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New Refrigerator too Big- Cabinet Ideas

There are several ways to handle a new refrigerator that is too big for the opening. Yes, the cabinet above can be cut down (or “remodeled”) if the doors can be reused or replaced with the same style. A local cabinet maker will be able to determine what the best way to handle the situation is. Most situations when the appliance is too large the cabinets can be changed so that they will fit.

In most cases the existing upper cabinet can be altered if it is just the wall unit above that is creating the problem. If the base cabinets and countertop need to be altered this is possible, but remember that the flooring will have to be remodeled as well.

When the appliance broke, you weren’t planning on doing an entire kitchen remodel where you?

What can be done when the refrigerator is too large for the cabinet area?

Upper Cabinet Remedies

If it is too difficult of a task to either cut down the doors or order new ones, on the upper over the refrigerator, then there are a couple of alternatives that will work. For the most part it is not a very pretty design if the area is just left bare. So can that idea altogether. ALtering the existing cupboards or replacing them with new ones is the correct way to fix this situation.

1) Have an open shelf cabinet fabricated to match the other kitchen cabinetry.

2) Have a wine rack cabinet built to go in the space over the fridge. This remedy works well with just about any color or wood grain cabinet type.

3) If you can make the new upper cabinet extra deep it will be an improvement to your kitchen’s functionality.


Altering Base Cabinets to Make Room for a Larger Refrigerator

If you’re planning on doing an entire remodel on the base cabinets and countertops you’re going to need a top notch cabinet makers help. DO NOT hire a handy man to do what professional cabinet makers have been trained to do.

1) Have an open shelf base cabinet made to match the existing cabinets.

2) Build a wind storage area.

3) Consider changing out the entire countertop for a new one if it is really outdated.

These suggestions obviously only apply if you don’t have any options for getting doors made to match the existing kitchen cabinet doors or if the countertop cannot be altered with ease. It’s really not a difficult process to alter the upper wall cabinet over the refrigerator to make it fit. As you can tell though, when you begin to change the lower cabinets, counters and flooring things can get expensive.

When the refrigerator won’t fit and the cabinets need to be altered because they are too big, make sure that when the alteration is done on the cabinet above that the new door design is going to clear the hinges on-top of the appliance. This is a common mistake that happens in this area. These few ideas have worked well in situations where existing cabinets need to altered or cut down to make a new refrigerator work.

  1. Curious
    June 8th, 2009 at 16:48 | #1

    How about putting a vent the goes through the upper cabinet? In my case the fridge will just fit, but then it can’t breathe.

  2. pattyz
    June 19th, 2010 at 17:18 | #2

    we just got a new counter depth fridge and I guess we forgot to take the hinges into account bc we can’t open the cabinet doors above. The cabinets are discontinued so we would have to cut down the existing doors which scares me. How about if we remove the hardwood flooring below the fridge? that should give us almost 1/2″. Do you think that would be a problem?

  3. admin
    June 19th, 2010 at 22:06 | #3

    Patty, I am so sorry to hear that you are having difficulty with the new fridge. My expertise is in cabinetry not flooring. Is it possible for you to send (email) me a picture of the cabinets over the refrigerator? Perhaps, I could give you a little guidance.

  4. Joyce Greenfield
    December 13th, 2011 at 05:24 | #4

    The depth of my new refrigerator is greater than the depth of the space designed for it. Any solutions for that other than a total redesign of the cabinetry?
    Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.

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