You’ve seen the photos. Those massive, sprawling kitchens on Instagram where the refrigerator looks like it belongs in a commercial warehouse rather than a suburban home. It’s a trend that’s basically taken over high-end renovations: ditching the standard French door model for 2 fridges side by side.
But is it actually practical? Or are we all just collective victims of "appliance envy"?
Honestly, if you've ever tried to shove a large pizza box or a Thanksgiving turkey into a standard 36-inch unit, you know the struggle is real. Standard fridges are deep, but they're often narrow. By the time you account for the shelves and the door bins, you’re playing a high-stakes game of Tetris every Tuesday night. Putting two units together changes the math. It’s not just about doubling the space; it’s about changing how you live your life in the kitchen.
The Secret to the Column Look
Most people think you just buy two random fridges and shove them together. Please don't do that. It looks messy, the doors will probably hit each other, and the heat dissipation can become a literal fire hazard if you aren't careful.
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To get that sleek, built-in look, you usually look for "column" refrigerators. These are specialized units designed to be modular. Brands like Sub-Zero, Thermador, and even more accessible names like Frigidaire Professional or Samsung have jumped on this. The Frigidaire Professional series is a classic example—they sell a dedicated "all-refrigerator" and an "all-freezer" that connect with a trim kit.
It looks like a $15,000 custom setup, but it’s actually two separate appliances that cost a fraction of that.
The beauty of the column setup is flexibility. You can put a 30-inch fridge next to a 30-inch freezer, giving you 60 inches of pure cold storage. Or, if you’re like my friend Sarah who buys way too much fresh produce and almost nothing frozen, you could do two fridges side by side and keep a small chest freezer in the garage.
Why Most People Get the Installation Wrong
Here is where things get tricky. You can't just plug two fridges into one outlet. Well, you can, but you’ll probably trip the breaker the second both compressors kick on at the same time.
Most building codes and manufacturer specs require a dedicated circuit for each appliance. That means if you’re planning a remodel, you need your electrician to run two separate lines to that specific spot in the wall. If you miss this step, you’re looking at a very expensive mistake once the cabinetry is already installed.
Then there’s the "Trim Kit." This is the piece of metal that bridges the gap between the two units. Without it, you have a tiny, awkward 1-inch gap that collects dust, pet hair, and dropped Cheerios. The kit makes them look like one cohesive unit. Some brands, like Liebherr, actually have "Side-by-Side" sets that come with internal heating elements in the side walls to prevent condensation from forming between the two units. If you live in a humid climate like Florida or Louisiana, this isn't a luxury—it’s a necessity to prevent mold.
The Real Cost of Running 2 Fridges Side by Side
Let’s talk money. Two compressors mean twice the energy, right? Sort of.
Modern Energy Star-rated units are incredibly efficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a new high-efficiency fridge might only cost you $50 to $70 a year to run. Doubling that isn't going to break the bank for someone who can afford the floor space for a 60-inch appliance. However, the upfront cost is the real kicker.
A high-end Sub-Zero column pair can easily north of $16,000. On the flip side, the Frigidaire or Samsung versions might run you $4,000 to $6,000 for the pair.
Is it worth it?
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If you have a family of five, or if you meal prep on Sundays like it's a military operation, the answer is a resounding yes. You gain a level of organization that is impossible with a standard fridge. You can have an entire shelf dedicated to drinks, another just for snacks, and a produce drawer that actually fits more than three heads of kale.
Space Requirements You Can't Ignore
- Width: You need at least 60 to 72 inches of horizontal wall space.
- Depth: Most of these units are "counter-depth," meaning they don't stick out past your cabinets. This is great for aesthetics but means you lose some interior volume.
- Door Swing: This is the one everyone forgets. If you put 2 fridges side by side right next to a wall, you won't be able to open the doors wide enough to pull out the drawers. You need "zero-clearance" hinges or at least 6-12 inches of filler space next to a wall.
Common Misconceptions About Modular Cold Storage
People often assume that having two separate units is less reliable than one big one. Actually, it’s the opposite. If the compressor dies on your "all-fridge" unit, your frozen food in the "all-freezer" unit is still perfectly safe. You have redundancy.
Another myth is that you lose storage because of the extra walls. While you do lose about two inches of total width to the appliance casings, the organization benefits usually outweigh the raw cubic footage loss.
I’ve seen designers get really creative with this. Instead of the traditional fridge-on-left, freezer-on-right, some are putting two full refrigerator/freezer combos next to each other. This gives you four doors. It’s essentially a "quad door" setup on steroids. It’s great for households where there are "too many cooks in the kitchen" because it spreads the traffic out. One person can be getting milk while the other is digging for frozen peas without bumping elbows.
Making the Final Call
If you're staring at your kitchen blueprints and wondering if you should pull the trigger on 2 fridges side by side, ask yourself about your grocery habits.
Do you shop at Costco? Do you host Christmas every year? Do you hate digging through three layers of leftovers to find the butter?
If you answered yes, and you have the six feet of wall space to spare, go for the columns. It’s the kind of upgrade that actually improves your daily flow. Just make sure you talk to your contractor about the electrical requirements and the trim kit before you buy anything.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Measure your wall space: Confirm you have at least 62 inches of width to allow for the units and the necessary breathing room/trim.
- Check your electrical panel: Ensure you have the capacity to add two dedicated 15-20 amp circuits to the kitchen.
- Choose your "look": Decide between "integrated" (hidden by cabinet panels) or "stainless steel" (the professional look).
- Order the trim kit early: These are often backordered longer than the actual appliances.