Before you hop online or leave the house to start shopping for a refrigerator, it is imperative you measure the space where you’ll place your fridge. You’ll want to have the height, width, and depth measurements on hand because not all fridges are created equal. What a bummer it would be to purchase one only to discover upon installation that your new fridge won’t fit! Too big, and you’re faced with the challenge of returning it or busting out walls and cabinets to make it work. Too small, and it just might look weird. With measurements on hand, you can narrow your search right away, and this will help save you time, a possible headache, and potentially a lot of money.
Fresh Vs. Frozen Volume
It also wouldn’t hurt to make a list of the fresh and frozen items you typically store to feed your family. You don’t have to measure every box of waffles and head of broccoli, but it would be good to get a ballpark idea of how many items you’ll need to refrigerate and freeze and how much space those foods will take. Layer onto these considerations how frequently you access frozen items versus fresh, and ask yourself, how do I prefer to make or retrieve ice? There are several fridge designs, including the french-door design, where the freezer is a pull-out drawer on the bottom; the side-by-side fridge, where the doors are divided vertically to separate the freezer from the cold side; and the classic top freezer style that offers frozen storage on top and cold storage on bottom. Prepping a list of your measurements and volume needs ahead of time can help you determine the best style of refrigerator for your family and can help make the process of purchasing it a lot less stressful.
Cold Water and Other Conveniences
After you’ve determined your size and volume needs, it’s good to think through other expectations you have of your household refrigerator. Do you want a drinking water and ice feature? If you or your family aren’t good about meeting those daily hydration goals, dispensers that offer cold, filtered water and ice could be a welcome convenience that helps make drinking water more exciting. If you do opt for the cup-filling convenience, keep in mind the need to replace your water filter regularly. It’s not a huge chore or expense, but you can expect to spend about $60 to $100 a year on filters that will need to be changed every six months.
Appearance Is Almost Everything
Another consideration you’ll need to make when buying a refrigerator for your kitchen is deciding how you want it to look. Just like their size and set-up, the finish and color options of refrigerators are abundant. A good design tip suggests that, at the very least, try to match the finish or color of your other kitchen appliances. So, if you’ve got a stainless steel oven, microwave, and dishwasher, your best bet is to purchase a refrigerator with a stainless steel finish.
For those with high-end kitchens, you may seek a custom finish to match your cabinets so the fridge isn’t as noticeable in your kitchen. If this is you, be ready to pay quite a bit more for a panel-ready unit. Retailers and carpenters can work with you to achieve this invisible fridge look.
There are a lot of factors to consider when buying a refrigerator. From function to finish, it’s not a bad idea to get a good grasp of what you want before you start shopping. With measurements, expectations, and the look in mind, you can shop as an informed consumer to get the best product for all your dairy, meat, and frozen food storage needs.