This Brilliant Fridge DIY Is a Must-See if Your Appliances Are Cramping Your Style

Appliances are a necessary evil in the kitchen. Obviously you need them to function appropriately in your space (try making a roast chicken without an oven and see how that goes), but more often than not they can cramp your style a bit when it comes to cultivating a serene and stylish culinary escape. 

Unfortunately, unless you’re springing for a full kitchen renovation and have the extra budget necessary to splurge on integrated appliances, camouflaging things like your refrigerator is easier said than done. It wasn’t until we came across this ingenious DIY from Bre of @averagebutinspired that we thought maybe, just maybe, we didn’t have to resign ourselves to staring at the unsightly side of an appliance every time we head into the kitchen to try out a new recipe. 

Sick of being confronted with the black side of her refrigerator every time she walked into her kitchen, Bre took it upon herself to craft a side panel that blended more seamlessly with the rest of the cabinetry in her kitchen. The makeover started with a fair amount of surface prep, which included scuffing up each side of the refrigerator with an orbital sander, then cleaning thoroughly with a pre-paint cleaner.

From there, Bre coated each side of her fridge with the same color as her cabinetry, hoping to help it blend in more with its surroundings. On the fully exposed side of the panel, she attached a wooden frame — similar to the look of a shaker-style cabinet surround — using strong magnets to hold each piece of wood to the surface without having to drill holes or use adhesive.

The end result mimics the look of an integrated appliance so well, you practically have to hunt down any inconsistencies by squinting. The best part about this whole project? It’s incredibly budget-friendly, not to mention endlessly customizable to your exact space. Have a green kitchen? Tweak the color! Got modern cabinetry? Slim out the frame surround to match. Bre even took it a step further by decorating the side of the fridge with a few knicknacks (think: a painting and hanging cutting boards) to cozy up the scene. Check out the full project on her blog, and let us know if you try it out!