Imagine life without a refrigerator. Most people can’t today, as they rely on this appliance to keep food fresh and within easy reach. However, this everyday household item may become a hindrance more than a help when it is awkwardly placed in a kitchen. Ask anyone who has lived in a rental property or apartment where the refrigerator appears shoved in the kitchen as an afterthought and sits right in the traffic flow. How can you avoid this problem in your kitchen?
Refrigerator Placement in a Kitchen
Consider several factors when deciding where to put the refrigerator in your kitchen. Ultimately, the placement should make it easy to prepare meals while allowing traffic to move seamlessly through the space. You want your sightlines to be unobstructed and your working spaces nearby.
A corner is a good place for the refrigerator because it won’t be in a traffic path or obstruct the cook’s view. Items can be easily grabbed as needed and moved to the workspace. However, you also want to place the refrigerator next to or across from this workspace to quickly get what you need and move to the next cooking task.
Many kitchen designers follow the rule of the working triangle. This triangle consists of the refrigerator, stove, and sink. These appliances should form a triangle with no side shorter than four feet or longer than nine feet.
Non-Negotiable Placement Rules
When designing the kitchen layout, there are some hard and fast appliance placement rules regarding the refrigerator. The refrigerator placement must allow for a quarter-inch on each side and the top for ventilation purposes, and 2.5 inches on each side needs to be provided when installing the appliance for complete fridge accessibility.
Keep the refrigerator away from heat sources so it won’t have to work harder to remain cool. For convenience, place it near an electrical outlet. If you want a refrigerator with an ice or water dispenser, place it near a water line.
Functional Kitchen Design
The refrigerator takes up a lot of floor space in the kitchen. You want to maximize space utilization while ensuring the room is visually appealing. There are several ways to achieve these goals.
Storage can be problematic in some kitchens, but there are ways to add storage while preserving the room’s aesthetic appeal. Anchor the refrigerator with a freestanding shelving unit or baker’s rack. Depending on your preferred style, head to a local big box store to see what is available, or check out thrift stores for vintage pieces.
Who says a refrigerator has to be plain? While manufacturers typically sell these appliances in neutral colors or stainless steel, they don’t have to remain plain and boring. Once you have determined the best refrigerator placement in the available space, add some decorative touches.
One option is removable wallpaper, which you can change regularly to alter the room’s look. Use the same wallpaper to blend the refrigerator and backsplash, and you might also choose to add some plants.
Plants are an inexpensive way to change the look of any room and help clear the air of the smells associated with cooking. Snake plants and peace lilies are two beautiful options that absorb smells. Adding plants is an easy way to decorate the room without spending a fortune.
As every parent knows, Arlington refrigerator is an excellent place to hang a child’s latest artwork. Many people decorate their refrigerators with magnets or photos. While this won’t help improve a dysfunctional kitchen layout, it can help to divert attention from the refrigerator placement.
Don’t suffer in silence when the kitchen layout isn’t to your liking. Use these steps to make changes that can alter the way you feel about this commonly used room. When you see how these tips transform the space, you’ll want to cook as often as possible and will enjoy every minute spent in this room.
