The Ultimate Refrigerator Buyer's Guide

Purchasing a fridge can be much more complicated and overwhelming than expected. After all, fridges just have one job of keeping your food cold and safe to eat, right? Like any kitchen appliance, there are many features that differentiate one item from the other that can completely change your opinion on it. There’s a vast selection of fridges with different installations, styles, features, and more - How can you know that you’re choosing the right one?

It is important to determine which fridge you choose based on what meets your standards for cosmetic appearance and style, what works for your kitchen design, and what is best suited for your household.

Types of Fridges

There are a few types of fridge door styles you can choose from. This includes:

Top freezer mount
Bottom freezer mount
Side-by-side
French door

It is typical to see either a side-by-side fridge or a French door fridge in newly renovated kitchens and new builds. Knowing which type of fridge and door style you would like will guide you in the right direction by narrowing down your search. Consider your household and what would be the most convenient for daily cooking and kitchen entertainment.

You can view our informational blog here to get full details and descriptions for each fridge type.

Built-in, Overlay, and Integrated

Decide if you want to explore luxury-end fridges, including built-in, integrated, and overlay. All three of these style fridges involve the fridge housing to be installed in the cabinets. This allows you to eliminate the bulky look of a traditional free-standing fridge completely. Built-in fridges will still look the same as a freestanding fridge would with the included ventilation, finish, and door handles. The fridge will protrude from the cabinets slightly.

Overlay and integrated fridges can both use custom panels to match the cabinets, however, integrated fridges sit completely flush with the surrounding cabinetry. You can’t even tell there’s a fridge there! If you are willing to spend the extra buck and achieve this modern look, this is the way to go!

Built-In

Overlay

Integrated

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Fridge Sizing

First, determine if you would like the fridge to be counter-depth or standard. A counter-depth fridge would have the same depth as your countertops. Only the fridge doors will be farther than your counter depth. This allows for a more sleek and finished look for your kitchen.

You can find fridges ranging from 30-36” in width, 67-70” in height, and 29-35” in depth. The typical rule of thumb for determining which size fridge works best for your household is accounting4-6 cu. ft. of space in the fridge per adult.

Important note: Consider your kitchen design and fridge placement before solidifying a fridge type and size. The last thing you would want to do is purchase a swing-door style fridge and then not be able to open it fully because the island or nearby cabinets are too close. We can’t think of anything more frustrating than a design flaw that could’ve been prevented!

Other Features to Consider

Fridge Finishes

You can find fridges in almost every type of appliance finish, from standard stainless steel and black stainless to copper and colored/custom panels. This is where your decision may get tricky because it is purely up to your taste and what you think would match your kitchen design.

Water/Ice Dispensers

Some households see this feature as a necessity. You will find this feature on either a side-by-side or french door fridge. When you’re always on the go, why not include the convenience of filling up your water bottle at the ease of a button?

samsung’s family hub refrigerator includes a touch-screen with access to a calendar, music streaming, and more.

Temperature/Compartment Controls

Some fridges feature compartments that allow you to set it at a temperature most suitable for the food you are storing, such as meat and fish. Samsung’s Flexi-Fridges allow you to switch certain compartments from fridge to freezer temperatures, or vice versa. This is perfect for households that are finding themselves needing more fridge space one day, and more freezer room the next. Find yourself needing more space for your daughter’s birthday cake? What about the abundant amount of leftovers from Thanksgiving? Problem solved!

Smart Fridges

Nowadays, you can find smart features on almost every major kitchen appliance - even fridges! This gives homeowners a new way to entertain guests and adds the convenience of being connected through their phones. Trusted major appliance brands such as GE and Samsung currently make smart fridges. Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator has a large touchscreen that allows you to stream music, watch TV, look at a calendar, and more. These fridges can also notify you when you need to refill your ice dispenser, view the inside the fridge, and even see who is at the front door!

What does ENERGY STAR rated mean?

Many homeowners have become more environmentally conscious, and major appliance companies are doing their part as well by designing products that will comply with ENERGY STAR ratings. The official ENERGY STAR certification was introduced by the EPA in hopes of producing energy-efficient products for consumers. This rating can be found for most major kitchen appliances. ENERGY STAR rated fridges are almost 10% more energy efficient than standard fridges. Choosing an ENERGY STAR certified fridge helps both the environment and your wallet - It’s a win-win! When you are looking at possible refrigerator options, make sure you look for an ENERGY STAR certification.

Fridge Warranties

Possibly the least exciting aspect but nonetheless important, ensure you thoroughly research the manufacture’s warranty for the fridge you choose. If anything were to happen, you want to make sure you choose a trusted brand with a warranty you agree with. If there is an option to choose an extended warranty, we recommend it. Since fridges are meant to last 10+ years, a small increase in price will be worth it if there were to be any defects occurring down the line.