How to Blend Large Appliances into A Home Without Ruining the Decor
Blending large appliances into a home can be a puzzle for even the most experienced interior decorators. It’s hard to work around items that are big, bulky, or angular; so it pays off to know a few tricks towards making a refrigerator or HVAC system not stick out.
Let’s use a few commonly cumbersome objects as examples to discuss how to blend these appliances into the overall look of your home.
A Huge Refrigerator
A refrigerator is the largest appliance in your kitchen and can be very difficult to find one made with materials that match the rest of your design and color scheme. Sometimes matching too much will even make the room look blended together too perfectly, which will make the entire kitchen seem monotonous and bland. Stainless steel also leaves traces of fingerprints, which is never a cute look.
It’s best to find a balance – Instead of stainless steel that can feel very clinical and safe, and in certain environments stand out like a sore thumb, choose a Sub-Zero fridge that is masked in custom color panels. This can make your fridge correspond to your kitchen’s overall look.
Refrigerator units with cabinet fronts are very trendy and will perfectly blend your refrigerator into your kitchen. Cabinets can even disguise the refrigerator all together and lead guests to believe that behind the unit is a pantry. You might have to invest in a slight renovation, but installing a refrigerator with cabinet fronts will keep this large appliance from sticking out. Cabinet fronts also reduce the cost of purchase without the stainless steel doors.
As valuable as it might be to place photos, magnets, and reminders on your fridge doors, remember that these items automatically bring this appliance into further awareness. Consider creating a separate collage space for you and your family to decorate and place these items.
A Striking Countertop
Even though you might fall in love with a granite countertop and feel compelled to install it immediately, remember that not all materials like this will match the rest of the kitchen. Keep in mind that a guest’s eyes will dart towards the island first if it has a different look than the rest of the kitchen.
While a bold countertop can be beautiful, really assess whether it will complement or detract from the rest of your kitchen. If your goal is to blend the entire space together seamlessly then reconsider your bold choice if it doesn’t match your current décor.
An Ugly HVAC System
An HVAC system is one of the most important, but also one of the least visually appealing appliances necessary for every home. So how do we work with it? Well, most people place this in a basement, but if this space functions as a play area for kids, a bar, or even another bedroom or living quarters then this system will be noticed.
Installing this unit inside of a closet is one of the most immediate ways to hide this appliance. It’s very easy to re-organize your belongings and move your HVAC unit inside a spare closet you’re not already using.
Of course you’ll need some professional help from a company like, for example, My Trusted Contractor, which performs installations and HVAC Repair in Louisville, KY. A simple HVAC relocation will spare you the humiliation every time a guest walks through your basement.
If your HVAC system is hooked up outside, consider building a fence or enclosure to surround it. This will create a much more attractive look surrounding your unit, and can become a space to store other appliances like a pool filter system or lawn care devices. Installing this separate storage space might free up some room in your cluttered garage.
Installing large appliances and making them blend doesn’t have to be difficult, but somehow it always seems to be. Remember that a renovation or reorganization might be necessary to achieve the seamless look you desire.
Also keep in mind the importance of not matching too specifically. This can make the entire space seem bland, and sometimes even off-putting. Don’t choose items that are distracting, but also don’t try too hard to blend everything together so perfectly. Find a balance that works best for your home.