5 Types of Refrigerators – Which Is Best for You?

Is there an appliance you use more in your day-to-day life than the refrigerator? From endless trips for snacks to searching for the perfect dinner ingredients and everything in between, when it comes to the investment that is a new fridge, there are many options to choose from. And the aesthetic appeal is only scratching the surface of finding you the perfect refrigerator. Whether you’re an avid cook or just need to know that you can find what you need when you open the door, let’s look at the factors to consider.

Common Refrigerator Styles

Top Mount Refrigerators

Also known as top freezer refrigerators, the freezer is (as you would expect) on top, while the fridge component is on the bottom of the unit. These are the most common and tend to be the least expensive. This traditional style is considered reliable and energy-efficient, but it does not offer much freezer space. If you don’t keep many frozen goods, this might not be an issue, and you’ll appreciate having the freezer at eye level.

But also consider the height of those regularly using the appliance. Tall persons will need to regularly crouch or bend to see the contents with the fridge being on the bottom. Those with accessibility needs will have challenges accessing the freezer.

There are fewer organization options as these units offer smaller capacity than other styles, and generally do not come with a water dispenser if that is something you prefer.

Bottom Mount Refrigerators

Also called bottom freezer refrigerators, these are steadily becoming more popular. With comparable energy efficiency to top mount units, bottom freezers generally have more storage options. If you tend to purchase heavier frozen items, this choice reduces the amount of heavy lifting.

While bottom freezer fridges are more costly than top freezer units, they are known to have better storage, accessibility, and organization capabilities, plus they generally come with water dispensers. One thing to keep in mind is that food can become hidden at the bottom of the freezer, making it difficult to access and find everything.

Side-by-Side Refrigerators

With a vertical freezer on one side and a vertical refrigerator on the other side, the doors swing open from the middle like French door fridges but have no compartments on the top or bottom. This layout lets you store food at levels that are convenient for you, whether that’s high or low. The way the doors are designed also leaves more room for use, making it a good choice for smaller spaces. You’re a lot less likely to lose and forget about foods that you can’t see.

These units come with the option to add water and ice dispensers on the outside of the door, a feature many can agree make it a unit of choice.

Depending on your uses, the slim element of side-by-side units could be a problem if you generally store larger items or containers.

Counter-Depth Refrigerators

These are luxury fridges, flush with cabinets for a built-in appearance that can match cabinetry to make the appliance disappear. This style is preferable to homeowners looking for a uniform kitchen profile that doesn’t extend into the kitchen space while using the fridge. Plus, they make for more convenient access to items and easier cleaning when it’s time to wipe everything down.

While they cost more than other styles, counter-depth units are sleek and large with wider storage capabilities. Since they are wider than other fridges, the organization opportunities are much better, and you can get creative with how you fill the unit up. However, this larger size also requires more storage space in the room, and the built-in aspect can make repairs more costly.

French Door Refrigerators

This style features two doors that open outward to the refrigerator section and a sliding pull-out freezer at the bottom. It’s a modern design that often comes with water and/or ice dispensers, making it a popular choice for many homeowners.

The wide shelves of this style allow storage for odd sizes of food and access to fridge items at eye level. It’s a smart choice for those who often entertain, as it’s easy to store platters of food and entire meals ready to cook for hosting. Plus, the ability to open only one door at a time allows you to reduce the amount of cold air escaping.

But the freezer requires bending or squatting to access, and it doesn’t take much to lose items far in the back, making this the drawback of the unit. You’ll likely have to stack items and search around for them within the smaller space available.

We’re here to help you make your refrigerator decision easier – just give us a call!

Is there an appliance you use more in your day-to-day life than the refrigerator? From endless trips for snacks to searching for the perfect dinner ingredients and everything in between, when it comes to the investment that is a new fridge, there are many options to choose from. And the aesthetic appeal is only scratching the surface of finding you the perfect refrigerator. Whether you’re an avid cook or just need to know that you can find what you need when you open the door, let’s look at the factors to consider.

Common Refrigerator Styles

Top Mount Refrigerators

Also known as top freezer refrigerators, the freezer is (as you would expect) on top, while the fridge component is on the bottom of the unit. These are the most common and tend to be the least expensive. This traditional style is considered reliable and energy-efficient, but it does not offer much freezer space. If you don’t keep many frozen goods, this might not be an issue, and you’ll appreciate having the freezer at eye level.

But also consider the height of those regularly using the appliance. Tall persons will need to regularly crouch or bend to see the contents with the fridge being on the bottom. Those with accessibility needs will have challenges accessing the freezer.

There are fewer organization options as these units offer smaller capacity than other styles, and generally do not come with a water dispenser if that is something you prefer.

Bottom Mount Refrigerators

Also called bottom freezer refrigerators, these are steadily becoming more popular. With comparable energy efficiency to top mount units, bottom freezers generally have more storage options. If you tend to purchase heavier frozen items, this choice reduces the amount of heavy lifting.

While bottom freezer fridges are more costly than top freezer units, they are known to have better storage, accessibility, and organization capabilities, plus they generally come with water dispensers. One thing to keep in mind is that food can become hidden at the bottom of the freezer, making it difficult to access and find everything.

Side-by-Side Refrigerators

With a vertical freezer on one side and a vertical refrigerator on the other side, the doors swing open from the middle like French door fridges but have no compartments on the top or bottom. This layout lets you store food at levels that are convenient for you, whether that’s high or low. The way the doors are designed also leaves more room for use, making it a good choice for smaller spaces. You’re a lot less likely to lose and forget about foods that you can’t see.

These units come with the option to add water and ice dispensers on the outside of the door, a feature many can agree make it a unit of choice.

Depending on your uses, the slim element of side-by-side units could be a problem if you generally store larger items or containers.

Counter-Depth Refrigerators

These are luxury fridges, flush with cabinets for a built-in appearance that can match cabinetry to make the appliance disappear. This style is preferable to homeowners looking for a uniform kitchen profile that doesn’t extend into the kitchen space while using the fridge. Plus, they make for more convenient access to items and easier cleaning when it’s time to wipe everything down.

While they cost more than other styles, counter-depth units are sleek and large with wider storage capabilities. Since they are wider than other fridges, the organization opportunities are much better, and you can get creative with how you fill the unit up. However, this larger size also requires more storage space in the room, and the built-in aspect can make repairs more costly.

French Door Refrigerators

This style features two doors that open outward to the refrigerator section and a sliding pull-out freezer at the bottom. It’s a modern design that often comes with water and/or ice dispensers, making it a popular choice for many homeowners.

The wide shelves of this style allow storage for odd sizes of food and access to fridge items at eye level. It’s a smart choice for those who often entertain, as it’s easy to store platters of food and entire meals ready to cook for hosting. Plus, the ability to open only one door at a time allows you to reduce the amount of cold air escaping.

But the freezer requires bending or squatting to access, and it doesn’t take much to lose items far in the back, making this the drawback of the unit. You’ll likely have to stack items and search around for them within the smaller space available.

We’re here to help you make your refrigerator decision easier – just give us a call!