For a kitchen to appear high-end, meticulously planned, and modern, you have to pay attention to the little details. Appliances, cabinets, and other countertops that seamlessly flow into each other look better and smarter. In today’s article, I want to share some of my best tips on how to fill the gap between the fridge and cabinet.
Gaps in the kitchen can be breeding grounds for pests and insects and a hotspot for dust and dirt to accumulate. It’s common knowledge that mold and mildew thrive in cold, dark, and wet environments.
These are legitimate reasons to be concerned, especially in an environment where there’s food.
To avoid all these problems while also maximizing the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen, it makes sense to fill in the gaps between the fridge and cabinet.
Depending on the size of the gap, you can utilize the space by installing some type of storage solution, or you can simply seal it off and block it using one of the solutions below.
Solutions For Gaps In The Kitchen
1. Store Cutting Boards
If there’s a small gap between the fridge and cabinet, consider adding a slide-in cutting board into the vertical gap to fill the space.
Choose a cutting board color that blends into the cabinets or is the same color as the fridge so that it blends in and doesn’t stand out oddly.
The good news is that cutting boards are available in all types of materials, like wood, plastic, and metal.
It should be easy to find one that enhances the overall appearance of your kitchen when inserted into the gap.
2. Install A Side Panel
A common and affordable solution for gaps in the kitchen is a side panel.
Available in a number of different materials like wood, plastic, laminate, and more, you can fill in the gap with a decorative panel that matches the design of the cabinet.
Start by measuring the gap between the cabinet and fridge, deciding on the type of color and finish, and then purchasing a side panel that fits perfectly into the gap.
It may not offer a practical function for use but a fridge side panel will prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt inside gaps.
3. Install A Pull-Out Pantry
Depending on the size of the gap, you can utilize the space to store items for cooking and cleaning.
There are pull-out pantry panels that are designed to fit in narrow spaces, both in offices and online stores.
If you can’t find one that fits the gap between your fridge and cabinet, consider making one yourself.
With the right drawer mechanism coupled with a wood panel that can store spices, condiments, and other items in containers, you can create a pull-out pantry that is worthy of showing off.
4. Install A Display Shelf
There are some instances when the gap between the furniture and appliances is too large to fill with ordinary side panels or a pull-out pantry.
In that case, you could purchase a long and wide piece of lumber or wood and install it as a shelf.
A display shelf can be used as a decorative element to display pictures, notes, cook books, calendars, spices, or plants. Functionally, it creates more floating storage space that doesn’t minimize the space around you.
Be sure to choose a type of wood consisting of a color and grain that matches or enhances the cabinets.
5. Use LED Lighting
Ambient lighting has become increasingly popular with homeowners who want to enhance or draw attention to certain features or furniture in the home.
LED lighting can be installed on extremely slim panels while offering high lumens and different colors at an affordable rate.
You could fill the gaps with strips of LED lighting that can be used as a border and decorative feature around the fridge, especially at night when the light is illuminating the fridge.
6. Cover With A Filler Strip
To save money and time, you can use a filler strip made of plastic or plywood to cover the gap. It wouldn’t fill the gap in any way but it would conceal it.
Most filler strips can be cut to size and stuck on using an adhesive.
It may not have any functionality other than concealing a gap but it will prevent dust from settling within the gap.
Final Thoughts
That brings us to the end of this article on how to fill the gap between the fridge and cabinet. Depending on your budget and the dimensions of the gap, you could use one of the solutions mentioned above.
When it comes to the kitchen, I almost always prioritize functionality over everything else.
For this reason, I love the idea of concealing gaps while creating more storage space by installing shelves and storage containers. In a small kitchen, filling gaps in this way can add more storage space without adding clutter.
With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this article and found it to be useful. Before you leave, be sure to check out some of our other helpful articles that are linked below.
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