Person cooking a meal in a modern kitchen

8 MUST-HAVE REFRIGERATOR TRENDS IN 2024

The refrigerator is the heart of your kitchen. It stores fresh and frozen ingredients, chills dough for your favorite baked recipes and keeps wine and other beverages crisp. If you’re shopping for a new refrigerator in 2024, knowing the trending features and styles can help you find the appliance that matches your kitchen design and the way you create. Explore this guide of must-have refrigerator trends to get started.

REFRIGERATOR TRENDS TO LOOK FOR THIS YEAR

There are many different features, configurations and designs to choose from when you’re looking for a new refrigerator. Discover some of the trends to keep on your radar in 2024 with the list below.

KitchenAid® stainless steel built-in refrigerator

1. BUILT-IN REFRIGERATORS

Fully integrated design remains a trendy choice in modern kitchens. Keeping your kitchen appliances completely flush with the surrounding cabinetry gives your space an open, airy feeling, reducing the appearance of clutter. Built-in refrigerators can give you the elevated look you want without sacrificing functionality.

 

KitchenAid® built-in refrigerators are designed with a blend of style and purpose, and offer a premium look that can make a statement in your kitchen.

KitchenAid® refrigerator crisper drawers

2. HUMIDITY-CONTROLLED DRAWERS

Refrigerators with functional features that may keep food fresh for longer will likely continue to trend in 2024. Humidity controlled drawers have adjustable airflow, so you can expose food to different levels of humidity for optimal fresh storage. Keep produce known for wilting—like leafy greens and broccoli—in a High Humidity drawer, and store fruits—like apples, pears and cantaloupe—in a Low Humidity drawer to help stave off the rotting process.

Person touching a stainless steel refrigerator door

3. FINGERPRINT-RESISTANT SURFACES

Since a stainless steel finish continues to remain a classic choice, fingerprint-resistant versions of this sleek finish are rising in popularity. These surfaces are coated in an easy-to-clean finish that helps turn smudges and smears into a problem of the past.

 

KitchenAid® refrigerators with PrintShield Finish resist smudges and fingerprints due to the specialized coating that makes cleanup easy. All you have to do is wipe your refrigerator down with water and a soft cloth to help restore its shiny, buffed appearance.

Fresh produce inside a refrigerator with LED lighting

4. LED LIGHTING

Not only does LED lighting throughout the refrigerator and crisper drawers give your appliance a sleek and modern look, it also increases visibility. This can make it easier to reach for your favorite ingredients and help prevent items from getting lost in the shuffle. 

 

Plus, LED lights are up to 90% more energy efficient than standard incandescent light bulbs, so you can reduce your carbon footprint while gaining more light inside your appliance.

Beige cabinets with butcher block countertop

5. PANEL-READY APPLIANCES

Like built-in refrigerators, panel-ready appliances are picking up traction for 2024. Panel-ready refrigerators are made to be covered with a custom cabinet door rather than a more traditional black, white or stainless steel finish. This helps the appliance blend in with the rest of your cabinetry, giving your kitchen a seamless and elevated feel.

KitchenAid® 5-door refrigerator filled with food

6. MULTI-DOOR CONFIGURATIONS

Multi-door refrigerators offer an elegant appeal as well as additional storage space. French door, 4-door and 5-door configurations continue to rise in popularity as 2024 approaches. These refrigerators generally offer more refrigeration and freezer space, with some models featuring additional temperature-controlled zones, which make food preparation and storage easy.

Built-in ice maker filled with ice

7. QUALITY ICE MAKERS

Though refrigerators with built-in ice makers aren’t a new concept, the trend for 2024 is in-door ice makers that produce quality ice much more quickly. Refrigerators with clear ice makers or rapid-freeze ice makers are gaining traction amongst creative curators upgrading their kitchens.

Two KitchenAid® undercounter refrigerators

8. ADDITIONAL STORAGE

Incorporating an undercounter refrigeratorwine cellar or beverage center adds a polished touch to your kitchen. Additional refrigeration space allows you to keep appetizers, beverages or wine centralized in one location so guests can easily refill their glasses without having to rely on the full household refrigerator.

 

KitchenAid brand offers a selection of undercounter refrigeration options that can turn almost any area of your home into an entertainment space.

Person eating inside a contemporary kitchen Person eating inside a contemporary kitchen

WHAT REFRIGERATOR COLORS ARE TRENDING IN 2024?

Stainless steel will likely continue to dominate modern kitchens in 2024. The classic look and ability to seamlessly complement a variety of wood tones and design aesthetics make it an easy choice that eclipses appliance trends with timeless style. 

Traditional stainless steel can elevate and brighten your kitchen, while black stainless steel makes more of a bold statement. With select KitchenAid® refrigerators, you can opt for easy-to-clean PrintShield Finish on stainless and black stainless steel so you can focus less on cleanup and more on creating your next spread.

WHAT IS THE COLOR OF THE YEAR FOR KITCHENS?

Kitchen colors circling the trend forecast include bold shades like rich green, dusty orange and deep blue—and your refrigerator finish can enhance your new kitchen color scheme. Stainless steel reflects light to brighten the room, while black finish can richen the color scheme and create depth.

WHAT REFRIGERATOR TYPES AND STYLES ARE TRENDING?

French door refrigerator configurations continue to be a popular appliance choice going into 2024, thanks to their larger capacity, easy access and contemporary design. French Door refrigerators are easy to organize, so your most-used ingredients are easy to reach.

However, 4 and 5-door styles seem to be gaining traction due to their extra storage and versatility. These refrigerators often offer additional refrigerated and frozen sections, so you can stock up on fresh produce at the farmer's market and store large dishes you make ahead of your next get-together. KitchenAid® Multi-Door Refrigerators help put your food in sight and within reach, with soft close pantry doors that provide even more convenience.

WHAT REFRIGERATOR FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR?

Fingerprint-resistant finish, temperature-controlled zones, upgraded in-door ice makers, LED lighting and panel-ready finishes are all refrigeration features that will be available in 2024.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE BEST REFRIGERATOR?

The best refrigerator for you is the one with features and design that matches your needs, style and the way you create. Consider your kitchen’s size to determine proper refrigerator dimensions, aesthetic and layout, as well as the functions that matter to you. Get more help choosing the best refrigerator for you with a refrigerator buying guide.

EXPLORE KITCHENAID® REFRIGERATORS

Whether you choose a built-in or freestanding, French door or side-by-side, KitchenAid brand has the refrigeration options you need to turn your kitchen into a creative oasis. Browse select refrigerators with features like Humidity Controlled Crispers, the Preserva® Food Care System that features two independent cooling systems, or the Under-Shelf Prep Zone, ideal for marinating meats or chilling doughs.

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