Buying guides

Refrigerator Buyer’s Guide

Your fridge is one of the most important appliances in your home, so you’ll want to be sure you’re getting the right one. However, with lots of things to consider, from installation method to capacity, it’s difficult to know where to start!

Fortunately, our buyer’s guide is here to help you choose the best fridge for your kitchen, exploring everything you need to know to make the most informed choice.

Choose Your Type of Refrigeration

The first important decision to make is determining what time of refrigerator you are looking for.

Larder Fridge

A larder fridge is a standard refrigerator designed solely for chilling fresh food and everyday groceries. They usually feature adjustable shelves and salad crisper drawers to easily organise perishable goods. Larder fridges do not include a freezer compartment, which enables all of their internal space to be utilised for keeping items cool rather than freezing.

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Refrigerator

A refrigerator is very similar to a larder fridge, but with the key difference being, a refrigerator includes an icebox, normally at the top, which provides a small amount of freezer space.

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Fridge Freezer

A fridge freezer combines both a refrigeration section and a freezer compartment within a single appliance. The fridge portion is for everyday cooling, while the freezer is for long-term storage of frozen goods. Note: This guide focuses on fridges. For fridge freezers; please see our dedicated fridge freezer buyer’s guide.

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Under-Counter Fridge

Under-worktop refrigerators are perfect for households where space is at a premium, providing you enough room to store milk, cheese, meats, and other perishable goods.

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Wine Coolers

A wine cooler - also known as a wine refrigerator - is an appliance designed to store wine bottles at precise temperatures. They often contain wooden racks that hold bottles horizontally, use a UV-protected glass door to prevent light from ageing the wine, and control humidity to prevent wine oxidation.

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Choose Your Installation Method

The next important decision is whether you need a freestanding or integrated refrigerator.

Freestanding Fridges

A freestanding fridge is a standalone appliance that can be placed anywhere there’s sufficient space and a power outlet. It comes with finished sides and a top, allowing it to sit independently without the need for surrounding cabinetry.

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Integrated Fridges

An integrated fridge (or built-in fridge) is designed to sit flush within kitchen cabinetry, where the appliance’s mechanics and ventilation are typically concealed. Compact under-counter fridges are also usually classified as “integrated”.

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Choose Your Capacity

When determining the ideal size of your refrigerator, it is important to keep in mind that the capacity includes any space taken by freezer boxes (if present). For more information about fridge dimensions, please read our refrigerator measurement guide.

100 to 200 Litres

Perfect for smaller households of 1 to 2 people, a mini bar-styled fridge with a capacity between 100 to 200 litres provides enough storage space for a small amount of perishable goods. This capacity should fit around 5 to 10 full shopping bags.

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200 to 300 Litres

For households of 3 to 4 people, a refrigerator with a capacity between 200 to 300 litres should provide enough storage space for your chilled food and drinks. An appliance of this capacity should comfortably house between 10 to 15 shopping bags.

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300+ Litres

For larger households of 5 to 6 people, or those storing lots of perishable goods, we’d recommend a fridge with over 300 litres of storage capacity. Appliances of this size almost always contain freezer compartments. These fridges are large enough to hold 15+ shopping bags.

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Fridges of Art - For Those Who Want Something a Little Different

Refrigerators are potentially the largest appliance in your kitchen, so whilst many may hide theirs away, you could go the other way and make yours stand out with a “Wow!” factor which gets your guests talking!

Dolce & Gabbana Retro Fridges

For a real statement piece, our iconic designer fridges designed by none-other than Dolce & Gabbana, add stunning visuals to really impress your guests. In addition to the beautifully detailed exteriors, each includes our cutting edge technology, ease of use, and reliability.

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FIAT 500 Retro Fridges

For any homes, offices, or hotels looking to go the extra mile for design; enter Smeg’s 50s-style FIAT 500 refrigerator. Designed to resemble the popular Italian car, this eye-catching fridge has a net capacity of 100 litres, three removable bottle holders, one removable wire shelf, and internal LED lights.

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Top Refrigerator Features to Look Out For

Modern fridges include a range of features to help make your life easier, improve energy efficiency, and preserve produce for longer. Some of these features include:

Salad Crisper Drawers

A dedicated humidity-controlled drawer that helps maintain the ideal moisture level for fruits and vegetables, avoiding any contamination. Some fridges include adjustable humidity settings so you can change the chilled environment for different types of produce.

Life Plus Compartment

This compartment sits at a slightly lower temperature than the main fridge shelves, perfect for storing meat, fish, dairy, or deli items. By keeping these foods between -2°C to +3°C, it extends their shelf life to keep them tasting at their best.

Bottle Shelves

If you tend to store various bottles in your fridge, such as juices, milk, or wine, you should look for a fridge which includes adjustable bottle shelves in the door. This helps to keep your bottled goods upright, reducing the risk of leaks, and keeps them easy to access.

Active ION System

An integrated ioniser emits charged ions to neutralise bacteria and mould spores in the air, reducing odours and helping food stay fresher for longer. This technology is especially useful if you often store strong-smelling items, such as certain cheeses or meats.

Holiday Mode

When you’re on a well-deserved break away, holiday mode keeps the fridge at a safe temperature while cutting energy use by turning off the cooling for specific areas. It’s ideal for saving power but still ensuring that the interior stays clean and dry.

Inverter Compressor

Some fridges can be a little loud due to their vibrations. Inverter compressors help keep noise and vibrations to a minimum, for a quieter and more comfortable kitchen environment. This can also reduce energy consumption, since the compressor adjusts its speed for cooling needs.

Need-to-Knows When Choosing Your Fridge

Installation Clearance & Door Swing

Measure your fridge compared to your available space, allowing for the door to open fully - you’ll need around 5cm for this. Don’t forget to include handles when measuring door swing!

Ventilation Requirements

Most fridges need approximately 2.5cm left around the side of the fridge for proper ventilation. Ignoring this can force your fridge’s compressor to work harder, reducing its energy efficiency and overall lifespan.

Capacity & Interior Layout

Beyond the capacity in litres outlined earlier, you should also inspect how many shelves there are, whether they can be adjusted, and if there are any special storage areas (such as salad crisper drawers).

Energy Efficiency

Check the fridge’s energy rating, which is scaled between A to G, with A being the most efficient. Although more efficient models usually cost more upfront, they can save you hundreds on electricity over their working life.

Door Configuration & Reversibility

Decide between top, bottom, side-hinged, or double-door layouts based on your kitchen’s layout. Reversible hinges let you switch the opening direction, which is useful if you want to relocate later or your kitchen layout changes.

Installation & Access

Check that the fridge space is located near an appropriate power circuit and away from heat sources. For fridges that need them, ensure they’re positioned near a water supply. There must be a clear access route to transport the appliance to the right position, and the floor must be level.

Explore Our Refrigerator Range Today

If you’re looking for a stylish and functional fridge to complement your kitchen, why not explore our latest range of fridges? Ideal for all kitchens, each of our refrigerators is packed with useful features and functions, helping to keep your food fresh for longer.

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