Built-in refrigerator in a kitchen set: how to fit appliances into furniture

Finding a refrigerator that is not conspicuous is quite difficult. Often such equipment cannot be harmoniously integrated into the interior design and therefore many people have a desire to visually hide it. To do this, you can purchase a special built-in refrigerator in your kitchen unit.

Built-in refrigerator - ideal solution for small kitchens

Advantages and disadvantages of built-in technology

Refrigerators built into kitchen furniture are an ideal choice for people whose kitchens are decorated in a classic style. In the last few years, the popularity of such equipment has begun to grow rapidly and therefore manufacturers have begun to produce more such devices.

Built-in technology has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages are the following:

Silence. Such devices operate very quietly, since furniture walls are adjacent to their body, which completely dampen all noise.
Ergonomics. Using built-in appliances, people can keep all the food they need at hand.
Easy to care for. Caring for built-in refrigerators is quite simple, since their side walls are hidden and rarely get dirty.
Reducing electricity consumption. Companies involved in the production of equipment built into a cabinet or niche take care of its thermal insulation. Many models have a special protective layer that reduces the heating of refrigerators and prevents them from consuming a lot of electricity.
Variety of model range. Today, a huge number of built-in refrigerators are produced, which differ from each other not only in appearance, but also in placement features.

Thanks to the ergonomics of the equipment, the kitchen will use workspace more efficiently.

Despite the huge number of advantages, built-in appliances have several disadvantages. These include the following:

Fewer cameras. Built-in refrigerators are most often quite small when compared to classic models. Some of them may not even have a freezer.
High price. Such equipment can cost several times more than conventional models.
Difficult to install. Installing built-in devices is not easy and therefore not everyone can do it.

A variety of models is one of the advantages of built-in technology

The color of the refrigerator in the kitchen interior: what to “rhyme” with?

To ensure that the unit does not fall out of the design, you need to combine the tones correctly. The choice of colors depends on the mood of the room and the features of the interior. The combination of shades of walls and furniture with the facade of the refrigerator will create a harmonious space.

Black

The equipment looks very large, so it is not suitable for small rooms. Dark models are used in the design of modern trends. A noticeable accent will be a black refrigerator in the interior of a white kitchen. The color is duplicated on the apron, tabletop or chairs. The strict monochrome duet is repeated in the pattern on the floor. To smooth out the sharpness of the transitions, you can complement the space with gray (metallic) and glass.

White kitchen with black refrigerator Source essensuals.spb.ru

Side-by-side refrigerator in the interior Source terrout1.biz

In a bright room, a dark model is combined with similar facades. Visually, the room remains sterile, but with voluminous details. A black refrigerator in the interior in combination with soft wood shades on the floor and furniture will add a touch of coziness to the kitchen. Bright red and green glossy accents on industrial-style walls add energy to the space.

Black kitchen in Scandinavian style Source missarchetekture.arxip.com/

Kitchens with a black refrigerator Source www.build.com

How are they different from regular ones?

Many people who are planning to purchase and install a built-in refrigerator are interested in how it differs from classic non-built-in models. There are several characteristic differences between these models:

Differences in the ventilation system. Built-in models are equipped with a thoughtful and high-quality ventilation system. Conventional refrigerators do not have this.
Poor structural stability. Conventional refrigerator models are less stable, unlike built-in ones.
Reducing free space. Devices that are not built into a cabinet or set take up a lot of free space. Therefore, they are not very suitable for a Khrushchev or a small studio apartment.

Often, due to a poor ventilation system, equipment that is essentially not designed to be built in overheats and fails.

Types of built-in equipment

Single-chamber model - suitable for storing a small amount of food
It is no secret that manufacturers produce many different varieties of such equipment, which may differ in size, design, installation method and other parameters. All built-in devices can be divided into several groups:

Single-chamber. These are the smallest models that do not have a freezer. They are most often used for short-term storage of food, drinks and even perfume. Such products are universal and therefore can be placed both in countertops and in niches.
Two-chamber. Such products consist of two sections separate from each other. Each of them is equipped with a door with a handle.
Three-chamber. These refrigerators have a special section called the freshness zone.
Multi-chamber. These devices consist of more than three cameras. At the same time, a constant temperature can be maintained in each of them.

Three-chamber and multi-chamber refrigerators are suitable only for truly large kitchens.

The freshness zone contains products that must be stored only at a certain temperature.

Kitchen with bright refrigerator

A kitchen design with a bright refrigerator can lift your spirits after a hard day at work, as well as diversify the interior.

Choose rich colors: orange, red, yellow, mint. A refrigerator in a modern kitchen is not just a food storage item - it is one of the most important interior details.

If there are several types of large equipment in the room of the same color scheme, then try to dilute this combination with small accent items: napkins, potholders, vases, towels.

Installation Requirements

A built-in vertical or horizontal refrigerator for the kitchen is installed in a special cabinet. At the same time, it must be installed in such a way that air circulates freely inside the pencil case. This can only be achieved by adhering to the following recommendations:

Between the walls of the cabinet and the equipment you need to leave gaps of about 3-5 centimeters. Therefore, a special seal is often placed on the side walls of devices.
There should be an opening in the back behind the cabinet in which the refrigerator is located. The distance from the wall to the cabinet is no less than 150 millimeters.
The distance to the wall should not be too large. It should be such that a person can reach the top drawers or microwave with his hand.

Location methods

Installation in a cabinet is one of the most common ways to place equipment.
There are five main options for placing built-in equipment:

In the closet. This is one of the most common methods for arranging built-in appliances. In the closet you can hide both linear models and more unusual angular or U-shaped products.
In a niche. This placement option is ideal for small spaces. A refrigerator installed in the wall will be in line with the edge of the niche. Thanks to this, it will not take up much free space in the room.
On the island. If the kitchen is very spacious, a special island is installed in it. A sink is often placed here or a bar counter is organized. You can also build in a refrigerator for food here.
On the countertop. The height of most kitchen units is 80-90 centimeters, which allows compact refrigerators to be installed in them. Installing such equipment under the countertop allows a person to always have access to products.
Under the oven. You can place built-in appliances in the kitchen in a special box for the refrigerator under the oven. It is worth noting that only built-in models can be placed near the oven. It is better to install wall-mounted ones away from such equipment.

Many undercounter models do not have a freezer compartment. In this case, the freezer can be purchased separately and installed on the surface of the kitchen unit.

Installing appliances under the oven is a fairly practical solution

The most inconvenient options for placing a refrigerator

The appliance is one of the vertices of the working triangle, so comfort in the kitchen depends on the correct location. The unit should fit naturally into the interior without interfering with rest and cooking. There are common mistakes that occur when placing a refrigerator.

In line with the sink

According to the laws of ergonomics, an interval of 60 cm is maintained between the functional zones of the working triangle. Drops of water while washing dishes or food can fall on the wires of an electrical appliance, which will cause a short circuit. To avoid problems, an area for unloading food is placed between the sink and the refrigerator. A small table will protect you from dangerous moisture and help you organize the space correctly.

Between the furniture

No obstacles should be placed between the areas of the work triangle. A table, bar counter or soft corner interferes with comfortable movement around the kitchen. In a small room, miniature food storage appliances built into a countertop or cabinet are appropriate.

Kitchen with large refrigerator Source www.yzdxgs.com

Next to the stove

The refrigerator in the kitchen interior cannot be placed near the stove (gas, electric). The adjacent walls heat up, which forces the compressor to constantly work. If parts operate at maximum capacity, they wear out quickly. During cooking, drops of fat stain plastic panels.

Refrigerator in the same row with the stove Source remont-samomy.ru

The unit must not be placed next to a stove or hob. Large pots or pans with handles cannot fit on the nearby burners. An interval of 30-50 cm must be maintained between devices. A bedside table with drawers is placed in the empty area, and a work area is equipped on top.

Fridge in gray Source www.quintain.co.uk

The refrigerator is often built into a box. The surfaces of the structure absorb heat and protect the body from contamination. Additionally, the walls of the device are covered with thermal insulation film. Between the stove (oven) and the unit, you can install a built-in partition screen made of plasterboard, plywood or MDF.

Near heating devices

Radiators and pipes near the refrigerator operate constantly during the heating season, so it is not recommended to place them nearby. In a small kitchen, a distance of 5-10 cm is maintained between appliances. If the interval is not possible, then the battery is hidden under a decorative screen made of:

rattan;
wood;
drywall.

A refrigerator built into a box in a kitchen interior will receive less heat than a free-standing one. The heating pipe is hidden with a curtain made of thick fabric, and the walls of the device are covered with heat-insulating material. It is recommended to install a soft column made of multilayer raw materials between the unit and the battery.

Design of a small straight kitchen Source melades.ru

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in interior redevelopment.

Model rating

There are several models that fit perfectly into furniture:

Atlant 4307. This is a compact model that is built into a headset. Among the advantages of Atlant 4307 are its low cost, build quality and compactness.
Liebherr 6613. The Liebherr company produces high-quality refrigerators. The Liebherr 6613 model is equipped with a freezer and a special compartment for storing food.
Bosch Kiv38×20. A fairly large built-in refrigerator, which is equipped with a spacious freezer. The advantages of this model include its noiselessness during operation, affordable cost and fast freezing.

Liebherr 6613 is one of the highest quality built-in refrigerators

Stage 3. We study the general criteria for choosing refrigerators

Types of control of built-in refrigerators

There are two types of such models: electronic and electromechanical. The electronic control system is a set of buttons and touch fields with a display. The presence of such a system will increase the price of the equipment, but it will allow you to regulate the temperature in each compartment, protect settings from accidental changes, activate the refrigerator’s operating modes in your absence, etc.

Electromechanical control is simpler and is usually limited to an operation intensity regulator (depending on the number of compressors, there may be one or two regulators). Such models are much cheaper and do not have many functions. Some modes, such as “super freezing,” can be activated by simply pressing a separate button.

Consider which option is right for you. And, of course, don't forget about the budget.

Compressors

The Russian market mainly presents models with inverter or conventional compressors. A conventional compressor works on the principle of reaching maximum power and then temporarily shutting down. This process goes round and round. If the refrigerator is equipped with an inverter compressor, it works without pauses and constantly maintains the optimal temperature in the refrigerator. In addition to the fact that such a system significantly increases the life of the compressor, it reduces noise levels and energy consumption, and also keeps your products fresh longer. Take this into account when choosing technology.

Typically, refrigerators are equipped with one compressor, which ensures the operation of all compartments, but you can also find a two-compressor model. In this case, you can set separate operating conditions for each chamber, and if necessary, even turn off one of them completely (for example, a freezer, if food is not stored in it) and save energy - and therefore money.

In refrigerators with one compressor, such capabilities are available only if they have electronic control or the “Vacation” function. This function allows you to maintain the temperature around 12-15 degrees inside the unused refrigerator compartment. This way you will save energy and protect yourself from mold and unpleasant odors in the refrigerator while you are away from home.

Refrigerator classes

For the climate of most regions of Russia, SN (subnormal) class models are suitable, which operate without interruption at ambient temperatures from 10 to 35 degrees. Suitable for use and class ST.

The energy efficiency class of built-in refrigerators, as in the case of other household appliances, is designated by Latin letters from A to G. A represents the lowest electricity consumption. Models with A+ classes (and several pluses) indicate even higher energy efficiency - each plus reduces energy consumption by an average of 10%. The higher the energy efficiency class, the more expensive the refrigerator, however, at current electricity prices in Russia, purchasing an A+++ class refrigerator can be an excellent investment in the long term.

Defrosting systems

Built-in refrigerators are equipped with a defrosting system, which can be of three types: manual defrosting, drip defrosting and automatic (No Frost).

Refrigerators with manual defrosting are usually the cheapest, but also the least convenient to use: once every 3-6 months you will have to defrost the freezer yourself and turn off the refrigerator.

With an automatic No Frost defrosting system, you don’t have to do anything yourself: frost will form behind the wall of the freezer and melt thanks to the fan provided by the design. The main disadvantages of this system: high price and the need to carefully monitor the packaging of food in the freezer due to constant air circulation. The fan also adds a small percentage of noise.

Most modern built-in refrigerators are equipped with a drip defrosting system. Ice forms on the evaporator at the back of the refrigerator while the compressor is running. When the compressor turns off or goes to minimum intensity, the ice melts. With drip defrosting, the loss of liquids from food occurs very slowly.

To quickly freeze or cool new products in the refrigerator without temperature changes, the functionality can include “supercooling” and “superfreezing” modes for products already stored there. In addition, the device may have a multi-flow cooling function (most often found in refrigerators with a No Frost system), which helps to cool the shelves on the refrigerator door as much as possible.

Food freshness zones

Different products require different storage conditions: average humidity and lower temperatures are suitable for meat and fish, while fresh vegetables and fruits are best stored at a humidity of 90% and at higher degrees. Most built-in refrigerators have separate shelves for storing fresh vegetables, chilled meats, fresh sandwiches, etc.

In a certain zone (usually called the freshness zone) you can store any food - it provides humidity control. If the model has two separate zones, they are usually divided into wet and dry. The ideal option would be to have a third chamber with a separate door and separate freshness zones, but this is rare and greatly increases the price of the refrigerator.

See also: What should be the temperature in the refrigerator?

Sound indication

For a built-in refrigerator, it is very important to have an audible indicator of temperature increase when the door is open. Because of the furniture facade, you may not notice that the door has not closed completely. In this case, after a while a special sound signal will notify you of this and remind you to close the door so that the food does not spoil ahead of time.

Noise level

If the apartment is small and the kitchen is located next to the bedroom or even in a single studio, then you should pay special attention to the noise level. The average noise level of a modern refrigerator does not exceed 45 dB (the equivalent volume is a normal conversation), and models with an inverter compressor are even quieter.

Electronic control

If you choose a “smart” refrigerator with a wide range of functions, be sure to think about placing the electronic panel on the cabinet door. In this case, you can control its functions without opening the refrigerator again.

Folding and additional shelves

When choosing a built-in refrigerator, pay attention to the presence of additional and folding shelves for modeling the internal space and placing large-sized products, such as three-liter jars of cucumbers, etc. Some models are equipped with removable shelves for 3-5 segments for storing drinks.

Refrigerator folding shelf

Adviсe

Always pay attention to the classes of the selected refrigerator and functionality.
Consider the noise level of the refrigerator depending on the size of your apartment.
Choose a refrigerator with folding elements to simulate the interior space.

How to install a non-built-in refrigerator in a closet

If necessary, a simple refrigerator can be built into the cabinets. This is done in several successive stages:

Scheme design. First you need to develop a layout for placing equipment in the closet. In this case, you need to take into account the dimensions of the refrigerator and the cabinet in which it will be installed.
Preparing the cabinet. After taking measurements and working out the diagram, you can begin preparing the cabinet. It must be disassembled, after which all parts are adjusted to the required dimensions. The cabinet can then be assembled.
Installation of equipment. After the cabinet has been assembled, installation of equipment begins. Before installation, all handles and legs must be removed from the device so that they do not interfere.

After installation, be sure to check everything with a level to make sure that the facades are not warped.

How to imitate built-in appliances with decorative elements

PVC film will help radically change the appearance of household appliances.
There are several ways to decorate a refrigerator installed in the kitchen to look like a built-in one:

Enamel paint, sold in cans. With its help, you can decorate appliances so that their appearance matches the interior of the kitchen.
Stencils. They allow you to create unique and original ornaments with patterns on the surface of the equipment.
Brush and paint. People who have artistic skills can try to decorate the refrigerator themselves using a regular brush.
PVC film. It will help you quickly decorate equipment to look like wood or marble.

A refrigerator is a device without which it is difficult to imagine a modern kitchen. Quite often, people fail to purchase appliances that match their kitchen design. Therefore, so that the refrigerator does not attract attention, they buy built-in models. However, before this, you need to familiarize yourself with the photos of refrigerators built into the kitchen set, and also understand their varieties.

Big kitchen

To choose a kitchen design with a refrigerator, first make a room design. Choose a color scheme, take into account all the nuances of the layout.

For a large family, the refrigerator should be spacious, but be careful not to disturb the overall harmony of the space. Today, stores offer a large selection of kitchen appliances.