Your refrigerator enclosure is one of the most important components of your kitchen. It not only houses and protects your fridge, but it can also be a stylish and eye-catching feature in the room. If you’re looking for some refrigerator enclosure ideas to spruce up your existing refrigerator enclosure or create a new one altogether, then read on for inspiration! 

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The basics of a refrigerator enclosure

Refrigerator Enclosure Ideas to consider:  Add a custom top vent grille to your enclosure

Refrigerator Enclosure Ideas to consider: Add a full trim kit to your enclosure

The Basics of a Refrigerator Enclosure

After viewing numerous customer provided photos, we can definitely say there seems to be no standard for refrigerator enclosures.  For that reason, we think it's important to cover a few basic features you may want to consider.  

1.  Plan for the future with an enclosure large enough to accommodate your current AND future refrigerator.  Quite often we see enclosures which are too short or narrow to accommodate many of the newer refrigerators on the market.  This can be avoided by adding a bit of extra cushion to the width and height of your opening.  To learn more about recommended dimensions, check out our blog post Refrigerator Cabinet Dimensions Guide.  

2.  Leave room for door clearance.  Another issue we see quite often is a refrigerator next to a wall and not enough room to fully open the door.  This limits access and cuts down on the usable storage volume.  To evaluate clearance, you can refer to the refrigerator spec sheet or even better, take some measurements in the store to understand how the door swings and clearance required.  

3.  Plan for the thickness of the doors.  An often overlooked aspect of refrigerators is the door thickness.  Nearly every refrigerator on the market must be positioned so the doors of the refrigerator stick out past the front of the cabinet and into the kitchen.  A lot of homeowners do not realize this and think the front of the doors can sit flush with the front of the cabinet.  Some have to extend even farther than normal due to the hinge configuration of the doors.  For more information, you can check out this video we made regarding door hinge configuration.

Refrigerator Enclosure Ideas to consider:  Add a custom top vent grille to your enclosure

If you're looking to upgrade your enclosure, adding a custom top vent grille could be the perfect solution! Not only will it boost the visual appeal of this essential space, but installing the trim yourself allows you to take pride in the result. This type of enclosure feature is used to protect the enclosure's internal components while providing airflow. It can also act as a unique aesthetic element, making your enclosure stand out with its one-of-a-kind design. Adding a custom top vent grille will help give your enclosure a high-end custom look.

Installation typically only takes a few minutes and is very DIY friendly.  As of this blog post, the price for a custom grille ranges from $200 to $350, depending on the size.  

Refrigerator Enclosure Ideas to consider: Add a full trim kit to your enclosure

Installing a full trim kit on your refrigerator enclosure is a great way to completely change the look and feel of your kitchen. Not only does it give your enclosure sophisticated style, but it allows you to create an enclosure that is built for the future (by allowing you to fit any refrigerator in the space).  With minimal effort and time, you can easily add a touch of elegance that not only brings out the beauty of an enclosure but also improves its functionality.

You can choose the best finish and style to give you the exact look you’re aiming for. Additionally, installation is quick and easy so you won't have to worry about complications during installation. With a trim kit installed you'll absolutely love the finished look and feel of your enclosure.

At the time of this blog post, the price for a full trim kit ranges from $425 to $500.  

Summary

By following these tips, you can create a stylish and eye-catching refrigerator enclosure that will become the centerpiece of your kitchen. If you have any questions about our trim kits or would like advice regarding your enclosure, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're always happy to help!