Which Refrigerator Style is Right for Your Kitchen?

Did you know that your typical household refrigerator has an average lifespan of about 14 years? This means there is going to come a time when you find yourself having to invest in a new refrigerator. Maybe that time is now, maybe your refrigerator is showing signs of decline, or maybe you are just interested in upgrading your kitchen. 

Before you can buy that new refrigerator, you have to know which style is right for you. 

If you find yourself in the market for a new refrigerator, then you must stop and take a moment to learn about your options. Over the years, there have been big changes in the appliance world – so don’t be surprised if you find yourself standing in a big box store staring at refrigerators and scratching your head. What kind of refrigerator do you need? And which style is best for your kitchen? 

If you can vividly see yourself in this situation, then perhaps you just got done searching and found your way here. Good news – we’ve got everything you need to know about which style of a refrigerator will best fit your needs. 

Top Freezer Refrigerator

Refrigerators with a top freezer are one of the most common, traditional refrigerators on the market. They have a small freezer up top and a larger refrigerated space below. This type is the most economical – in manufacturing and in purchasing. But, that doesn’t always mean it’s the best option. 

One, the doors to the freezer and refrigerator are the width of the refrigerator which may not make it ideal for all kitchens. Two, most people spend more time in the fridge and less time in the freezer — this could mean a lot of bending which is not always convenient. 

Bottom Freezer

Bottom freezers are the opposite. The refrigerator is located on the top with the freezer being a pull-out drawer at the bottom. Oddly, even though the design is only flipped, it seems to have much more space for organization. 

You don’t have to bend every time you need something from the refrigerator, though you will each time you go into the freezer. The bottom drawer can pull out quite a distance and the refrigerator door will open the width of the unit, so you will need to make sure you have the space for it. You will not, otherwise, be able to fully access what you need to.

This has been a popular choice for several years due to its easily accessed, large internal capacity. Though many have complained about having the icemaker so low in the unit. 

Side-By-Side Refrigerators

Side-by-side refrigerators are not to be confused with French Door refrigerators, though they are very similar. These appliances, however, actually have the freezer and the refrigerator side by side. The split runs the entire height of the appliance. 

This may be an ideal option for someone with a small kitchen who does not necessarily have a lot of space for doors to open or drawers to pull out. And, nearly all of these models come with ice and water dispensers in the door which a lot of consumers love. 

The problem is that, although the freezer extends the entire height of the refrigerator, it is thin and narrow. It may look like it has a lot of freezer space, but things like pizza boxes, for example, have a hard time finding a place to fit. 

French Door Refrigerator

The French Door refrigerator is a rising star in the kitchen appliance world. It gives a modern spin to the old side-by-side refrigerator – except when you open both doors, you are looking at only the refrigerator compartment. The unit is not split, but only the doors. This has a couple of benefits. 

• You get some aesthetically pleasing style but still have wide-open refrigerator space. 
• You can save energy and keep your fridge cooler by only opening the door where you need something. 
• The huge space easily fits big items, like party platters and pizza boxes, etc. 

The bottom freezer is usually a deep drawer – sometimes two. This gives you the ability to keep things organized. This is especially true when there are storage drawers to keep the space conveniently separated into different areas.

Some French door refrigerators come with 4 doors, using two more french doors for the bottom freezer section. This not only keeps the freezer section colder but also allows for easier organization thanks to drawers and door storage space.  

French Door refrigerators require less space when opening which means they don’t require a lot of kitchen space to use efficiently. One thing to keep in mind is that, just like other bottom freezers, the ice maker will be in the top part of the bottom freezer. This isn’t an inconvenience to most people, but some do find the bending for ice not ideal. 

Overall, french door refrigerators are continuing to grow in popularity. 

The Perfect Refrigerator

So, what refrigerator style is right for your kitchen? Thor Kitchen has two that may be the perfect option for you. Both are timeless stainless steel (which is also easy to clean and fingerprint-resistant), as well as having french doors, a bottom freezer, cooling systems to reduce freezer burn – and so much more. 

36-inch, 4-door French Door refrigerator, Model Number HRF3603F from Thor Kitchen comes with some must-have features: 

• 22.6 cubic feet of storage space
• LED showcase lighting
• Automatic ice maker
• Touch controls
• Door alarm
• Adjustable racks and shelves
• Triple-Tech cooling systems that control the temperature in each department

36-inch Pro-style French Door refrigerator, Model Number HRF3601F from Thor Kitchen also comes with some great features like these: 

• 20.7 cubic feet of flexible storage space
• Showcase LED lighting
• Dual cooling system
• Automatic ice maker
• Door storage
• Door alarm
• Adjustable racks and shelves
• Two freezer drawers for convenience and easy organization

Regardless of your reasons for needing a new refrigerator in your kitchen, you now have a better understanding of which style is the right style for you. Just be sure to check your measurements before you make that purchase!