Clever Homeowners Use Ikea Products To Create An Affordable Built-In Fridge

Buying a new fridge is almost always a stressful chapter for a homeowner. You need to take accurate measurements, assess its energy efficiency and value for money, and — last but not least — consider how it fits into your kitchen's overall decor. Fridges can be really expensive, especially if you opt for a built-in model, which immediately improves the kitchen's aesthetics as well as increases the price significantly.

Fans of do-it-yourself and homeowners on a budget will love this clever design hack. Instead of spending a lot of money on home appliances with personalized panels and tailor-made carpentry, Ikea offers a smart solution for a built-in fridge, with modular furniture to frame, delivering an elegant look at a fraction of the cost. These versatile pieces of kitchen furniture allow you to customize your side panels, adapt them to the kitchen, and turn the previously unused space into functional compartments, all at an affordable price.

Before actually buying it and putting it together, first you need to make sure to take all the measurements correctly. A common mistake is forgetting that the fridge needs space for adequate ventilation. One or two inches from the wall should be enough, but double-check to be sure. Secondly, the fridge door needs to open fully (or at least 90 degrees) without hitting other cabinets or walls. And finally, you might also want to know that you can get Ikea columns and wall units to enclose the appliance. While you're at it and if you get carried away, here is a short guide on 6 Ikea kitchen appliances to buy and 6 to avoid. However, there's actually one unmissable appliance that works as three-in-one: the Ikea 3-in-1 microwave. You can easily place it in a dedicated built-in compartment next to the fridge, saving space, time, and money.

Keep in mind that Ikea offers kitchen planning services, and most of them are free and can be either online or in-store, while in-home measuring is a paid service. And once you're all set here, you can add 11 Ikea finds that'll make your fridge the most organized spot in your home. As shown by influencer Haley Orrock on Instagram, you don't necessarily have to do it yourself. She used the free service and met with one of the kitchen designers.