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From teak credenzas to slim sofas, mid-century modern decor has made a major comeback in recent decades. But fans of the simple, clean-lined style aren't confining mid-century design to their living rooms and bedrooms — kitchens have also become a popular place to add some retro flair. And one of the easiest ways to add some instant vintage style to your cooking space is with a retro refrigerator. Outdoor Refrigerator
Aesthetically, retro fridges can look as if they've been pulled straight out of a classic mid-20th century home, but functionally, they can offer many of the bells and whistles found amongst today's best refrigerators. While you won't find many smart fridge capabilities like built-in screens and Wi-Fi connectivity, you will find colorful finishes, chrome handles and ultra-slim designs that are especially ideal for small kitchens.
To put together this list of the best retro fridges, our editors combed through hundreds of online product ratings and reviews, comparing and evaluating factors like price, dimensions and functionality (including fridge vs. freezer space, shelving options and special features like beverage racks). We also consulted the pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, who have hands-on tested over 50 refrigerators across the past decade, for their insights and brand recommendations.
In the end, we think our top picks will satisfy whatever you're looking for when it comes to fulfilling your nostalgic refrigerator fantasies, whether that's a full-size fridge, a mini fridge, a slim model for tight spaces or an option that maximizes freezer space.
If you're looking to give your kitchen a retro diner feel, this popular fridge has the right look. It's available in bright, shiny colors like cherry red and blue in addition to "milkshake" white and "vinyl" black — and at 12 cubic feet for just over $700, it's a great deal to boot.
Though it looks old-school, this Energy Star-certified fridge boasts modern features like a frost-free freezer (read: it's designed so that ice crystals don't form on the walls) and a beverage rack that can hold up to nine cans. (If you don't buy canned drinks, however, the rack may not be the most efficient use of space for your needs.)
We especially love the shelving variation found inside of the refrigerator door: A short, horizontal rack for sticks of butter, a medium rack for single-serve waters and small cartons plus two tall, skinny shelves (which are divided to avoid jostling items as you open and close the door) for bigger bottles.
Founded over 100 years ago, Frigidaire is a brand that knows a thing or two about refrigerators. This pick is our top choice not only for its eye-catching design, but because the brand is reliable and the price is great. It's an especially good choice if you're looking for a compact fridge to fit a smaller kitchen space or as a secondary fridge for the basement or garage.
Like many other picks on this list, this fridge contains a crisper drawer as well as adjustable shelves in the refrigerator compartment, plus one removable shelf in the upper freezer. Online reviewers rave about its stylish design, and also report that it cools down quickly and barely makes any noise. That said, some do wish there was an option to upgrade to a bigger size.
When you think of retro fridges, Smeg is the luxury kitchen appliance brand that might immediately come to mind. While pricey, Smeg is well-known for its elegant appliance designs and wide range of color options.
If you're looking for a full-size retro fridge that can easily accommodate a multi-person household, you'll want to consider the heritage brand's new FAB50 model, its biggest option to date, standing at over six feet tall and boasting almost 19.3 cubic feet of refrigerator and freezer space. Available in six colors, including cream, pastel green and cherry red, this fridge offers plenty of space and functionality with multiple drawers in different sizes, adjustable shelves, a no-frost system, internal LED lighting and an automatic ice maker in the freezer. It's Energy Star-certified and also features noise alerts to let you know when the door has been left ajar. We also love that you can choose between a left hinge and right hinge configuration on the cream and white fridges, but wish this customization option was offered for other colors, too. (The cream model also has the option for brass finishes.)
At just under three feet tall, this cutie can slip under a desk, into the corner of a dorm room or any other small space. Unlike some mini fridges, this one comes with a separate freezer compartment with its own door.
While there are only two shelves on the inside of the refrigerator door, the bottom shelf offers plenty of space for taller items (like condiments, wine bottles or perhaps even a slim water filter pitcher), while the top shelf is about as a tall as a canned beverage. In the main part of the fridge, take note that one of the shelf areas is short (about the height of a large apple) so it may require laying items down on their side.
If you prefer to buy frozen foods in bulk or you're a master freeze-ahead meal prepper, this pick may be for you. It offers nearly three cubic feet of freezer space (almost equal to the fridge space), making it one of the largest freezers on this list.
Like our larger pick from Galanz, this slim Energy Star-certified model offers a lot of variation in shelving, while its petite height (about 5' 4") is perfect for apartments or bonus rooms. Just take note that the refrigerator handle is only about two to three feet off the ground. While that may be too low for some, it can be beneficial for disabled people who use wheelchairs.
While most Amazon reviewers have given this fridge a five-star review, some note that their fridges arrived with dents and that the cooling functionality can be inconsistent. Several also noted that they wish the handles were chrome and not plastic.
This stylish, retro model from Unique Appliances doesn't operate like refrigerators of the past: It's Energy Star-certified, which means it has features (such as improved insulation) that help the refrigerator work more efficiently.
At just over five feet tall with a seven cubic feet of capacity, it's compact but larger than a mini fridge, making it perfect for single-person households. It's ADA-compliant, includes a built-in wine rack and comes in several bright color options like turquoise, mint green and light blue (though some of these colors are currently out of stock on Wayfair). We also wish the freezer offered shelving options, but it only contains drawers.
Looking to fit a fridge into a tight space? This highly-rated, Energy Star-certified pick is the slimmest pick on this list, with a width of less than 21.5 inches. We also love the six unique colorways, which include baby pink and wine red.
According to the brand, the exterior door is fingerprint-resistant and can hold magnets, while the interior features an anti-bacterial liner that it claims can help prevent the growth of microorganisms. This product is also ADA-compliant, with door handles lower to the ground and easily accessible. Just note that while five cubic feet of refrigerator space is great for one- or two-person households, the 1.7 cubic feet of freezer might be too small for larger families' needs.
A slightly larger version of our pick for single-person households, this retro fridge with a wine rack offers more space and more shelves and is best suited for a two-person household. We love that the wine rack is just the right height for a wine bottle to lay on its side, without taking up excess space.
Not including the wine rack, there are four shelves in the refrigerator and four more on the door, though some reviewers say they wish the freezer was larger. This model is taller than other refrigerators on this list with a similar capacity, giving it a full-size look without taking up too much space. It's also Energy Star-certified and comes in a variety of colors, including robin egg blue and mint green.
Not looking for a ton of freezer space? This stylish, one-door offering from Smeg is mostly refrigerator, with nine cubic feet of fresh food capacity (which is much more than other similarly sized picks on this list). This model also offers some of the funkiest designs we've seen on the market — you can even opt for a fridge decked out in the Italian, British or American flag. (With most colors, you can opt for left or right hinge opening.) We also love the chrome detailing on the shelves. While this freezer requires manual defrosting, its smaller size should mean easier upkeep. Plus, the freezer compartment comes with an ice cube tray.
This Energy Star-certified model from Forte has a similar capacity to our Best Overall pick, but it's about seven inches taller (nearly as tall as our full-size pick!) and five inches slimmer. It has a smaller refrigerator space and larger freezer space, both by about one cubic foot. It features a temperature-controlled crisper drawer and adjustable legs that allow you to fit your refrigerator into almost any existing space and an open door alarm that sounds if the door is not securely closed. It also offers bright LED lighting and comes in eight different colors, including teal, cherry red and powder blue.
Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
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