At a Glance:
What is a Panel Ready Refrigerator?
Types of Panel Ready Refrigerators
Top Panel Ready Refrigerator Brands
5 Featured Panel Ready Refrigerators
One of the top trends in kitchen design is the use of panel-ready refrigerator models. Instead of trying to find a refrigerator that matches your aesthetic, you can cover the front of the appliance with a cabinet panel. This makes it blend in better in your kitchen space.
Plenty of brands create panel-ready refrigerators, especially as more customers seek out this appliance option. Learn more about panel-ready models and how to add them to your home.
Explore Panel Ready Refrigerators at Orville's
If you're looking for a sleek new refrigerator, try a panel ready option from Orville's! We have options from leading brands like KitchenAid, Samsung, Thermador, and more!
Shop Panel Ready RefrigeratorsWhat is a Panel Ready Refrigerator?
The refrigerator is one of the largest appliances in your kitchen, if not your home. Too often, homeowners try to match these appliances with their design preferences, either buying a stainless steel appliance so the kitchen feels modern or opting for a different color based on their interior design styles. However, a panel-ready refrigerator allows you to cover the appliance entirely. It will look like you have a large cabinet in your kitchen instead of a refrigerator. All you need is a front panel that attaches to the door.
Explore Featured Panel Ready Refrigerators
Multiple appliances can be panel-ready. You can also add a panel-ready dishwasher to your home if you so desire. A panel-ready appliance will have hardware attached that makes it easy for you to affix the cabinet facing to create a unified look and feel in your kitchen.
Pros & Cons of Panel Ready Refrigerators
There are benefits and drawbacks to investing in a panel-ready refrigerator. Here are a few things to consider as you evaluate your options and start designing your kitchen.
Pros:
✅ You create a seamless look in your kitchen design without bulky appliances breaking up your aesthetic.
✅ You don’t have to worry about finding appliances that match each other.
✅ You can get creative with different kitchen design styles.
Cons:
❌ You will have to pay for the cabinet panels separately, and potentially order custom styles.
❌ If you remodel your kitchen, you will also have to change the panels on your appliances.
❌ Panel ready refrigerators can be more expensive due to their features and production costs.
A panel-ready refrigerator will cost more than a standard model because you also have to pay for the cabinet doors that cover this appliance. Ordering and affixing these panels will also take time and energy. However, many people feel like the cost is worth it to have a beautifully styled kitchen.
Types of Panel-Ready Refrigerators
The term “panel-ready” is used to describe a style of refrigerator, but there are several types of panel-ready refrigerator models to choose from. You might buy a panel-ready French-door refrigerator to optimize your organization or search for a panel-ready counter-depth refrigerator so the appliance doesn’t stick out in your home. Here are a few types of refrigerators to consider.
➥ Panel-Ready French-Door Refrigerators: These refrigerators have two French doors on the top section and a pull-out freezer at the bottom. They might have a bonus drawer in between.
➥ Panel-Ready Side-by-Side Refrigerators: These refrigerators are bisected vertically. They are ideal if you use both the refrigerator and freezer sections equally.
➥ Panel-Ready Bottom Freezer Refrigerators: These refrigerators have a single door to access the top refrigerator section and a single door for the lower freezer.
➥ Panel-Ready Top Freezer Refrigerator: These refrigerators place the freezer in the top section, maximizing energy savings.
➥ Panel-Ready Counter-Depth Refrigerator: These refrigerators are wider than other models but not as deep. They will not stick out past your countertops, creating an even line in your kitchen.
➥ Panel-Ready Freezerless Refrigerator: These refrigerators do not have freezers. Most are column refrigerators, but configurations vary.
➥ Panel-Ready Column Refrigerator: These refrigerators have a single door. They might not have a freezer section or the freezer section might be a cooler area in the lower half.
➥ Panel-Ready Compact Refrigerator: These refrigerators are designed for smaller spaces, like tiny homes.
➥ Panel-Ready Under-Counter Refrigerator: These refrigerators are built into your cabinets, underneath your countertops. Many panel-ready under-counter refrigerator models are used to store wine and other beverages.
You can buy types of refrigerators in panel-ready format. For example, you can search for a panel-ready refrigerator counter-depth model and then decide whether you want a French door or a side-by-side layout.
→ Learn more: Counter Depth vs Standard Depth: How to Choose Right Refrigerator Size
Top Panel-Ready Refrigerator Brands
Several brands carry panel-ready refrigerators, but this design style is more common with high-end brands. This is because the customers of mid-rage or luxury brands can afford the extra costs associated with these appliances. Here are a few top brands that sell panel-ready refrigerators.
➤ KitchenAid: This is a popular high-end brand that is known for adding extra features and functionality to its appliances.
➤ Sub-Zero: This brand is known for producing commercial-quality appliances for the residential market. You will love the durability of its products.
➤ Thermador: This company makes kitchen appliances for the luxury market. Its products feel elite and high quality.
➤ Samsung: While Samsung is a mid-range brand, it sells some luxury models with advanced technology and bonus features – like colorful bespoke panels.
Once you choose a top brand you can trust, explore its refrigerators and see what its panel-ready appliances look like. You can see which companies produce refrigerators that meet your needs.
5 Featured Panel Ready Refrigerators
Several brands sell panel-ready refrigerator models. This means you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of the appliance for the aesthetic benefits of adding a cabinet facing to your refrigerator. Here are four of the best panel-ready refrigerator examples so you can find the perfect one for your home.
Samsung Bespoke 22.8 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready
Shop this Samsung Panel Ready Refrigerator
Samsung is changing the game when it comes to panel-ready refrigerators. With this refrigerator, you can choose from a variety of colors to create the perfect panels for your home. This is different from the traditional method of affixing a cabinet facing. Opt for a green and white refrigerator or a blue and orange model if you prefer. Samsung sells several refrigerators that come with bespoke panels.
Featured Samsung Model #RF29A9675AP Review:
“The bespoke outer panels are a great design feature. They look great and can be changed out for a different color should our kitchen design change.”
Sub-Zero® Designer Series 30 in. 17.5 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Counter Depth Column Refrigerator
Shop this Sub-Zero Panel Ready Refrigerator
This Sub-Zero panel-ready refrigerator is a great example of what a column fridge can look like. It does not have a freezer section but can be paired with a Sub-Zero column freezer. You can affix a panel to this model so it matches your other cabinets.
Other bonus features of this refrigerator include the ClearSight™ LED lighting inside and the Night Mode that protects your eyes. Both of these features make the refrigerator more enjoyable to use.
Sub-Zero® Classic Series 29.1 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Side-by-Side Refrigerator
Shop this Sub-Zero Panel Ready Refrigerator
This Sub-Zero panel-ready side-by-side refrigerator is the perfect blend of style and functionality for your kitchen. With sleek stainless accents that trim the interior, this refrigerator not only looks stunning but is also incredibly practical.
Like the previous, Night Mode adds a touch of modern convenience, while the Max Ice Mode ensures you have plenty of ice when you need it most. You can easily adjust the door bins to fit all your favorite items, and with Wi-Fi enabled features, you can control and monitor your fridge from your mobile device.
Thermador® Freedom® 36" Panel Ready Built In Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator
Shop this Thermador Panel Ready Refrigerator
If you are interested in buying a high-end appliance, consider this Thermador panel-ready refrigerator. It has a bonus drawer that allows you to chill specific items and easily organize your appliance. This ThermaFlex™ drawer can be an extra freezer, wine cooler, or crisping drawer depending on your preferences.
You will need multiple cabinet facings for this panel-ready refrigerator to ensure you can access each compartment. Thermador also sells larger models if needed.
KitchenAid® 42 in. 25.5 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Built In Counter Depth Side-by-Side Refrigerator
Shop this KitchenAid Panel Ready Refrigerator
Rounding out our list is this KitchenAid panel-ready refrigerator. You will need three total panels to cover the refrigerator and create a seamless look. This is a side-by-side model that is ideal if you want to access the refrigerator and freezer sections equally.
Internally, customers rave about the sliding storage tray, which is perfect for storing party platters ahead of an event. The under-shelf prep zone can also give your home kitchen a commercial feel.
→ Learn more: 4 Door Refrigerator: Who Makes Them and Who Should Buy One?
FAQ
Why are panel-ready refrigerators so expensive?
Panel-ready refrigerators are built with extra hardware so you can add a cabinet facing to the front of the appliance. Not only do homeowners have to pay for the refrigerator, but they also have to buy the panels that go with it. Some refrigerators require four or more panels to be fully covered. This increases the total costs.
Are panel-ready refrigerators worth it?
Some homeowners feel owning a panel-ready refrigerator is worth the cost because it creates a unified look in their kitchens. They don’t have to worry about the refrigerator sticking out and taking away from their designs. This option could be worth it if you are remodeling and plan to stay in your home for several years.
How to install a refrigerator panel?
The panel installation process will depend on the brand you buy. However, most panel-ready appliances have hardware to help you attach the cabinet facing. This hardware is designed to make the attachment process simple and durable. Once the panel is attached, it won’t fall off.
Where to buy a panel-ready refrigerator near me?
The best place to buy panel-ready refrigerators in Western New York is Orville’s Home Appliances. We have locations in several neighborhoods around Buffalo and Rochester, so your ideal panel-ready refrigerator is only a short drive away. Stop by today and find your new favorite appliance.
Why Trust Orville’s?
For nearly 60 years, Orville's has been synonymous with excellence in the home appliance industry. With eight appliance showrooms and a 110,000-square-foot warehouse stocked with 25,000+ major home appliances, we offer the largest selection of kitchen, laundry, and outdoor appliances in Western New York.
Every Orville’s location showcases over a 1,000 different appliance models, with products from today’s best appliance brands. From outlet deals to scratch and dent, we always ensure our customers receive the best value with a Low Price Guarantee. A continuously refreshed catalog of in-stock appliances awaits, ready and available for the region’s fastest delivery and installation service. Experience the Orville's difference today. Visit one of our local appliance stores and discover why we're your trusted source for home appliances in Western New York.
Shop Refrigerators at Orville’s Home Appliances
As a family-owned and operated business since 1965, Orville's is deeply rooted in the WNY, Genessee Valley, and Finger Lakes community. We're proud to have been serving the appliance needs of Rochester, Buffalo, and beyond for over five decades, and we remain committed to providing exceptional service and support to our loyal customers. Our appliance specialists are always happy to answer any questions about adding a panel-ready refrigerator to your home.
→ Learn more: Are Bottom Freezer Refrigerators More Energy Efficient?