There are several factors to keep in mind when buying a new refrigerator, including configuration, capacity, features and coverage. This guide to buying a refrigerator will help you choose the best type of refrigerator for your home based on the factors that are most important to you.
See tips for buying a refrigerator in the steps below.
1. Consider the kitchen space and layout before choosing your new refrigerator
The refrigerator should fit well in the kitchen space. Before going to the store, make sure you have the following information at hand:
• Measured width, height and depth of the space where your new refrigerator will be installed;
• The space needed for easy opening of the doors and drawers of the refrigerator;
• The distance from the refrigerator to the nearby kitchen furniture;
It is also good to consider whether you want a refrigerator with a standard or reverse depth. Standard-depth refrigerators go beyond the level of your countertops, while counter-depth options are virtually on par with adjacent cabinets.
2. Find out what style and configuration would be best for your needs
Organize and store your favorite fresh and frozen products exactly as you like them with the right style and configuration of the refrigerator. Learn more about refrigerators with French doors - closet style, elegant refrigerators side by side, classic refrigerators with upper or lower freezer or specialized models of refrigerators under the counter to find the right one for you.
French type refrigerators
The French type of refrigerators place the chilled food at eye level and the products in the freezer below. The standard French refrigerator design includes two doors that open to one refrigerator compartment at the top, plus a freezer drawer at the bottom.
If you have children, consider options with additional doors that give you easy access to external drawers, where you can place the products that your children most often use so that they can reach them without opening the main doors.
French refrigerators are a choice of a higher class because they usually have the most features. Among them are most often:
• Water dispensers, single and double ice makers and double cooling.
• Specialized storage, such as personalized drawers, sliding shelves for taller items and organized storage in the freezer.
• Plenty of space for wider items such as plates and pizza boxes.
Refrigerators with Side by Side doors
The two-door refrigerators, located next to each other, position the freezer on the left and the refrigerator on the right. With easy access on both sides and a selection of similar features to those of French refrigerators, the features of this classic include:
• Performance characteristics, such as controlling the humidity of the dishes to create an ideal environment for fruits and vegetables;
• Specialized storage of various products;
• Plenty of usable capacity;
• Space-saving ice maker and water filtration on the freezer door;
• Often this type of refrigerator requires less space to open the door than models with a top freezer of the same width.
Refrigerators with upper or lower freezer
Refrigerators with a top freezer have a freezer located at the top and a refrigerator with one door at the bottom, which facilitates access to the freezer.
Refrigerators with a lower freezer have a refrigerator with one door at the top and a freezer drawer at the bottom - like a French door. The refrigerator compartment is more accessible with these models.
The top and bottom freezer models have fewer additional features and are smaller in size than the models with French doors and side-by-side refrigerators. They may be suitable if you are looking for:
Smaller sizes to fit in small spaces, with good capacity for your size;
For indoor use without water connection, as ice and water dispensers are less common in this type of refrigerator.
Selective refrigerators
Refrigerators under the counter are a popular option for storing food and beverages. They are often available with revolving doors, temperature controlled areas and shelves protected from spills. Countertop refrigerators are usually designed to store wine and kraft beer at ideal temperatures. They can also work as a secondary refrigerator for soda and water.
3. Consider the capacity of the refrigerator and the storage options you are looking for
When buying a refrigerator, look at the capacity measured in cubic feet to compare the total capacity. When choosing, you should keep in mind:
How much food you buy each week, how many members your family has - this will help you determine the cubic feet you need.
Quick access - external drawers or storage areas inside the door allow you to store snacks where they are easily accessible.
Whether you need to store extra tall items or bulky plates - certain styles of refrigerators, such as the French type or side by side, usually have specialized storage solutions such as sliding shelves and wide trays.
Whether you need a standard refrigerator with a capacity of about 20 cubic feet, or a large capacity refrigerator with up to about 30 cubic feet of space if you have limited space in the kitchen or small family, the capacity of a small refrigerator is usually between 11 and 18 cubic feet. feet.
4. Consider which features of the refrigerator you would use
Before choosing a refrigerator, think about the features you will use most often. Here are some features of the refrigerator that you should keep in mind:
Ice and water dispensers;
Specialized storage such as Infinity sliding shelves for storing tall objects, multi-storey freezer organization and adjustable door bins;
Performance functions such as double refrigeration, in which special refrigeration systems ensure that fresh and frozen food is stored in the appropriate environment;
5. Select the desired color of the refrigerator and the appropriate coating
Explore the options for tiles and colors to find the most suitable for your taste and design of the kitchen. The most popular coatings are:
Stainless steel
Options are available for fingerprint-resistant coatings that are particularly easy to clean and maintain.
Black stainless steel
Beautiful modern look at the traditional stainless steel design, which also has the option of fingerprint-resistant coatings.
White or black finish
Classic design.
Built-in ready panel
If you choose a built-in panel option, you can customize your refrigerator to best match your kitchen panels / cabinet doors.