Refrigerators are an essential part of modern life, so regardless of the reason you’re looking for a new one, it’s worth taking some time to figure out which features you will appreciate most.
If you’ve already ruled out the old-school refrigerator style with the freezer on top but can’t quite decide between a French Door refrigerator and a side-by-side fridge, you’ve come to the right place. The refrigerator experts at Garner Appliance & Mattress created this guide with the pros and cons of each style to help you make the right choice for your home.
Before you start looking at specific models and styles, measure the space in your kitchen to determine what size you need.
Consider Your Needs
Think about how you use your refrigerator and freezer on a daily basis. Do you keep your freezer full so you always have certain ingredients on hand, or is your freezer just a source for ice cubes? Do you frequently store large vegetable trays or platters in your refrigerator? Knowing whether fridge space or freezer space is more valuable to you will help you make an educated decision about which style of refrigerator will work best for you.
French Door Refrigerators
The sleek, elegant look of a French door refrigerator can elevate your kitchen’s appearance from drab to designer, so it’s no surprise that it’s the most popular refrigerator style in the United States, according to Consumer Reports. French door refrigerators are available in a variety of upscale finishes and feature two refrigerator doors that meet in the middle on the top portion of the appliance. The freezer compartment on French door refrigerators is located on the bottom of the appliance. Most models have a drawer-style freezer, although some styles separate the freezer compartment into two doors to improve efficiency and provide additional storage options.
Pros of French Door Refrigerators
- More energy efficient than side-by-sides, particularly if users only open one door when selecting items from the fridge
- In-door ice and water dispenser options are available
- More refrigerator storage space compared to side-by-side refrigerators
- Better temperature regulation than most side-by-sides
- Easy to store wide food items like pizzas, appetizer trays, and platters
- Elegant look and design with upscale finish options
- Some French door models include an additional refrigerator drawer that users can access without opening either refrigerator door, which saves energy while keeping food cold
- More expensive than most side-by-side refrigerators
- Less freezer space compared to side-by-sides
- Freezer drawers contain less organizational structure, so some people find it difficult to keep the freezer organized
- Bottom freezer drawer access can be challenging for pregnant people or anyone who struggles to bend over
Cons of French Door Refrigerators
- More expensive than most side-by-side refrigerators
- Less freezer space compared to side-by-sides
- Freezer drawers contain less organizational structure, so some people find it difficult to keep the freezer organized
- Bottom freezer drawer access can be challenging for pregnant people or anyone who struggles to bend over
Side-by-Side Refrigerators
A side-by-side refrigerator features two doors that run the length of the appliance. The freezer door is usually located on the left, and the refrigerator door is usually located on the right side of the appliance.
Pros of Side-by-Side Refrigerators
- More affordable than French door models
- In-door ice and water dispenser options are available
- Slim design and minimal door clearance takes up less space in your kitchen
- More freezer storage capacity compared to most French door refrigerators
- Width limitations make it difficult to store frozen pizzas, pies, platters, and other wide items
- Less efficient than many French-door refrigerators due to cooling loss
Cons of Side-by-Side Refrigerators
- Width limitations make it difficult to store frozen pizzas, pies, platters, and other wide items
- Less efficient than many French-door refrigerators due to cooling loss
Choose Your Preference
If you’re looking for a new refrigerator, use the pros and cons listed above to decide what features are most important to you. If you want to see the difference between French Door and side-by-side refrigerators in person, stop by the closest Garner Appliance & Mattress store, and one of our refrigerator experts will show you around. We have three convenient Triangle locations, so visit us in our Garner, Raleigh, or Clayton stores today!