On the hunt for the best fridge for small kitchens? Don’t sweat it, because I have a number of amazing options to show you in this blog post.
In my work as an interior designer I encounter small kitchens all the time, and they can work wonderfully. One of the most important things to keep in mind when buying a new appliance for them, though, is to ensure you merge form and function. What I mean by that is: the best refrigerator should not only look good, but address your needs as well.
The small fridges in this showcase most certainly tick both boxes. And I’ve been sure to include a variety of options, too. Different colours, different heights, different price points and more. Because every small kitchen is uniquely different. I’m very aware that solutions for small spaces are not a one-size-fits-all approach.
So scroll on, check out all the fridge designs, and hopefully with a few clicks you can have your new refrigerator in your limited space kitchen in no time.
1. LG 306L Bottom Mount Fridge
Let’s kick it off with one of the best fridges for a small kitchen in the affordable category: the LG 306L Bottom Mount Fridge. This one’s a top pick for a few reasons that go well beyond the under-$1000 price point.
From a looks perspective, the narrow fridge profile makes this bad boy ideal for a small space. And to add to the convenience factor, this type of refrigerator is reversible, so the doors can open on whichever side you need.
While it is tall and thin, don’t be thinking you’re sacrificing on space or special features inside. This 306-litre fridge has surround cooling, which cools from front and back to keep food fresher for longer. Plus it comes with door cooling to keep all those drinks and condiments cool on the inside of your fridge door.
This energy efficient fridge also comes with a 10-year parts warranty, making it one of the best bottom freezer refrigerators there is on the market.
2. Husky 112L Retro Style Bar Fridge
When it comes to fridges for smaller kitchens, the Husky 112L Retro Style Bar Fridge is probably the cutest of the lot. Sporting a retro design on the outside, it’s all modern, new fridge vibes on the inside.
With three shelves, a vegetable crisper and plenty of space on the internal door, this a great choice fridge for a very small kitchen. And when it comes to additional features, let’s call out the two-bottle wine rack as well as the spill proof shelves, which are made from half tempered glass and can be easily adjusted.
Of all the counter-depth refrigerators in this roundup, this one gives you a number of colour options (available in black, white and red.). Plus it slots perfectly under your benchtop without taking up much space.
3. Bosch Series 4 324L Freestanding All Fridge
This is the best fridge for those of you who are all about freshness. That’s because the Bosch Series 4 324L Freestanding All Fridge is all fridge, no freezer. This means you have plenty of storage space for fresh produce and bulk-buy items like drinks.
With seven internal shelves as well as five door shelves, this sleek fridge has a total capacity of 324 litres. And when it comes to extra features, this one has many.
VitaFresh crisper drawers allow for clever humidity control so your produce stays crisp. The internal LED lighting uses less electricity than regular bulbs. And then there’s the AirFresh filter to reduce unwanted smells.
This freestanding all-fridge is a good choice for entertainers too, because it comes with SuperCool technology, allowing the temperature to drop as low as two degrees celsius for a period of up to 12 hours – so produce and liquids can be rapidly cooled.
4. LG 266L Top Mount Refrigerator
Allow me to present one of the slimmest top freezer fridges for compact kitchens: the LG 266L Top Mount Refrigerator.
This just-under 21-inch refrigerator measures 555mm wide and 1680mm tall. It’s by far one of the narrower options for tight spaces, and it’s packed with some cool tech features you’ll appreciate.
The first is Door Cooling. This sees air vents located in the front ceiling of the fridge direct cold air onto items stored in the top-door baskets.
Smart Diagnosis is the second. It allows you to troubleshoot issues and keep updated with maintenance alerts via the LG app, so you can avoid the need to make a service call.
The built-in ice maker can also be moved out if you need more storage space in the freezer compartment, while the stainless steel finish makes this unit look way better than your average white fridge.
5. Artusi 111L Fully Integrated Bar Fridge
The Artusi 111L Fully Integrated Bar Fridge is more than meets the eye. By that I mean, it’s a small refrigerator that comes with way more inclusions than you’d expect.
The first bonus is that it can be fully integrated, meaning you can have the front match your cabinetry and blend seamlessly into the space. This is such a win for anyone with limited kitchen space because it keeps things looking clean and uncluttered.
While this is a bar fridge, the internal storage capacity is 111 litres, plus it comes with a small freezer section which a lot of small fridges don’t deliver. The reversible door allows for flexible placement and easy access, while the lower crisper drawer sets it apart from some other mini fridges on the market.
It also has a 12-hour storage capability in case of power outage, ensuring that your food and beverages stay fresh. What’s not to love about this space-saving design?
6. Miele 253L Integrated Bottom Mount Fridge
Bottom-freezer fridges from a brand like Miele are going to take you into a higher price range ($3299 at time of publish), but the quality is there.
The Miele 253L Integrated Bottom Mount Fridge is a slim-width stunner that includes four shelves, a chrome-plated bottle rack, a crisper drawer, ample door storage and digital temperature control.
The reversible hinge allows you to have the door open on either side you like, plus it can be integrated for a more streamlined look and feel.
The freezer unit in this beauty comes with a no-frost system, which sees no ice deposits form on your frozen food, allowing drawers to be opened and closed easily without getting stuck.
And lastly, the energy efficiency. In fact, it falls within the top 20 per cent of most energy efficient products on the Appliances Online website. Of the built-in refrigerators available in-stores, this is one of the nicer ones.
7. Smeg FAB 50’s Style 270L Retro Refrigerator
We all know and love the Smeg range of major appliances. They’re such a popular choice for lovers of design nostalgia.
The FAB 50’s Style 270L Retro Refrigerator is a standout from this much-admired brand. Available in seven colours, you can choose a tone that perfectly suits the look of your small kitchen. You can even match it to your coloured kettle or toaster.
Decked out with an array of adjustable shelves inside for easy organisation, it also comes with a defrost system, which eliminates the need for manual defrosting (a feature many retro-style fridges aren’t equipped with)
This limited-space lover also boasts a fan-assisted cooling system, ensuring even temperature distribution.
8. Mitsubishi Electric 470L Multi Drawer Fridge
French door refrigerators are possible in a small kitchen, and the Mitsubishi Electric 470L Multi Drawer Fridge proves it.
So many French door fridges are wide, but this model comes in at just 650mm across. Available in two finishes (silver or white) this smart refrigerator packs a real punch inside.
The multi-drawer design allows for larger-capacity food storage. The smart freezer drawer can freeze hot food using temperature sensors. Plus it comes with a non-plumbed ice dispenser, lots of freezer space, and ample door bins on the inside of the refrigerator for all your drinks and condiments.
You won’t find many bottom-freezer refrigerators as quiet as this one either, nor a small French door model with so many positive online reviews.
9. Kogan 87L Top Mount Fridge
What I really enjoy about the look of the Kogan 87L Top Mount Fridge is the height. It sits in-line with (or just under) the kitchen countertop. It not only looks tidy, but you can use the top of it for more storage if you wanted to sit it at the end of your counter rather than under it.
This top-freezer refrigerator also sports a modern black and silver finish, so it’ll look great alongside your other kitchen appliances.
On the specification-front, it has a 87-litre capacity, vegetable and fruit crisper with humidity control, plus interior LED lights and mechanical temperature control.
Coming in at under $300, this is one of the best models on the price front that’s going to make your small kitchen feel a whole lot bigger.
10. LG 194L One Door Fridge
Standard refrigerators are always around the same height, but I love that the LG 194L One Door Fridge steps it down a notch at 1295mm. That’s the kinda height that allows you pop a microwave on top for easier access, saving even more space in your small kitchen.
The fact that it’s a less-than counter-depth fridge also means it won’t jut out into the space too much.
Inside, this fridge has a moist balance crisper, which retains evaporated moisture from vegetables to ensures they stay fresher for longer. It also comes with three adjustable shelves, handy door baskets, and a seamlessly integrated freezer zone.
You’d be one very smart home shopper to snap up this compact fridge, which at the time of publish is available for under $600.
11. Linarie Retro Bottom Mount Fridge
If your current refrigerator is feeling a little boring, consider injecting some personality into your cosy kitchen with the Linarie Retro Bottom Mount Fridge.
This slim fridge comes in six impressive colours, sports a curved retro design and is only 546mm wide.
Inside the fridge you’ll enjoy features like a 175-litre capacity, seven temperature settings, deep fruit and vegetable crisper, three removable tempered glass shelves and more.
Inside the freezer, you’ll notice a 67-litre capacity, three spacious drawers, and a high-efficient compressor. A very impressive merge of form and function with this small fridge freezer.
12. Kogan 43L Bar Fridge
I knew fridge freezers could be compact, but who knew they came this compact?
The Kogan 43L Bar Fridge is a great solution for small kitchenettes in studio apartments or hotels, dorm rooms, or airbnb’s that are on the cosier side. I bet there are teenagers who wouldn’t mind one of these in their own bedroom at home, come to think of it.
This one doesn’t fit a tonne in it, as you’d expect, but it is well laid out, comes with a pull-out wire shelf, and even includes a chiller compartment.
A fridge that takes up almost no cubic feet of space that you can score for just over $100; that’s some cash value I can stand behind. And as a sidenote, Kogan is all over the availability of delivery, with many of their products hitting your doorstep within a few days.
A Note from Chris
At the time of publish, it was pretty impossible to find a fridge for a small kitchen that came with a water dispenser, or one that had wi-fi connectivity. I’m hoping with time I can update this post to include them when a reputable brand releases some to market.
There were a few online, but I didn’t want to send you toward a supplier I wouldn’t recommend for our design clients or use in my own home. So I steered clear of any questionable websites.
The same goes for more French door models / side-by-side refrigerators. They really are few and far between because more width is needed to design them to be double-door. Let’s all cross our fingers that more are on the way in due course.
Have these best fridge for small kitchen ideas helped you hone in on the right one for your home? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Drop be a line and let me know if any of these fridges have taken your fancy. I’d love to hear from you.
