Creative Refrigerator Enclosure Ideas
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!
Quick Links:
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.
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!
FAQs
How can I make my standard freestanding refrigerator look taller and more proportionate to my enclosure?
If you have a gap on top, the first option would be to add a custom stainless grille to the top of your refrigerator and add some height to it. If you'd actually like to raise your refrigerator a popular option is to build a sturdy wooden platform (such as stacked 2x6 boards) to elevate your refrigerator by a few inches. To complete this look, you can add a custom stainless steel bottom toe-kick grille that snaps into place using a hidden magnetic mounting system, covering the wooden platform.
My new enclosure leaves a large void of empty space above the refrigerator. What is the best way to hide this?
For large top gaps, we recommend choosing a top grille and extending it upward above the cabinet opening. This approach allows the top grille to sit close to your upper cabinet doors, which hides the empty void while adding vertical height and giving you a better built-in look.
Can I place two standard refrigerators side by side to create a built-in refrigerator wall?
Yes. We regularly build custom trim kits for paired refrigerator setups. We offer a stainless steel center joiner piece that is installed directly between the two units. This joiner is typically available in 3/4-inch, 1-1/2-inch, or 2-1/4-inch widths, giving you flexibility for ventilation while hiding the gap between the appliances.
My enclosure has drywall on one side and a wooden cabinet on the other. Can I still use a trim kit?
Yes. We frequently design kits for asymmetrical enclosures like this. For the cabinet side, the side trim attaches to the front face using adhesive blocks with high-adhesion VHB tape. For the drywall side, the trim is fabricated as a large "L" shape with pre-drilled holes, allowing you to secure it directly to the wall using sheetrock anchors.
What if my custom enclosure is too shallow and the painted sides of my refrigerator stick out into the room?
If your refrigerator extends past the cabinet face by more than 3/4 of an inch, you can cover the exposed casing using custom stainless steel side panels. These panels adhere directly to the painted case of the refrigerator using high-adhesion VHB tape or magnets, making the exposed sides look like a continuation of your stainless steel doors.