Asked on Aug 30, 2018

How do I make my refrigerator fit?

Michelle Nendza
by Michelle Nendza

I bought my home 5yrs ago, since money was tight after purchase, I kept appliances that came w the home, as kitchen was beautiful besides appliances. When I'm starting to upgrade appliances, I learned that where they placed the fridge, is very narrow, w no room on either side, wall on one side/cabinets on other. I have cabinets on 3 walls, the only wall w/o them has two windows. There is no place to put a new one. Which I really need a bigger one, this is freezer on top 18 cuft. And I want a stainless steel and the only width I have to work with is 33inches! Please help, how can I ever get a larger one?

  10 answers
  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Aug 30, 2018

    Unfortunately, unless you do a remodel it sounds as if you are stuck. Would you consider a refrigerator without a freezer? You could put a small chest freezer beneath the windows. My daughter keeps a tablecloth over her freezer so no one knows it's there.

    • Michelle Nendza Michelle Nendza on Aug 30, 2018

      That would be difficult as that is only place to recycle bins then the table is in between the two windows! They are great cabinets, just too many and I really can't afford a remodel. I was hoping for other answers except to remodel. As I can not afford anything like that. But thanks for your suggestion.

  • 4002639 4002639 on Aug 30, 2018

    Wow, you are in a pickle!

    Is rearranging the cabinets an option in your kitchen? I know that's not the easiest thing to do, but I had the same problem several years ago and it was for me. It wasn't that hard to do, but it took muscle and time and patience.

    I basically replanned my kitchen layout. I measured everything, including the new fridge I wanted, and placed cabinets accordingly. I actually ended up with more counter top space and a new counter top. I didn't loose any cabinet's in the process though. You will be without a kitchen for a day or two so pre-planning for that is a must.


  • Hi Michelle,

    I just bought one. It's not stainless steel (it almost was but after waiting for Lowes to get it here for 5 weeks I cancelled it) Anyway, I ended up up with a black one by GE that is 32 1/2'' wide, requiring .0125 clearance on each side, refrigerator on top with french doors, freezer on bottom. Largest I could find at the time from Home Depot. It is a GE.


    I did a real quick search and found a stainless 30''

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-30-in-W-20-9-cu-ft-Bottom-Freezer-Refrigerator-in-Stainless-Steel-GBE21DSKSS/206855014


    It's a little bigger than yours. No sure if you've searched on line, but there's a wider variety to choose from than in store. Wishing you all the luck

  • Kathy Kathy on Aug 30, 2018

    Reduce the width of the cabinet or eliminate the cabinet , then you will be able to get a new fridge. This will involve the decrease of the counter-top as well. It sounds as though you have lots of storage. You could make a cabinet into drawers.

    Hope this helps

    Kathy

  • Dfm Dfm on Aug 30, 2018

    I have 2 freezers, and 2 fridges...the deep freeze wound up in the basement d.t. electric wiring issues, the dorm size fridge and freezer are sitting on the enclosed porch. both were being sold at the end of the school year in a college town. many students will sell them cheap....25 to 50 usd. when not needed, the get unplugged.

  • Kc Kc on Aug 30, 2018

    i just googled 33" refrigerators and several came up. I drooled over Samsung's 25 cu ft four door. You don't mention the height you have to work with so that should be a variable to factor in.

    I like Dfm's comment about dorm size fridges. There are very small ones for counter tops and bars. It wouldn't have to be in the kitchen. Set up one near the homework desk and load it with snacks and beverages for the kids...set one up in the man cave loaded with his favorites. It frees up room in the main fridge and maybe cuts down on kitchen traffic.

  • Jan Loehr Jan Loehr on Nov 09, 2018

    Not sure if this is relevant but without removing any cabinets on top or to the left ....have you considered a counter depth fridge ...it would be shorter from front to back and would not stick out so far in front so maybe it would visually match the counter measurements from front to back...would not be this big behemoth near that window....

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Dec 11, 2020

    Hello there,

    Check out all avenues - look on line and enquire in stores. You should be able to find something you can live with.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 04, 2021

    Hello Michelle,

    Move the Cabinet into the corner to gain a few inches maybe?

  • Sharon Sharon on Nov 11, 2021

    I would take out the cabinets to the left of the frig, upper and lower to widen the space to accomodate a new frig. i had to cut down the upper cabinet to fit my new frig into, I just used one of the shelves as the new cabinet bottom.