Three Intelligent Methods to Add Storage Round a Fridge | Thrifty Decor Chick

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3 ways to customise the exterior of your fridge with
extra storage!

I like discovering sensible methods so as to add storage round the home, particularly within the
kitchen! I actually take pleasure in determining methods to make higher use of an
underutilized spot.  

One of many first DIY initiatives I labored on in our outdated kitchen was including a
DIY enclosure across the fridge. This makeover will go a lengthy strategy to
making a kitchen really feel extra customized and up to date. 

PLUS, there are such a lot of methods so as to add storage while you “construct in” a fridge!
I am sharing the methods I’ve finished simply that. 

1. Add or lengthen the cupboard above a fridge. 

In case your fridge would not have any cabinetry, including a cupboard on the high with facet panels will give it a customized contact. 

In our final kitchen, we already had a cupboard above nevertheless it was the identical
depth as the remainder of the cupboards: 

short cabinet above refrigerator

Not tremendous helpful when you need to climb on high of the fridge to get to it!
Ha!

extended cabinet above fridge

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I used to be in a position to transfer the unique cupboard doorways to the one I
constructed. 

gray peppercorn base cabinets

Should you bought your cupboards from an enormous field retailer, you might be able to discover
matching facet panels to match. 

If not, use a 4×8 foot wooden panel reduce in half to create your individual! (This can
at all times be cheaper than shopping for the “matching” panels.)

You possibly can add a fridge enclosure if it is towards a wall, positioned in
between cupboards or standing alone.  

 

2. What to do with the area above the fridge?

Should you add a cupboard above, congrats — you may have some new space for storing! 🙂

pan storage above refrigerator

These organizers are expandable, so you’ll be able to stretch them for larger pans, or shut it up for skinny boards. You possibly can nonetheless discover them at IKEA, however this expandable option is comparable. 

In our present kitchenette, we used a sheet of plywood for the facet panels:

wood panels around fridge enclosure


I saved greater than $100 by utilizing this as an alternative of the completed panels
that match the cabinetry. 


We bought a facet by facet fridge for this spot (they’re SO a lot
cheaper than the French door choices!) and after it was put in, we
had a great ten inches of open area between the highest and the cupboard
above.


I knew I may make that area helpful, so I began by nailing some
scrap wooden into the perimeters as help strips:
 

wood supports for shelf


After which I reduce down some wooden that match beneath these helps to shut it
off and create a shelf. 


My unique plan was so as to add a bit of wooden on the entrance that we may
flip up and entry the within of our new shelf. However I could not determine
out the appropriate hinges to make it work. 


So I went again to my scrap pile and determined to complete if off by making a
field I may slide in to cowl all of the ugly elements (you may see the
{hardware} beneath the cupboard and the helps I had simply put in). 


I nailed in a pair extra scrap elements to alongside the again and sides to
connect my new insert to: 

DIY shelf above fridge


I painted the field earlier than sliding it in and nailing, after which trimmed out
the entrance to cowl the tough edges. 


Now that awkward area not solely appears higher, however is a helpful spot!:

small shelf above refrigerator


I nonetheless must fill in some gaps across the trim, however this little
element is nearly finished!

3. Add fairly storage to the facet of the fridge. 

That is considered one of my all time favourite kitchen DIY initiatives!

Enclosing the fridge creates a wall if it is open on one facet…and
after residing with ours for a pair years, I wished to make the most of that vacant
vertical area. 

fridge with cutting board storage on side

I LOVE this wall now! It is such a candy little element in our kitchen, and
it is USEFUL. I like when kind and performance meet up so superbly!

I created little cabinets with leather-based strips to maintain the slicing boards from
falling. For a bit ornamental element, I hung scrap wooden on the again for a
shiplap look, however you may also use beadboard, wallpaper, an accent
coloration…no matter! 

On the basement enclosure, I had that very same empty wall that was calling out
for one thing. I grabbed a pile of fairly slicing boards I’ve had in
our storage room and selected a strategy to show them. 

By the best way…sure I’ve too many slicing boards. I KNOW. 😂 However we at all times
seize one for entertaining or after we’re having snacks and watching
TV. 

I made a decision to hold them on this wall for straightforward entry. You should use cup hooks
to hold slicing boards, however I used to be a bit additional and used a couple of of the
antiqued brass knobs
I put in on our cupboards. 
using knob as hanger

I drilled pilot holes into the wooden panel, then screwed the knobs in. 

They’re tremendous safe and maintain all of our slicing boards: 

cutting board wall

I like the brass element! 

The wooden tone appears nice towards that grey, and it ties in properly with the
new ground (that I nonetheless want to point out you!) and the wooden accents on our
leisure middle: 

cutting board wall by fridge
I hung a lot of the boards with
leather string
I had in my craft stash: 
leather string on cutting board

There you go! I hope these offer you some concepts to your personal fridges. Who
knew they’d a lot potential? 🙂 

After all there’s nothing improper with simply leaving them as is, however I like to
work out methods to use unused area.