, in particular, with the headset. In general, designers are advised to make custom-made furniture for small kitchens.
This approach provides an opportunity to use each square meter more productively, without leaving a single gap between household appliances and cabinets.
The location of the refrigerator in a niche - This option is one of the most practical and convenient. In the niche, the refrigerator is partially protected from sunlight, household pollution and mechanical stress. It is only necessary to strictly observe the rules for connecting a household appliance, and make sure that nothing prevents the free opening of the doors.
When installing a small refrigerator, you can take up free space above the shelves or cabinets for storing dishes, seasonings, kitchen utensils.
If the niche provided for by technical documents is absent, then it is quite possible to equip it yourself, after consulting with the architect. Perhaps such a redevelopment will require coordination with government agencies.
Advice! If there is no air circulation in the niche, the refrigerator may overheat, and this will interfere with its normal operation. As a rule, in the instructions, manufacturers indicate the minimum dimensions of the niche necessary for embedding.
Installing the refrigerator under the windowsill - this option should be chosen if the kitchen is really very small, and if the apartment is inhabited by no more than two people, for whom there is no need to store large stocks of products.
The compact refrigerator can be placed directly under the windowsill, which acts as a dining or working table. 
Installing a refrigerator under the countertop - if a small family lives in the apartment, you can safely buy a small refrigerator. It can be perfectly positioned directly under the countertop of the work surface, under the dining table, under the bar, or in another similar place in the kitchen.
As a rule, the height of such a refrigerator does not exceed 50 cm. This model is devoid of a freezer, so it takes up very little space. To store frozen fruits and vegetables, you can purchase a separate freezer, installing it outside the kitchen - for example, in the pantry.
Installing the refrigerator in the cabinet - to implement such an idea, it is worth ordering a kitchen set, made by individual standards, with the possibility of embedding a refrigerator in it. The household appliance itself should have small or medium sizes, then it will fit perfectly into the interior.
This is a great way to save the space of the kitchen, make it more ergonomic and functional. The refrigerator can be located in the upper compartment of the cabinet, then you will not need to bend to it to get certain products.
Refrigerator located on the balcony - This option may become ideal if certain conditions are met:
- The kitchen should be insulated as much as possible, otherwise it is forbidden to place a refrigerator in it.
- Good ventilation of the balcony is required.
- The loggia itself should be fortified, and easily withstand the considerable weight of a large refrigerator.
- Direct sunlight should not constantly fall on the refrigerator.
- It should be remembered that it is forbidden to place outlets on the balcony, so when connecting the refrigerator you will have to use an extension cord.
Installation of the refrigerator in the corridor - this option can be used if it was not possible to find a place in the kitchen, and the existing corridor adjacent to the kitchen is quite spacious for this. It is important to place the refrigerator in such a way that it does not interfere with the movement of family members around the house.
Its door should open freely, without bumping into foreign objects. Another suitable place to install a refrigerator is a small closet or pantry.
How to design a small kitchen with a refrigerator
Equipping a small kitchen, it is necessary to be guided, first of all, by the question of convenience. You can’t buy bulky furniture that will clutter up an already cramped room.
In this case, only a linear or angular type of layout is ideal. To expand the space a bit, you can combine the kitchen with a balcony.
Furniture for a small kitchen should be chosen depending on the style of the interior. For rooms whose interior is made in traditional styles, headsets made of natural wood or chipboard are suitable.
The color of such furniture can be white, beige, made in any pastel shades. Equipping a small kitchen in modern styles, you should pay attention to furniture made of light synthetic materials.
The abundance of metal, glossy surfaces and glass is welcomed - they help to visually increase the space.
As for household appliances, its choice depends only on the taste preferences of the owner of the kitchen. In any case, it is better to choose comfortable and practical models that fit perfectly into any style - this also applies to the refrigerator.
For interiors, Art Nouveau and Provence are suitable for home appliances in retro style, for other interiors you can choose modern refrigerator options in white, light gray or metallic.
In the classic interior, the refrigerator can simply be hidden behind the facade of the furniture. The ideal solution for a small kitchen is the built-in small refrigerator.
Advice! The main rule that should be followed in the planning process of a small kitchen is to abandon furniture, which can be dispensed with. There is no place for sideboards, chests of drawers, decorative bedside tables and numerous shelves - let it be better if such a necessary thing as a refrigerator takes their place ..
7. If possible, the refrigerator should be integrated into the headset
The built-in refrigerator saves precious centimeters and allows you to create a uniformity of all surfaces of the kitchen, due to which the space is visually facilitated and increased, and the interior seems neat.
Built-in refrigerator in a small kitchen in Khrushchev
Built-in refrigerator disguised as a buffet
In addition, the built-in equipment is much easier to keep clean - just wipe the facades and the camera itself. A separate unit requires cleaning the upper part, the space behind the back and around the walls.
- The installation of a refrigerator is especially desirable not only for small kitchens, but also kitchens decorated in classic, rustic and ethnic style.
Built-in refrigerator in the interior of the classic-style kitchen in stalin
8. For a small kitchen should choose compact models
For example, a narrow but high model (only 40-55 cm wide and 180 cm high), a mini-refrigerator that can be put / built under the countertop, or just a small unit (for example, 120 l).
- And of course, it is desirable that the refrigerator in the small kitchen is built-in.
Below are photo examples of the technique in mini format.
Small fridge integrated in the oven
Small kitchen with small fridge
Small free-standing refrigerator by the window
Under-the-counter refrigerator
Integrating a mini fridge under the countertop is as easy as, say, a washing machine, a large dishwasher, or a cupboard 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 taken out to an adjacent room or corridor
Sometimes the kitchen is so small that you have to sacrifice a refrigerator. For example, it can be taken out into the corridor or the adjacent ... living room. In this case, it is advisable to remove the door in the kitchen (or always keep it open), and put a table near the refrigerator. The latter will make it easier for you to unload-load products, to restore order on the shelves.
