Refrigerator in the interior of a modern kitchen
No modern kitchen can be imagined without a refrigerator. Manufacturers offer more and more technological, multifunctional variations of this household appliance with a wide variety of designs. But nowadays, the owner of an apartment or private house is faced with the task of acquiring not only the refrigerator that is optimal in terms of parameters and a set of options, but also its effective and harmonious introduction into the interior of the kitchen space. Given the wide range of colors, options for execution and internal content, the choice cannot be quick. We hope that useful selection tips and illustrative examples of integrating a wide variety of refrigerators into the kitchen interior in our large-scale selection of design projects will help you decide on the purchase of this important household appliance.
Refrigerator Recommendations
Only at first glance it may seem that the choice of a refrigerator for the kitchen is a simple matter. It is just necessary to choose an aggregate that is suitable in size and satisfies the requirements of the buyer in cost. But not everything is so simple. It is necessary to choose a refrigerator in such a way that it fits ergonomically into the interior of the room, matches the design of the kitchen, and most importantly - is convenient and practical in use and has the necessary set of functions.
We bring to your attention a list of requirements for a modern refrigerator for the right choice:
1.Dimensions of the household appliance
Obviously, you need to choose a refrigerator based on the size of the kitchen and the number of family members. If your kitchen has a large area, then there will be no problems with choosing a refrigerator, but for small rooms you need to consider every centimeter - it makes no sense to purchase a large appliance for a small family.
As a rule, standard kitchens have an area of not more than 8-10 square meters. For such a room, the best option would be a refrigerator with parameters of the base 60x60 cm. For small rooms, manufacturers offer compact models with parameters of the base 45x60 cm.
2.Home appliance height
Ideally, the height of the refrigerator is determined by the level of the furniture set. But such a match is not always possible. An unwritten rule states that the refrigerator should be no higher than 1.5 m, so that its operation is convenient for all family members.
If the household appliance is too low, you have to bend all the time. The high model is also inconvenient to use - it is difficult to reach the upper shelves. The best option is a wide and not very high household appliance. But in the case of small-sized kitchens - in wide sale you can find models the size of a stove.
3.Refrigerator volume
Often, buyers neglect this criterion, but the choice of a refrigerator in terms of volume is influenced by the number of family members, the frequency of cooking and the size of food stocks that satisfy the needs of the family. The most popular models with the European standard volume of 250-300 liters.
4.Number of cameras
A refrigerator with several chambers is necessary for those who need to be able to cool or freeze food at different temperatures. For example, meat and fish are cooled at one temperature, and greens or berries are cooled at another. Currently, there are buyers who are satisfied with single-chamber refrigerators. The two-chamber models are most in demand - with the possibility of cooling and freezing.
Recently, the demand for three-chamber refrigerators with zero and lower temperature conditions has been growing. In such household appliances, products retain their freshness longer, because each type has its own temperature regime for cooling or freezing. After a week of storage, greens, fruits and vegetables look as if they were only torn from the garden.
In the chambers of deep freezing, you can store berries, herbs, vegetables and fruits, preserving their vitamins. The temperature in such chambers is indicated by asterisks - the greater the number of stars, the longer the products can be stored. Under the conditions of the regime of "dry freshness" (from -3 to 0 degrees) with a humidity of 50%, fresh meat and fish are able to maintain their nutritional qualities for up to a week. If the mode of “wet freshness” (from +0.5 to +3 degrees) and humidity of 90% is set, fruits and vegetables are able to maintain their freshness three times more than the usual refrigerator mode of standard refrigerator models.
5.Defrosting method
In order for the refrigerator to cope perfectly with the task of cooling products. But at the same time did not consume a lot of energy, it is necessary to choose models with the modes "without the formation of frost" or "with non-frosting walls." Such aggregates have the function of self-defrosting. You will only need to disconnect the appliance from the mains once a year and completely defrost it in order to wash all surfaces.
6.Noise level of the working device
The level of noise emitted by the refrigerator depends entirely on the quality of manufacture of its compressor. In turn, this factor affects the life of the entire unit. The optimal compressor noise level is considered to be a value in the range from 21 to 55 dB. Experts recommend purchasing two-compressor models - the load is distributed on two (or more) cameras. Also, thermoelectric and absorption devices (without compressors) work quietly. But such modules are available only in compact sizes (due to the characteristics of the cooling system).
7.Filling the fridge
Considering the model of the refrigerator you like, pay attention to the shelves in the refrigerator. Manufacturers offer us monolithic products from:
- plastic;
- metal;
- glass.
Experts recommend purchasing shelves in the form of gratings - through them air circulates freely inside the refrigerator, and this has an effect on maintaining the level of freshness of products.
8.Antibacterial coating
Most modern refrigerator models have an internal cavity with a special, antibacterial coating, created from inorganic silver. Bad smells in the fridge - yesterday. There are also options for the most important household appliance in the kitchen, equipped with anti-bacterial carbon filters.
9.Electricity consumption
Saving energy is not a fashion trend, but a necessity for today. It is not only about electricity bills, but also about the whole environment of energy consumption on our planet. The most economical in terms of energy consumption are considered models marked A, followed by B and C.
10.Refrigerator design
It is obvious that not only the technical characteristics and dimensions of the refrigerator model are the selection criteria. The way the unit is executed, its color and stylistic decision will affect the perception of the whole image of the kitchen. In addition, it is important that the refrigerator can serve "faithfully" as long as possible. And this is affected, inter alia, by the method of creating a coating for its frame. Manufacturers offer us three options for such coverage:
- pouring glass (no fingerprints left);
- from stainless steel;
- surfaces treated with paint and enamel.
The design of the refrigerator and its location in the kitchen interior
Color scheme
One of the most popular color solutions for the execution of such a household appliance as a refrigerator is snow-white surfaces. It is not surprising that most Russians choose the traditional version of the color palette - such a device organically fits into any interior design designed in any stylistic direction. But such a refrigerator will not become the accent of the image of the room (an exception can only be if all the other surfaces of the kitchen are made in dark or bright colors, but this option is extremely rare).
No less popular are models with a stainless steel coating. Such a refrigerator is easy to combine with the execution of other kitchen appliances (oven, hood, stove, microwave, dishwasher). It organically looks in any kind of modern style of design of kitchen spaces.
If you want to make the refrigerator an accent element of the kitchen interior - choose a bright, rich color of the performance of the device cover. A similar effect can be achieved by installing a black refrigerator in a bright kitchen (but it is important to understand and be prepared for the fact that all the prints will be visible on the surface of such an assembly).
But in some cases, the color of the refrigerator will not matter. It is about disguising a household appliance behind the facades of a storage system. Most often, this design technique is used to create classic kitchen interiors. In order to make the appearance of a classic kitchen close to the canons of this style, it is better to hide modern household appliances behind the facades of cabinets corresponding to the design of a furniture set ...
But in modern variations in the design of the kitchen space, you can find the use of this design technique. The refrigerator "hides" behind the smooth (or simply without decor) facades of modern furniture, perfectly fitting into the overall picture of the interior.
The second option, in which the color of the surfaces of the refrigerator does not matter, is associated with the use of black magnetic boards, on which you can write recipes, lists of products or just leave messages to household members.
Location of the refrigerator in the kitchen
If the kitchen room has a medium and large area, then there will be no problems with the location of the refrigerator - you can choose the best place for the convenience of working processes (near the sink and cutting surfaces). In this case, the whole Feng Shui rule can be observed - do not place the "source of cold" in close proximity to the "source of fire" - the stove or hob. In the spacious kitchen room you can even install two refrigerators with different modes (including a wine cooler), arranging them symmetrically to create a harmonious interior decor.
But what is the best way to install a refrigerator in a small or even small-sized kitchen room? Experts recommend choosing one of two options: the first is due to the fact that the refrigerator occupies one of the free corners of the room, the second - a household appliance is installed at the door. It all depends on the size of the room, the location of window and doorways (and in some cases on their number, because the room can be walk-through), the presence of protrusions and niches (for example, the presence of a waste chute).
The location of the refrigerator at the entrance to the kitchen space in some cases may require getting rid of the doors or moving the doorway. But it will be small sacrifices for the possibility of installing a refrigerator in a small kitchen space, because to fit this device into the interior of any other room (in some cases, the owners have to install it in the hallway) will be much more difficult.
Most often, designers suggest embedding a refrigerator in the framework of a kitchen furniture set. Therefore, this unit will not be knocked out by their overall picture, an attraction of excessive attention. In addition, the box created for the refrigerator can be supplemented with a shelf for installing a microwave oven or any other household appliances or storage system. And an extra cabinet in the kitchen room never hurts.
If the kitchen area is part of one spacious room that combines several functional segments, then it makes sense to consider the possibility of embedding the refrigerator in the framework of the interior partition.