Around this time of year, many people are thinking about taking advantage of the January sales in 2012 in order to re-model and upgrade their home, including remodeling their kitchen.  Part of this plan can include buying a new refrigerator to complement updated kitchen cabinetry and work surfaces.

If you consider buying a new fridge, chances are you will be looking online for refrigerator reviews on different types and brands. There are some important things to consider when shopping for a fridge, the following guide will give you a short overview of what you will need to consider when choosing a new refrigerator.

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What Capacity Refrigerator will Suit Your Family & Kitchen?

The first thing that you should look at is what size capacity you will need.  As a general rule most newer refrigerators for a family kitchen range from 18 to 30 cubic feet.  Anything less than 20 cubic feet probably won’t cater very well for an average sized family and we would suggest that you use the following guidelines when choosing your size:

· Family of Three – Choose something less than 23 cubic feet

· Family of Four – Go for a fridge around the 25 cubic feet mark

· Family of Five or Higher – Best suited to a 30 cubic feet refrigerator

Having said that, you should try and stretch your budget to get as much internal capacity and space as your money will allow.  Over the long-term this will mean you reduce the frequency of your shopping trips, and you can cater for any eventualities in the future.

There are also a number of different styles worth considering when reading refrigerator reviews, and the style and design of your kitchen will be a big deciding factor for the type of fridge/freezer you decide to purchase.  Some standard designs types include:

· Compact fridge freezers (very small)

· Cabinet depth (also known as counter depth) – These can come in larger than 36″ wide to compensate for the lack of depth.

· French door style

· Side by Side refrigerators

· Bottom Freezer designs

Cabinet Depth Refrigerators Will Suit a Fitted Kitchen

If you are having a new kitchen fitted, then the cabinet depth refrigerator style is a solid choice.  This is because they are designed to fit flush into your fitted kitchen cabinetry – the end result being a neat and sleek look, where your new refrigerator won’t stick out from the cabinets.

One thing to note is that cabinet depth refrigerators do tend to have a lower capacity than standard sizes.  This is because they are typically manufactured to be a bit shorter than average. In order to make a fridge cabinet depth, it needs to be about as deep as a standard cabinet, 24″. Standard width of a fridge is 36″, so it’s not uncommon to purchase a counter depth fridge that is slightly wider to increase storage space. Counter depth fridges provide a sleek and modern appearance, but they will tend to cost more than other types of fridges.

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Compact Refrigerators if Space is at a Premium

If you have a smaller kitchen then a compact refrigerator might be a good idea.  These mini fridges are designed to fit underneath work surfaces – but typically they are not as aesthetically pleasing as a full-height model. In addition, you will need to bend down to access your foods and won’t have as much internal capacity.

Good luck with your 2012 kitchen upgrade, and don’t forget to measure up before you purchase any new appliance next year!

By: Marc

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