How to integrate a refrigerator into a kitchen set

Most of us prefer to build a regular refrigerator built into a cabinet. The reasons may be very different: unpresentable appearance, the white shade of the device may stand out from all the colors, and other common reasons push most people to this idea.

Now let’s look at the answer to the question “Is it possible to build an ordinary refrigerator into a cabinet?” Before giving an answer, let’s consider such important questions as: what is a built-in refrigerator, and what is its difference from an ordinary one?

Built-in refrigerator

• used for embeddings. A special cabinet is made for him, according to the dimensions noted in the passport. The depth of the refrigerator and the lower cabinet are the same. The device is installed not on the floor covering, but on the bottom of the cabinet;
• its thermal insulation is much better than that of a separately installed device, and it is fireproof;
• The design of the locker is noted in the passport, the ventilation is thorough;
• furniture doors can be attached with special fasteners to the doors of the cabinet itself. This trick cannot be used with an ordinary refrigerator.

Advantages of a built-in refrigerator

When you make your own cabinet with a built-in refrigerator, you get a unique item, taking into account all the nuances. You can decorate it at your own discretion, taking into account the design of the kitchen or making it an accent area. The choice of shape and size depends only on the existing refrigerator, and the installation location depends on personal preferences.

As a result, an ordinary refrigerator will turn out to be a beautiful interior element, harmoniously integrated into the overall design. That's why the desire to hide the refrigerator in a closet can be considered as a way to create an original design.

Is it worth building a refrigerator into a closet?

There are a couple of reasons for refusing to purchase embedded equipment in favor of installing conventional equipment on your own:

1. An embedded solution is always a bit expensive;
2. Under other identical conditions, the built-in equipment is worse in size and capacity;
3. It’s just that the house already has a wonderful old refrigerator.

On the other hand, installing a refrigerator is technically very reliable, simpler, and the external design of the structure, starting from the fittings and ending with the facade, turns out to be ideal in this regard. The built-in refrigerator does not heat up excessively and is less noisy and vibrates.

How to hide a refrigerator in a closet with your own hands

Building a freestanding refrigerator into a cabinet yourself requires more than just extra hands. A number of conditions must be met:

• The floor covering is covered with a hard rag cloth to avoid mechanical damage to linoleum, laminate or tiles;
• The use of construction belts will allow you to install the equipment in the planned place;
• Removing the door will lighten the weight of the structure and eliminate scratches, dents and other damage on its front side.

A built-in refrigerator is a combination of aesthetics, comfort and unity of design in the interior. If you don’t have enough financial resources for a real built-in option, you can successfully place a regular free-standing model in the closet. Proper installation and compliance with safety regulations are two principles that will allow you to create an imitation of expensive built-in equipment that is no different in functionality.

Household appliances Refrigerator

How to install a regular refrigerator in a closet

However, if you still want to build a refrigerator into your kitchen unit, then you can consider the following two methods:

Method 1

Mount the refrigerator in a box that is designed according to its dimensions, and install the door and cabinet front.

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An ordinary refrigerator, which is built into a cabinet.

Method 2

Conceal the refrigerator with paint or self-adhesive wallpaper.

Possible ideas: how to hide a refrigerator in a kitchen cabinet

Installing a freestanding refrigerator in a closet presents a number of challenges. The problems are associated with the lack of those characteristics that built-in models have. But they can also be minimized if you choose the entire column wisely:

• Ergonomics are achieved through special invisible handles and battery-powered lamps;
• Silence is achieved by using soundproofing materials in the upholstery of machine elements.

What do you need to build a refrigerator into a closet?

To install a refrigerator in a furniture set module, you must complete the following steps:

• Select the optimal size of the extension cord in order to make a rearrangement in the future if desired;
• Provide free access to the power grid;
• Pre-defrost the unit if it has already been in use. Free the new model from shipping materials;
• Carry out the installation by inviting assistants or specialists in advance. For particularly heavy structures, you may need special equipment - a jack.

Scheme and drawings

The main idea is to choose a drawer that does not look flashy and distinctive from the design of your kitchen. A protruding handle for opening can immediately catch your eye and can give away the “secret” that there is something behind the door. We recommend using special invisible handles. They are practically invisible and are practical to use, which can add special technology to your kitchen. And the diagram for installing a 60cm wide freezer under the countertop is simple.

If you have a lot of space, then you can use soundproofing material (they need more space) to upholster the cabinet parts, which will greatly reduce the noise of the structure.

You can install a special light with batteries in the drawer, allowing you to comfortably remove food from the refrigerator, even if you have difficulties with electricity.

Ways to integrate a regular refrigerator into a kitchen design

In order to integrate a refrigerator into the kitchen, you should choose one of the options:

• order furniture according to an individual project, which includes space for a refrigerator;
• place the unit in a specially made cabinet;
• place in the opening between the elements of cabinet furniture:
• leave as is, but decorate visible surfaces in accordance with the design of the kitchen.

Of course, making furniture to order will cost a pretty penny, but all wishes will be taken into account. To create an opening in the set, you will have to remove some element, which is not good, since it will violate the integrity of the ensemble. The camouflage method is simple, but the refrigerator will still stand out from the general background. The most common method remains - building a cabinet, which should:

1. the design fits harmoniously into the kitchen set;
2. do not have a back wall, the rigidity of the structure is ensured by jumpers;
3. its doors should not prevent the refrigerator from opening;
4. provide reliable ventilation, forced if necessary.

Step-by-step instruction

We will look at the example of building a refrigerator into a 60 cm box.

Design a box for installation

Designing a box for a refrigerator is not difficult. To do this, it is enough to prepare all the necessary tools and materials.

Sawing materials

To make a built-in refrigerator yourself, you need the following types of materials and tools:

• wood or chipboard;
• door hinges with a closer and a wide opening angle (elements guarantee the possibility of removing the drawer and shelves);
• door handles;
• fasteners (screw, bolt, clamp, screw);
• LMB;
• Self-adhesive films;
• roulette;
• pencils with a jigsaw;
• drill with drills of various sizes;
• screwdriver;
• saw with a hammer.

Assemble the frame

You can build an ordinary refrigerator into a kitchen set using this method:

1. We attach the upper area of ​​the cabinet and the shelves, which are installed above the equipment, to the rack using mini-fasteners;
2. We twist the back wall to the end of the shelf using screws, to the rack using corners;
3. At the back of the modules you need to install a wide spacer, secured with mini-clamps;
4. A small spacer is fixed with metal corners;
5. The cabinet is installed at the installation site, and then it is worth leveling the structure using a level;
6. The module is attached with furniture parts installed next to each other, metal corners of the cabinet are combined with the wall;
7. The third spacer should be installed at the level of the plinth and secured with corners; on
8. we screw the door hinges on the side post on the left (for a huge door you will need 4 parts, for a small door 2 will be enough);
9. Holes are made in the side rack for passages through which the network cable is routed.

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Build a refrigerator into a box

To install an ordinary refrigerator in a cabinet, you need to carry out the following manipulations:

• We place the equipment in the furniture module, remove the handle. The cabinet door must be closed. The front area of ​​the device must not interfere with the installation of the façade;
• We attach the equipment to the side walls. This can help ensure the structure has the necessary stability. Otherwise, deformation will occur and the door will no longer close. To fix the structure, you can use metal corners. We attach one area to the module, and the second to the refrigerator.

Installing a facade on refrigerator doors

Installation of the facade on a built-in refrigerator is carried out using the following two methods: fittings, which ensure that the door slides against the facade along the runners, and fixed fasteners with hinge systems. The second method is reliable, but it is very expensive and requires excellent skills.

The refrigerator, which is hidden behind the facade, has numerous advantages. The interior looks very complete and aesthetically pleasing. In particular, this also applies to classical, romantic, and ethnic styles. In them, an enameled or steel box looks like a completely alien object, and can negate all the designer’s work. A disguised refrigerator is a salvation for such an interior.

Advantages of the built-in model:

• ergonomics - built-in appliances can help rationally optimize a room, minimize distances, overcome during cooking, and perfectly organize the “working triangle” area. In addition, you can install it at a height that is comfortable for users;
• noiselessness – thanks to the rigid fixation to the body, vibration is dampened, which means the noise level is reduced. The very location of the device “in the closet” can contribute to this. Furniture walls can partially block the propagation of sounds;
• profitability - the need to place equipment in the headset set the manufacturer a goal - to guarantee the required level of thermal insulation. A huge protective layer can reliably minimize the influence of the external environment and allows the equipment to operate in an economical mode;
• easy care - there are no side walls, which reduces the time required to wash kitchen aids. Hidden wires should not be washed away from dirt;
• abundance of models - with the exception of standard solutions, there is equipment that you can build under the countertop or move into the island. There are refrigerator solutions in which the freezer is located at the bottom, top, side, or there is no freezer at all.

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How to install a regular refrigerator

If the user decides to make a built-in refrigerator out of an ordinary refrigerator, he will have to buy the necessary tools, measure and assemble the frame. Cutting and processing the edges of elements can cause some difficulties, so sometimes you have to turn to specialists. You can build in a regular refrigerator yourself.

Materials and measurements

To make your own built-in refrigerator, you will need the following materials and tools:

• wood or particle boards;
• door hinges with closers and a wide opening angle (the parts provide the ability to remove drawers and shelves);
• door handles;
• fasteners (screws, bolts, clamps, screws);
• paint and varnish products;
• self-adhesive film;
• roulette;
• pencil;
• jigsaw;
• drill with drills of different sizes;
• screwdriver;
• saw;
• hammer.

To build a refrigerator into a set, you need to assemble a corresponding cabinet. The work can be done with your own hands or with the help of specialists. The design of the box is carried out at the stage of manufacturing the entire set. This makes it easier to choose the right material and design. Before starting measurements, the installation location is determined. The need for free air circulation should be taken into account. The box is larger in size than the built-in device. The cabinet must have the following parameters:

• Overall width. This indicator consists of the width of the refrigeration unit, the thickness of the side parts of the pencil case and the allowance for installing hinges, which is 3-4 cm.
• Height. The upper part of the box should be located at the level of other pieces of furniture. If the refrigerator is small in height, you can provide a shelf in the cabinet design. When calculating the height of the module, you need to take into account the need to leave a margin for ventilation.
• Side walls. The value of this parameter corresponds to the depth of the refrigerator with an allowance of 5 cm or more.
• Shelf. To determine the dimensions of this part, the thickness of 2 side walls is subtracted from the width of the module. To calculate the length, subtract 10 cm from the depth of the pencil case.
• Rear wall of the shelf. The size is determined as follows: the width of the inner part of the box is added to the thickness of the upper part and the shelf located above the cooling unit.
• Middle spacer. The width of this element is 15 cm. The length coincides with the size of the frame.
• Bottom struts. The parts have a width of 5 cm and a length corresponding to the width of the module.
• Base. The upper part of the strip is installed with a distance of 1 cm from the floor to the edge of the cabinet door.
• Facades. Add 2 mm to the height and width of the pencil case and set aside 0.5 cm for probable subsidence.

Sawing and edging parts

After taking measurements, the production of the module is ordered from a furniture making company. If the user decides to assemble the cabinet with his own hands, he will only need to pay for cutting and finishing the edges. The parts are cut out using a jigsaw, which makes even cuts. They are hidden by gluing film.

Frame assembly

All fasteners must be screwed in carefully when assembling the cabinet. This will help avoid loosening of the structure during operation of the unit. You can integrate a regular refrigerator into a kitchen set as follows:

• the upper part of the cabinet and the shelf installed above the device are attached to the racks with minifixes;
• the back wall is screwed to the end of the shelf with screws, and to the racks with corners;
• a wide spacer is installed behind the module, which is secured with minifixes;
• a smaller spacer is fixed using metal corners;
• the cabinet is placed at the installation site, after which the structure is leveled using a level;
• the module is fastened to adjacent furniture elements, the cabinet is connected to the wall with metal corners;
• the third spacer is installed at the level of the base and fixed with corners;
• door hinges are screwed onto the left side post (for a large door you will need 4 elements, for a small door 2 are enough);
• holes are drilled in the side rack through which the network cable will be routed.

Refrigerator installation and facade fastening

To install a regular refrigerator in a closet, you need to follow these steps:

1. Place the device in the furniture module by removing the handle. You need to try to close the cabinet door. The front of the refrigerator should not interfere with the installation of the facade.
2. Attach the refrigerator to the side racks. This helps provide the structure with the required stability. Particular care must be taken to strengthen the stand with hinges. Otherwise, deformation will occur and the door will stop closing. Metal corners are used to secure the structure. One side of the part is attached to the wall of the module, the other to the refrigerator. To do this, unscrew the bolts at the attachment points of the device door. After installing the corner, the fasteners are returned to their original position.

After installing the refrigerator in the kitchen, you need to secure the facades so that they form a single unit with the doors of the refrigeration unit. This will require guides. Installation work is carried out as follows:

• choose the location for installing the guides (the parts are fixed at the top of a small door and at the lower level - a large one, leave a distance of 3 cm from the edge of the facade, after which a straight line is drawn);
• the first part of the part is secured with screws, then the second part is installed;
• a metal corner is attached to the top of the guide;
• At the end of the refrigerator door, markings are made for attaching parts.

It is allowed to install 2 corners, which are fixed to the structural elements and then tightened with bolts. If the facades warp when opening, the position of the corner is changed. After completing the installation work, connect to the electrical network.

Fake a Built-in Refrigerator with Home Decor

You can change the “keeper of the freshness of your food” with your own imagination and decorative techniques. Fortunately, there are a lot of them.

Thus, you can use the following methods:

1. Painting. You can use enamel paints in your work. The main thing is to apply the spray paint evenly. A few layers of paint and your refrigerator will be unrecognizable. You can choose paint to match the headset, or you can use other colors. If you have a two-color technique, then you can select two colors at the same time. For example, you can repeat the white top and black bottom of furniture during decoration by making the top door white and the bottom door black, or vice versa;
2. If you are a connoisseur of extravagant techniques, you can use a stencil. With their help you can create expressive ornaments and patterns;
3. If you wish and have artistic skill, you can use a brush and recreate a true work of art.

Tips and tricks

Installation is a very difficult and labor-intensive process. To complete the work correctly, you need to take a responsible approach to carefully study the installation process and take into account the advice of experienced craftsmen.

The most common mistakes when installing a built-in refrigeration cabinet yourself:

• the use of a massive decorative panel, which creates additional loads on the equipment and the front door;
• failure to take into account the rules regarding the presence of a ventilation gap and lower ventilation shelves;
• installing a refrigerator next to heating appliances;
• Incorrect connection of devices to the electrical network.

If the equipment malfunctions or completely fails due to such errors, the technicians will not accept the equipment for repair under warranty. You can lose both time and money (on repairs at your own expense, purchasing new equipment, calling a specialist and new installation work). If you are not confident in your own abilities and strengths, it is recommended to immediately leave such work to a pro.