All You Need to Know About Hidden Refrigerator Cabinets

Walk into any kitchen, and a bulky refrigerator is usually one of the first things to catch your eye. While every modern kitchen must have a fridge, the protruding appliance can often clash with the overall kitchen design, disrupting the clean lines of cabinets and countertops. 

Fortunately, there’s a fix for that: Many new kitchen designs now include a built-in refrigerator that seamlessly blends in with your cabinets and kitchen design aesthetic. When done right, hidden fridge designs can transform your space by hiding your refrigerator in plain sight. 

Keep reading to learn more and get hidden fridge ideas that’ll elevate your next kitchen renovation in satisfying new ways. 

What is a hidden refrigerator cabinet?

A hidden refrigerator cabinet is also sometimes referred to as a built-in refrigerator cabinet, integrated refrigerator cabinet, or hidden fridge. Essentially, a hidden fridge is a refrigerator that’s been enclosed by a custom cabinet. This design helps the refrigerator match the rest of the kitchen cabinetry, creating a more cohesive look overall. 

Why should you consider a hidden refrigerator cabinet?

A hidden fridge has a lot of benefits that are worth considering for your next kitchen renovation. 

Here are some of those benefits to installing a hidden fridge cabinet: 

• Customizable colors, materials, and cabinet finishes can bring together the whole room.
• Their clean, modern, high-end look may work particularly well in minimalist kitchens.
• Hidden fridges can improve the flow and functionality of your kitchen. 
• In smaller kitchens, built-in refrigerator cabinets can give the impression of a more spacious kitchen. 
• Their luxury appeal, muffled noise, and personalization potential can boost the value of your home to interested buyers. 

Are refrigerator cabinets suitable for all types of refrigerators?

Before planning a hidden fridge renovation, make sure you find a fridge that’s the appropriate size for this type of project. A suitable refrigerator is a standard size, capable of being fitted with a cabinetry panel, and ventilates from the front. 

For example, it’s best to look for a counter-depth fridge that’s “panel-ready”—meaning, it’s built to be integrated into hidden fridge cabinetry. A panel-ready fridge makes it easy to install the front panel of your hidden fridge cabinet. 

How much do refrigerator cabinets cost?

When installing a refrigerator cabinet, you’ll need to account for more than just the cost of the fridge itself; you also need to budget for custom cabinetry and a contractor for installation.

Panel-ready fridge cost

Panel-ready fridges tend to be more expensive than other types of refrigerators, and you’re more likely to find only high-end brand names for panel-ready fridges. You should be able to find a quality fridge in the $3,000 to $13,000 price range. Some popular panel-ready fridge brands include JennAir, GE, Bosch, KitchenAid, and Samsung. 

Custom fridge cabinet panel cost

The price of a customized cabinet panel for your hidden fridge will vary just as widely. You’ll need to take into account variables like materials, dimensions, design complexity, and the manufacturer’s rates. It’s common for these to add up to anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. 

Built-in fridge installation cost

The cost of your hidden fridge installation depends on a number of factors, including renovation timeline. Simplify your search with Block Renovation — we’ll match you with the best experts for your project so you can compare quotes and break ground more easily.

Learn more: How To Keep Costs Down When Renovating Your Kitchen 

Design considerations for hidden fridge ideas

Before finalizing your hidden fridge ideas, work with your contractor on the following considerations for your refrigerator cabinet installation. 

Decide on hidden fridge location

Ideally, choose a location in your kitchen where the refrigerator will sit close to the stove and within reach of counter space. That way, you’ll be able to quickly retrieve items from the fridge, put them down easily, and cook more efficiently. 

Depending on the size of your kitchen, you could also opt for integrating your built-in refrigerator into a whole wall of cabinets. This type of design can help streamline the functionality of kitchens large and small. It increases valuable storage space, while maintaining a clean look. 

Confirm adequate opening for hidden fridge

Once you’ve decided on a location, triple check that your ideal spot can accommodate your ideal hidden fridge. Measure the space at least twice and compare to your fridge and cabinetry specifications. You’ll want those details finalized before any construction plans are drawn up. 

Match the hidden fridge door panel with other cabinets

For the full effect of a hidden fridge, match your refrigerator door panel with the rest of your kitchen cabinets. If you’re renovating all of your cabinets at once, that makes it easier to customize a full matching set. But if you don’t need or want to update your kitchen cabinets, you’ll need to get creative with your hidden fridge ideas. 

For example, if your kitchen cabinet project wasn’t too long ago, you might be able to source the same materials and designer to get a custom-made matching fridge panel. Alternatively, you can opt for a built-in refrigerator panel that contrasts with the other cabinets in either color, texture, or material. With that option, you’re still hiding the fridge behind a cabinet, but you’ll need to be extra intentional about making sure the overall kitchen design stays cohesive.

5 hidden fridge ideas to inspire your renovation

1. Align clean cabinet edges

🚧 About this kitchen renovation: This 180-square-foot Westchester County kitchen was inspired by Swedish and California design styles. The homeowners wanted to create a space that felt clean and bright for their growing family. The choice of a hidden fridge blends in perfectly with the contemporary aesthetic, which includes maple cabinets and brass hardware. The refrigerator features a set of french doors up top and a freezer drawer on the bottom.

💡 Hidden fridge idea: Be thoughtful about your built-in fridge’s door-and-drawer configurations and how they impact the kitchen perimeter’s clean lines. Wherever possible, align the edges of cabinets and drawers to create smooth lines for the eye to follow. 

2. Maximize space in narrow kitchens

🚧 About this kitchen renovation: In this 120-square-foot Manhattan kitchen, the homeowner prioritized functionality and a sleek aesthetic. They explain: “I needed something very simple and minimal. I wanted my kitchen to be very clean, pretty, and user friendly.” The addition of a french door hidden refrigerator contributes to the minimalist look of their kitchen.

💡 Hidden fridge idea: Maximize the space in a narrow kitchen with a fridge cabinet that’s flush with the rest of the cabinets and countertops. 

3. Maintain aesthetic consistency

🚧 About this kitchen renovation: The homeowners of this East Hampton home wanted it to harmonize with its natural surroundings, and its 135-square-foot kitchen does just that, emphasizing the airy, bright atmosphere of the space. They’ve seamlessly integrated a hidden refrigerator to avoid disrupting the kitchen’s minimal, sleek design.

💡 Hidden fridge idea: If you have a holistic vision for your home’s aesthetic, every detail counts toward achieving that vision—including how your hidden fridge fits into it all. 

4. Open up small kitchens with color blocking

🚧 About this kitchen renovation: This apartment’s small kitchen plays with a combination of mint green and white color blocking to open up the space. The contrast of the color on the bottom cabinets and hidden fridge panel against the white on the upper cabinets creates an illusion of spaciousness. 

💡 Hidden fridge idea: Use color blocking to create different effects in your kitchen. For example, your fridge’s cabinet panel and select other cabinets could all be a single color that pops, while the other cabinets are a more neutral color. 

5. Save more space with a recessed hidden fridge

🚧 About this kitchen renovation: This apartment’s tiny kitchen makes the most of vertical storage space and light colors to evoke a sense of spaciousness. Most notably, they’ve constructed a recessed fridge cabinet that matches the rest of the pale gray-green cabinets. 

💡 Hidden fridge idea: Recessing a hidden fridge so it’s flush with the wall creates a clear pathway that can do a lot to minimize cramping in small areas and create pathways with cleaner edges. 

Streamline your kitchen with Block 

Inspired to kick off your kitchen renovation? Hide your fridge and renovate confidently with Block. We’ll match you with top-quality contractors, so you can easily compare quotes and get peace of mind with warranty and price protections.