A convenient “working triangle” in the kitchen space consists of a cutting surface, a refrigeration structure, and a sink. But it is not always possible to place the necessary elements within the kitchen. In tight spaces, placing a refrigerator in the hallway is the most suitable option. This technique diversifies the interior design and makes the room unique.
Placing a refrigerator in the adjacent area will be a practical solution for an apartment with a very cramped kitchen
Pros and cons of a refrigerator in the hallway
Placing the described item in the corridor has several advantages:
- allows you to use corridor space that was previously empty;
- makes it possible to free up some space in a small kitchen;
- this is a great option for those who like to sit in the living room - you won’t have to go far for chilled drinks;
- if the family rarely cooks, place a small refrigerator in any place where it is not in the way;
- there is an opportunity to create a unique art object, a unique interior design.
Obviously, moving the refrigerator into the hallway has many advantages.
But there are also a number of disadvantages:
- in a narrow, cramped hallway, it is extremely inconvenient to place even the smallest refrigeration unit;
- to wash the equipment, you will have to go to the bathroom or kitchen for water, which will increase the cleaning time;
- while cooking, you have to go to the corridor every time to get groceries;
- the item cannot be placed close to the wall (it is necessary to make an indentation of five to seven cm), since it needs air circulation for normal operation;
- installing the structure in a regular cabinet is not always possible - for a large item you will have to order furniture that matches the dimensions.
To prevent the refrigerator from overheating, there must be free space around it to cool the unit
To avoid noise and vibration, when located near bedrooms, the refrigerator is installed on the most even floors.
The refrigerator should not be too far from the kitchen
Location of refrigeration equipment in the apartment
Due to the limited number of places where it is possible to install refrigeration equipment, sometimes situations arise when it is difficult to install this device in a room or kitchen. For this reason, very often it is necessary to install such a unit in the corridor, and this will entail both negative and positive aspects.
The advantages of such placement are as follows:
- You can free up space in your room or kitchen.
- Say yes to unconventional design solutions, and you will also have the opportunity to use more creative ideas that might not fit into the style of the kitchen if there is a refrigerator.
- Less contamination of the device due to the fact that food will be cooked far from the refrigerator, and therefore there will be much less stains on it.
- There is no need to drag bags of purchased products to the room or kitchen, because you can put everything out at the entrance to the apartment.
But there are also some disadvantages:
- The process of cleaning the device will be much more difficult, because you will need to go to the bathroom or kitchen for water and the required cleaning products.
- Cooking can become even more convenient because you first need to move all the food from the refrigerator to the kitchen area or need to go back to get it several times.
- A clutter of equipment and your things in the hallway will definitely significantly reduce your free space.
Despite many shortcomings, a creative approach will help you turn an unusual solution for placing equipment in the hallway into something special, and at the same time convenient.
Please note that before proceeding with the implementation of your plans, you must first familiarize yourself with all the possible options for the location of refrigeration equipment in the hallway.
In the corridor of the Khrushchev building
The modern refrigerator in the hallway in the Khrushchev building in the photo is neatly fitted into the built-in closet located in the hallway. The corridor leading to the kitchen is very narrow here, no more than a meter wide - it is extremely inconvenient to place anything here.
Special models of refrigerators are available that are designed to be built into a cabinet.
The “chest” refrigerator will also hide in the closet, but will slightly reduce the usable space of the latter, since it will require space to open the lid of the unit. For “Khrushchev” it is better to use built-in equipment - its dimensions are slightly smaller than standard ones.
A special cabinet made to individual sizes will protect the refrigerator from damage
Placing a refrigerator in a small kitchen
Where can you put it in your apartment?
- in the corner opposite from the battery;
- the refrigerator can be built into the corner set, in the center. Here you will have to create a false wall, otherwise garbage behind the refrigerator will be inevitable over time;
- some remove the wall between the kitchen and the room, making a niche; in this case, the corridor can be blocked off, and a refrigerator can easily fit into this niche;
- The most interesting and profitable option is to buy a mini refrigerator and freezer and install it instead of work tables. If desired, they can be disguised as a headset;
- some manage to place a mini refrigerator under the windowsill, which is very large in Khrushchev;
- Three-room Khrushchev apartments have a storage room next to the kitchen; many use it as a place for a refrigerator.
Options for placing a refrigerator in the hallway
The corridor space to accommodate the unit sometimes has to be slightly altered. It’s good if the hallway has a niche or a built-in cabinet. Then putting a refrigerator there is quite acceptable. It is recommended to connect the product directly - without using extension cords. Therefore, an outlet is installed in the immediate vicinity of the device.
The refrigerator will not look alien if you organize a storage system around it or install a coffee bar
There are also places where installing such equipment is prohibited:
- near heating radiators (extremely rare, but they are found in the corridor);
- near heaters, as well as on heated floors;
- in direct sunlight (if there is a window in the hallway);
- if the item is located at the entrance to the kitchen area, its open door should not block the interior doorway;
- Feng Shui philosophy prohibits placing a refrigerator near the wall, which is the border between the bathroom and the hallway.
Sometimes you don’t have to hide the refrigerator, but turn it into an art object by choosing the design to match the interior of the hallway
Built-in cabinet
A tall or compact refrigerator in a closet in the hallway allows you to preserve the style of this room as much as possible. The structure here is hidden behind one of the sliding, hinged doors. The hallway itself looks as if there are only cabinets in it - you can suspect the presence of equipment only by the sound (not always).
It’s hard to guess that behind the doors of an ordinary-looking wardrobe there could be a bulky refrigerator hidden.
A small horizontal structure is also carefully built into a cabinet or cabinet, masking it with a countertop or facade.
Option for placing a refrigerator inside a wardrobe
In a niche
It is very convenient to place the refrigerator in a niche in the hallway. It is hidden behind a screen, curtain, sliding doors, or simply placed in the available space without blocking anything. Painting or covering an object with colored film is quite acceptable.
Refrigerator in a niche specially equipped to accommodate a household appliance
Around the corner
Hiding the refrigeration structure around the corner is also a very convenient option. The unit is installed behind a small homemade partition, any bend in the room. Placing it next to other tall furniture will also fit in with the theme.
A corner in the hallway near the kitchen is a great place if the refrigerator fits perfectly into the corner in size
Near the wall
A beautiful, new refrigerator does not have to be hidden. It is permissible to simply place it near the wall, along with other furniture items. A distance of at least five cm must be left from the back wall to the main surface. It is important that the handle of the refrigerator does not impede the free movement of people and does not disturb anyone.
A black refrigerator will fit perfectly into a loft or Scandinavian interior
Installing a washing machine in a hallway closet
How to properly hide the unit? There are many different options.
A washing machine built into a closet should not limit the basic functionality of the furniture
For example:
- Placing a washing machine in a closet. In this case, the cabinet will continue to perform its main function.
- Hiding the machine in a pencil case is one of the most optimal options for placing the machine. The cabinet built into the wall does not take up much space and is easy to use.
- Place the machine in a small nightstand.
- Placing it behind a curtain is a very convenient option, so the machine will not attract much attention.
- Don't hide the machine at all.
Of course, the last option does not look aesthetically pleasing at all, and it should be used in a desperate situation.
Choosing a refrigerator size
Modern enterprises produce structures of various designs and dimensions. The larger the family, the larger the structure acquired. The most compact models are usually built-in, the most spacious are two-chamber ones.
When choosing a refrigerator for the hallway, it is important to consider its size so that it does not get in the way in the aisle
The main average parameters are approximately as follows:
- structure weight – 25-155 kg;
- height – 55-250 cm;
- width – 45-180 cm;
- depth – 40-100 cm;
- internal volume – 40-750 l.
There are single-chamber and double-chamber units. The latter are distinguished by their greater height, sometimes exceeding two meters. Horizontal structures have a volume of 100-600 liters and open from the side or top (“chest”).
Refrigerator doors should open in a convenient direction
To place the refrigerator in a regular cabinet, all unnecessary shelves and partitions are removed from the latter.
Suitable place for a refrigerator in a furniture set
Refrigerator decor
The final touch, although not at all mandatory, is quite logical - if you want to make the kitchen cozy and truly homely.
There are also such purely conceptual solutions. An imitation of a London telephone booth in the format of a modest Khrushchev building.
Or you can simply take and disguise the refrigerator under nearby furniture pieces. This will not lose any of its functionality, and visually the room will look more harmonious.
Photos of hallway interior ideas with a refrigerator
The refrigerator, built into the cabinet located in the hallway, is practically invisible. Only sometimes it is specially highlighted, painted in a bright color or creating a real picture. In the photo there are often options when behind a wooden, rough-looking facade imitating bog oak, wenge, zebrawood, there is hidden a “miracle of technology” - a modern refrigerator. Doors protect objects from mechanical damage, and residents from noise produced by equipment.
One of the simplest solutions is to hide the refrigerator in a cabinet of a suitable size.
In the interiors of brutalism, industrialism, and “Soviet minimalism,” an old, slightly shabby unit, abundantly decorated with stickers and magnets, is not hidden, but is a rough addition to the interior composition. Place a wooden, hand-painted low stool, floor or wall hanger nearby. If the configuration of the space allows, for the convenience of unloading food, a small window is made between the kitchen and the corridor.
Chic refrigerator decor in loft style
Refrigeration equipment located in a classic interior is covered with a film “like wood”, “like stone”, in a loft hallway - “like brick”, or a “noble patina” is applied. The structure, designed in high-tech style, is made of shiny metal and is surrounded by mirrored furniture facades. The Provence unit is painted with small flowers that harmonize with the patterns on the wallpaper.
Painting a refrigerator in a rustic style
How and where to hide a refrigerator in the kitchen: 7 interesting ideas
Home/Interior/
21 Jun 2020 No
The refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in the kitchen. Today it is impossible to imagine a single house or apartment without this assistant. In addition to its great importance for every housewife, refrigerators are also not small in size. Very often they take up huge space in the kitchen, thereby “eating up” valuable square meters. But even this problem can be solved without much difficulty. Below are 7 options on how you can hide a refrigerator in the kitchen and beyond.
1. Installing a refrigerator outside the kitchen. The simplest and most obvious option is to move the refrigerator to another room. It can be located in the hallway, one of the living rooms, or even in the living room. In this case, it is important to take into account the fact that the refrigerator can irritate you and other family members with its noise during vacation, so before making a change, it is better to discuss everything several times with your loved ones.
A loggia can be an excellent option for locating the refrigerator. In this case, technical conditions must be met, the main ones of which are: moderate humidity in the room, a sufficiently warm temperature in it during the cold season, and the loggia must be constantly ventilated. Otherwise, if all these requirements are not met, the refrigerator will simply fail.
Moreover, you can try to combine the loggia with the kitchen, but you should remember that in this case such changes must be formalized legally, and also coordinated with the rest of the family members and neighbors.
2. Shouldn't you try experimenting with the size? Think about it: do you really need a full-size refrigerator or can you get by with a mini version? Maybe you can completely dispense with the freezer or install it separately? In this case, you will be able to save precious space in the kitchen. This option is ideal for those people who live alone, because a mini-fridge is quite enough for one person.
3. Hide the refrigerator under the stairs. If you are the owner of a house or apartment with two floors, then the refrigerator can be hidden under the stairs, because in fact there is enough space for an entire pantry. The main thing is that you need to take care of creating a heat sink, because in a closed space the refrigerator can quickly overheat and break down.
By installing the refrigerator under the stairs, you don’t even have to resort to additional means of disguising it, because, being in such a place, it is visually lost without attracting undue attention to itself.
4. Refrigerator in the closet. Today, a huge number of kitchen furniture sets are made with a special cabinet designed for a refrigerator. When purchasing this option, you should pay attention to the fact that the back wall of the refrigerator cabinet has a ventilation grill, which will help prevent it from overheating.
5. Camouflage. At first glance, this may seem very strange, but one of the camouflage options is to install the refrigerator in the most visible place! In this case, its surface can be used as a slate board. Today, there are many types of special paints and devices that can be used to turn an ordinary refrigerator door into a note board in order to leave reminders and recipes on it.
6. The refrigerator is a wall of memories and joyful emotions. Using ordinary vinyl film and your favorite photographs, you can make a real memory board or a gallery of your best and favorite photographs from an ordinary and unremarkable refrigerator. Now you don’t have to hide this bulky piece of household appliances anywhere!
7. Use your imagination! Any refrigerator can be turned into a real work of art. You just need to turn on your imagination, and you can bring your ideas to life using full-size magnetic panels with a variety of ornaments and patterns.
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Photos of refrigerators in the interior corridors
Correct installation of the refrigerator
It is important to know how to install a refrigerator correctly! Whatever type of kitchen you have, you should definitely consider the installation rules.
By following them, you will not only be able to comply with safety precautions, but also ensure that your refrigerator has a long service life. After all, you must admit, this is not an item that we buy every year.
When installing, consider the following factors:
- 1. When cooling food, the refrigerator gives off heat, so the distance from it to the wall should be at least 10 cm. Moreover, the wall should also not be warm so as to create excessive heating of the device. If older models had rear ventilation - i.e. This rule concerned the location of the rear wall, but modern refrigerators have ventilated side walls, which greatly simplifies the installation situation.
- 2. For the reason mentioned above, you should not place the refrigerator near heating devices - gas stove, oven or radiator. The recommended optimal distance is 50 cm. You should also avoid overheating the unit body - it is better not to expose it to direct sunlight. This is especially true if your kitchen is located on the sunny side.
- 3. Unlike a gas stove or sink, a refrigerator has greater freedom of “movement”, because it is only tied to an outlet. But there are some nuances here too:
- it is desirable that the connection be made directly, without extension cords and adapters;
- The refrigerator wire is usually not that long, so the outlet should be nearby;
- the socket should be installed away from the sink and stove;
- The possibility of grounding the connection is welcome.
The refrigerator must be installed on a flat floor, otherwise it will make unnecessary noise or not work correctly.
- 4. And one more thing. By taking this into account, you can avoid a number of inconveniences and possible injuries - don't forget about the door! Modern models have a mechanism that allows you, if necessary, to rearrange the handle and change the direction in which the refrigerator door will open. But not all models can boast of this. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the device before purchasing.
A few tips for choosing a refrigerator for a Khrushchev kitchen
Small spaces dictate their own conditions in the choice of household appliances. It should also be compact and built into the kitchen set. Refrigerators are no exception.
Embedding options
A built-in refrigerator fits best into the design of a kitchen unit. Of course, it costs more than usual. But it allows you to make the design of a small-sized kitchen more harmonious and beautiful.
Many people mistakenly believe that built-in refrigerators are absolutely roomy, but this is not the case. Its internal space is almost the same as that of a free-standing one. But due to the flat shape of the door to which the kitchen facade is attached, the built-in refrigerator in the Khrushchev-era building looks more compact and neat.
If you cook “at a time” and do not consider it necessary to buy perishable products for future use, then it is quite possible that you will be satisfied with small-sized refrigerators and freezers that are built under the work surface. You can save even more space!
Tips for choosing
There will be more options for where to put a refrigerator in a Khrushchev-era building if you carefully study the dimensions of the equipment and the external design before purchasing. We recommend choosing models with the following technical characteristics:
- Compact sizes. There are options available for sale with a width of less than 600mm and a depth of 500-550mm. The less the refrigerator protrudes beyond the width of the kitchen countertop, the better the overall interior design as a whole will look.
- Laconic rectangular shapes. Convex, streamlined doors require much more space to open, which is not much in a small kitchen. And the “blown” shapes add massiveness. The stricter and closer to the correct “rectangle” the design of the refrigerator, the better.
- Built-in self-cooling system. Modern models with a self-cooling system allow close proximity of heating devices such as a radiator, oven, hob, etc. Also, such refrigerators can be placed more “tightly” against the wall and built into a niche.
- "Flat" back wall. If you are considering all the possible options for where to put a refrigerator in a Khrushchev-era building, do not rule out the layout with installation near the aisle. But in this case, a gap will be visible between the wall and the refrigerator body. There are models with an integrated self-cooling system - it “pushes” the refrigerator away from the wall less.
Maybe replace the refrigerator?
A refrigerator in a Khrushchev apartment is the kind of thing that, no matter where you put it, gets in the way. Well, small kitchens in archival house plans are not designed for modern household appliances! Some side by side models are large enough to live in. But ordinary, two-chamber refrigerators, to put it mildly, are too big for a small Khrushchev kitchen
But let's not be discouraged! The stores sell options of quite modern configurations, 450-480 mm wide. Their size is only 15 cm smaller than standard, but for a small kitchen
, where the count can be in millimeters, that’s a lot.
It may be worth reconsidering your views on food storage. Today, many people use chilled meat, so there is no need to store it in the freezer.
Manufacturers produce refrigerated cabinets without a freezer, having only a compartment with a temperature of +3 to +8 degrees. Typically, such devices have smaller dimensions, for example, they are suitable for embedding under a countertop. We wrote about which refrigerator is best to choose for a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building in this article.
What is a “Khrushchev refrigerator”
Owners of brick Khrushchev apartments
There is such a thing as a “Khrushchev
refrigerator
” - a niche under the kitchen window with a ventilation hole. This niche, with a brick-thick outer wall, was used by residents to store food in the winter.
Today, few people will be satisfied with the “Khrushchev refrigerator”
“, although some continue to use the niche. So we dedicated an entire article to her.
And never come back to the question of the location of a regular refrigerator (we have already written about this here, here
and
here
), there is always something new to say.
