Design of a small kitchen with a refrigerator

Recently, more and more often in apartments, kitchen zones have been allocated less and less space. Although it should be noted that a small kitchen with a variety of layouts and interiors is more a plus than a minus. Its space is easy to organize to make it practical and comfortable. However, many housewives are worried about the question of where to put a modern refrigerator in a small room, which sometimes can reach considerable sizes.

Before you quickly equip your kitchen, you should familiarize yourself with the rule of the working triangle. Unfortunately, not everyone knows him. But it really works and allows you to improve the functionality of the kitchen. It is very simple to arrange pieces of furniture and household appliances linearly, but it is very difficult to call such a decision rational. It is important that the refrigerator becomes an integral part of the triangle.

First of all, you should make sure that there are no obstacles on the way to the refrigerator, for example, a table or any other piece of furniture. It is worth maintaining a distance of 60 to 120 cm between the contacting zones. If the recommended parameters are not adhered to, the cooking process often becomes a real torment, and not a pleasant experience. It is desirable that the work in the kitchen takes place according to the following principle:

• food is taken from the refrigerator;
• then they are sent to wash or directly to the worktop;
• then they should be sent to the stove, which it is desirable to place near the countertop;
• it is appropriate to put ready-made meals immediately on the table at which the meal is being eaten.

Of course, creating a perfect (isosceles) working triangle in the kitchen is quite difficult. Practice shows that other planning solutions are most often used.

• Layout option in the form of the letter "G" implies the location of the refrigerator together with the kitchen set so that an L-shaped atmosphere is created. It is also possible to install the unit on the opposite wall from the L-shaped cabinets.

• Layout in 2 rows implies placement along one wall of the sink, cooking plate and worktop, and along the other - the refrigeration unit and other cabinets. This allows you not to break the working triangle rule.

• U-shaped option placement allows, in addition to two walls, to take another third, for example, a sink.

• Island layout makes it possible to bring a work table to the center of the kitchen. However, it is difficult to use this solution in a small kitchen.

It is worth not forgetting that the surface of the countertop should be located between the storage, washing and cooking places. This will not only improve the work area, but also separate the sink and electrical appliances.

Before moving on to the most convenient locations for installing your refrigerator, when the kitchen is small, you should familiarize yourself with the list of those where it is better not to put this household appliance.

• The first option was already mentioned earlier - in a row with a stove and a sink.
• Near electrical appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines. This may cause the refrigerator to overheat. The minimum distance from the cooling device to powerful electrical appliances should be about 15-20 cm.
• Close to a radiator, cooker, or close to walls. It is important that the rear panel of the refrigerating appliance is well ventilated so as not to disturb heat transfer.
• Household appliances must not be placed next to the sink. The water source is clearly not "friends" with them. Moisture on the contact can cause a short circuit and this can lead to fire.
• Locating too far from the front door will make it difficult to unload food.
• Close proximity to the dining table will make it difficult to open the refrigerator doors. It's not a good idea to move the chairs every time.
• A separate installation of the refrigerator, for example, in the middle of the kitchen area next to the island, is also undesirable, otherwise a difficult atmosphere can be created in the room.

It is very convenient to place the refrigerator in the corner of a small kitchen, especially if it has a window.

However, installation in a corner is possible if the length of the wall is 5 meters or more. Then it becomes possible to place the sink, work surface, cooking plate and refrigerator in one row.

Another solution when installing the refrigerator in a corner is to place it under the surface of the countertop. Of course, this is appropriate for the small dimensions of the refrigeration device. As a result of the implementation of this option, it will be possible to expand the work surface and simplify the work in the kitchen. Often the refrigerator is located at the very entrance to the kitchen. This technique is even used for space zoning. After all, this is how the refrigeration device becomes an additional partition. You can position it both to the right and to the left of the entrance, as it will not stand out much, especially if you choose a refrigerator in light colors.

You can also integrate the refrigeration unit into furniture to create a uniform surface and visually expand the kitchen area. However, the latter option requires that the rule of the working triangle must be taken into account. It is also possible to position the refrigeration unit in a doorway. This is done as follows - the old opening is closed up, and the new door is organized in the partition wall between the kitchen and living area. This setting is especially appropriate in Khrushchevs to expand the space of small kitchens.

It is worth clarifying, before proceeding with such an improvement in the kitchen space, whether the wall is capital. You may need to complete all the necessary paperwork for this procedure. Another place for the refrigerator is under the facade.

Installation in a drywall niche is a great option if you want the refrigeration unit to not stand out too much from the kitchen utensils. In addition, this option is more practical, since less dust and direct sunlight will get on the refrigerator. It is quite simple to make a niche from an aluminum profile and a couple of sheets of drywall. At the same time, niches can be arranged above the refrigerator or vertical cabinets can be attached to the side, if space permits.

Sometimes the kitchen is so small that you have to install a refrigerator in the hallway. To do this, remove the door that separates the kitchen from another room in order to avoid unnecessary confusion with a bunch of doors. If desired, and if the layout allows, you can leave the door to the kitchen just wide open. If there is a pantry in the corridor, then it is appropriate to place the refrigerator in it.

If the kitchen area is small, and a gas water heater is still installed in it, then the placement of the refrigerator can become an even greater problem. In this case, it is necessary to carefully measure every centimeter of the area. It is important to take into account that the refrigeration unit, like other electrical household appliances, cannot be installed close to the column. Safety rules state that it is necessary to maintain a distance of 0.4-0.5 meters. It is also prohibited to independently transfer the column to another place; this is done only after obtaining special permission. An excellent option for a kitchen with a gas water heater would be the location of the refrigerator directly under the water heater. This is appropriate as the bottom of the column does not heat up.

Corner kitchen units provide a comfortable and fully formed workspace. Often, a refrigerator already enters them and it only remains to place everything according to the rules of a triangle, that is, on the one hand, there is space for work, and on the other, for eating. If the refrigeration unit is very bulky, then it is better to install it at one of the vertices of the working triangle, that is, at the window or at the entrance.

Such furniture allows you to use all the angles that are usually not taken into account in standard models of kitchen sets. For additional space, you can use the swing-out shelves. For non-standard kitchen areas, corner sets of kitchen furniture may not be suitable, for example, such is a narrow and long space. Some housewives note the inconvenience of working with the sink, which is located in the corner.

Built-in furniture, including a refrigerator, is the optimal solution for a small kitchen space. It is best if, at the same time, the dimensions of the refrigeration unit are small, for the most necessary. This option is better for those who live in an apartment and can constantly buy food.

Built-in options allow you to place hanging shelves or a pencil case above or next to them. Of the advantages of such refrigerators, it is worth noting their aesthetic appearance. However, care must be taken that the dimensions of the furniture in which the unit will be built are strictly observed. It is possible that it will have to be made to order. In this case, a grill is installed instead of the rear wall.

However, models of such refrigeration devices are most often made to order and are expensive. Among the built-in models, refrigerators without freezers are often found. This is not a problem as it can be purchased separately and installed, for example, under a worktop. These small refrigerators are easy to install even in the smallest kitchen.

Minimalism expands the space and allows you to accommodate everything you need. Minimalism will allow you to decorate the kitchen space of even the smallest area. For furniture facades, in this case, it is better to choose plastic or MDF in one tone without any texture. This practical design allows you to make the most of every inch of surfaces. So, on the walls you can place hanging cabinets, household appliances, including a mini-refrigerator. This makes it possible to make the kitchen more spacious.

Enchanting Provence will make your kitchen a fabulous place. The light and cozy Provence style will not only help to visually enlarge the kitchen area, but also bring maximum coziness. Discreet shades, among which the most relevant are blue and purple, simple furniture, simple decor elements - and the kitchen looks perfect.

An overview of a small kitchen with a refrigerator in the video below.