Refrigerator Cabinet Surround: How To Guide (with Dimensions)
Are you looking for some guidance on how to create a custom refrigerator cabinet surround? We've all been there – staring at our kitchen appliances, wondering what the best way is to enhance their look and give them a more professional finish. Well, worry no further! With this step-by-step guide (along with helpful pictures and exact dimensions) you'll be able to easily assemble your own refrigerator cabinet surround in no time. Let's get started on crafting something that adds just the right amount of style and sophistication to the most prominent appliance in your kitchen.
Quick Links:
Dimensions and Clearance Considerations
Adding a Trim Kit for a Built-in Look
Dimensions and Clearance Considerations
This section might seem boring, but it's super important so please don't skip it. One common mistake we see regarding refrigerator cabinet surrounds is lack of planning for the future. We get it. Your current fridge works great and you want it to look built-in. You have no reason to believe it will ever fail....but it will. And when it does, you will wish you had planned ahead and built an opening with enough clearance to accommodate more makes and models.
So what do we recommend? Based on viewing hundreds of refrigerator spec sheets, we recommend you build your refrigerator cabinet surround so it has an opening of at least 37" wide x 74" tall. Regarding depth, we recommend the 25" minimum for a counter depth refrigerator and 30" minimum for a regular depth refrigerator.
You can learn more about why we recommend those dimensions here. These dimensions will ensure proper air flow as well as flexibility down the road when it's time to shop for a new refrigerator.
One final thing to consider when designing your refrigerator surround is clearance for the door swing. If your refrigerator is against a wall, be sure to place your refrigerator surround far enough away from the wall to allow the door to fully swing open. Most spec sheets contain this dimension or you can measure it at your local showroom.
Cabinet Surround Components
The components of a refrigerator cabinet are pretty straightforward. You will have two side panels and an upper cabinet. The side panels are typically 3/4" thick plywood with edge banding on the front or 3/4" plywood with stiles on the front.
The upper cabinet typically consists of cabinet box with two doors on the front. The cabinet box can either full depth (same depth as the refrigerator cabinet) or shallow (not as deep as refrigerator cabinet). A lot of homeowners opt for the shallow options since retrieving items can be difficult in a full depth cabinet.
You may need to add filler strips to the overhead cabinet in order to achieve the desired width.
Wooden "cleats" are used to brace the panels together during assembly and installation. We recommend two or three which can be precut and drilled with pocket holes for easy attachment during assembly.
A fully assembled refrigerator cabinet surround can be seen below.
How to Assemble
Standing up a fully assembled refrigerator surround cabinet inside the kitchen can be a challenge. Often times it is impossible to do so without hitting the ceiling. For that reason, we recommend assembling the cabinet once all of the components have been moved into the kitchen. Having two people is helpful, as some of the components are bulky and heavy.
1. Stand up the side panels
2. Secure them to one another using cleats
3. Install overhead cabinet
4. Attach crown molding or baseboard (optional)
5. Paint / Finish to match surround cabinets
Adding a Trim Kit for a Built-in Look
If you are looking for a simple way to take your new refrigerator cabinet surround to the next level, consider adding a sleek stainless steel trim kit. This option has several benefits worth considering.
Congratulations, you’ve now come to the end of our guide! With an understanding of the dimensions and clearances necessary to build a refrigerator cabinet surround, along with knowledge of its components and how to assemble them, you can now tackle this project with confidence. But don’t forget about finishing it off – adding a stainless steel trim kit can take it to the next level. You may need one or two additional hands when installing it, but the effort will be worth it in order to give your kitchen the built-in look you've been dreaming of! So don't delay – find and shop for your trim kits today, and start making those dreams come true. Good luck!