When you consider what kind of a refrigerator to purchase, there are a number of choices available. There are stand alone refrigerators which will simply set up in a space where they will stand out and be noticeable and then there are integrated fridges, which means a refrigerator which is built into the cabinetry.
While an integrated fridge may be more expensive, they do have numerous advantages. The most obvious is uniformity of look in your kitchen since they will have panels that directly match the cabinetry. However, beyond this you will also save a significant amount of space.
When you purchase a stand alone refrigerator, you need to measure the space that you have available and then order something approximating this size. You will inevitably have a gap between your refrigerator and that of your walls. This area is sometimes used for storing brooms and mops and the like, but frankly, it’s ugly, attracts roaches and is rarely a good use of space.
By contrast, an integrated fridge will fit exactly into the space provided since the cabinetry is built around it. If you need to store the brooms, a special cabinet can be constructed next to it which will provide exact space requirements for them and will not have unsightly brooms and mops out for your guests to see.
In addition, the top of the refrigerator, the place where cereal boxes and bananas are often collected is eliminated as well. Besides creating a more uniform and clean look, you will also save the space that is wasted above since a cabinet can be installed there.
Just think of it: If you wanted to store your cereal above the refrigerator, it is a limited space, however the cabinet above an integrated refrigerator will provide you with the maximum amount of space for those boxes. It can also be custom built with your specific size needs in order to accommodate cereal boxes or whatever else you’d like to put up there.
Finally, we need to discuss depth savings of an integrated refrigerator. With a standard stand alone refrigerator, you would need to consider loss of space which will occur with the front of the refrigerator, which may jut out from the allotted space or may be recessed slightly. Again, this problem is eliminated with the use of an integrated refrigerator since it will be flush with the cabinetry, providing the maximum possible space for your refrigerated and frozen goods.