apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We have tried to do the 'nothing on the fridge' thing. It never works. Ever. It's like YoYo Dieting. LOL

I used to cover all my apartment fridges in magnets I collected, but when I finally bought a place, I started keeping the fridge blank, maybe because the kitchen is open and you can see it from basically everywhere. But it's really grown on me and I've become a big fan of a fridge with nothing on it.

I have a collection of random magnets from states that I have visited, photos, invites, baby announcements, newspaper articles, and lists on my refrigerator... Some may think it's a bit cluttered, but I love it!

I was really upset to discover when we moved into our new condo that our schnazy stainless steel appliances won't hold magnets! I love a well-magneted fridge, I think it makes a place look lived in and cozy and is a great place to display personal photos, but sadly I am forced into having a completely clean slate in the kitchen. Has anyone else had this problem or are my appliances just freakish?

i think this goes to the question of whether or not your home has to always be magazine ready, so be it some shwanky high-end mag or something young and hipster-ish like domino. if i knew someone was coming to my house to photograph my design style i would address the fridge -- by either clearing it off or making it look fun and arty in that sleek kitschy style that is en vogue these days. but honestly, most of the time i would just let the fridge be the fridge. it may have chip bag clip magnets on it, it may not. it may have photographs of family and friends, it may have coupons for carpet cleaners and lube jobs. more than anything, my fridge aesthetic changes on a weekly if not daily basis.

It really depends on the home and how the kit. is set up and the look of the room. I agree if the frig. shows to the livingroom it should be kept clean. Funky kit. should have lots of fun things on them that work with all the fun stuff throughout the room.

I currently have a medium sized print on the bottom half of my fridge (I have a standard, freezer on top setup) held on with minimalist, small Earth magnets. The top has a couple rabbit postcards by bluedogrose.etsy.com, map magnets (since I'm a cartographer) and a little snapshot of Paris.

I guess we do a hybrid system. The side of the fridge (not visible outside of the kitchen) holds all of our utilitarian information. Phone numbers, appointment cards, etc. The front is usually kept fairly clean. We have young kids, so at times the front of the fridge has served as an alphabet magnet holder. Sometimes it holds precious artwork. When it reaches a critical level, and walking past the fridge causes an avalanche of pictures and magnets flying onto the floor, I know it's time for a clean sweep. It remains a blank slate for a few weeks, maybe a month, and the whole process repeats itself.

I love the look of a blank refrigerator. It's just not an attainable goal in our home. =)

I've got funny magnets on mine, and silly postcards. And a few recipes removed from magazines (otherwise I'll forget to buy the ingredients).

I like to have fun with my fridge.

Am really thinking about getting those bamboo file boxes with magnets for mail.

I have two dolphin magnets on my fridge (which is a half-sized one so they're knee-high). That sounds odd...

I LOVE my refrigerator magnets...some from my Grandma...many collected through the years...many from friends and family who have visited places around the world. I even have those little 'word' magnets that I can switch around to different sentences that fit my mood. Pictures, coupons, cards and more...its a mess...but its MY mess!! My former husband thought he would suprize me and clear off all but a few magnets..and I just about cried. Now I have passed some of my magnets along to my daughter who is married with a refrigerator of her own.

I have the top freezer section of the fridge covered with travel magnets.

The bottom fridge part gets a little messier, and I have tried to keep it as empty as possible to off-set the top.

i was thrilled when i moved into my new place that the refrigerator would not hold magnets. it is so much easier to keep the fridge clear, and it looks so much better. . .

i have a combo: the front and "open" sides of my fridge are bare and clean, but the side that is more hidden has some fun magnets, invitations, small artwork, photos, etc.

I try to keep it fairly uncluttered...phone list, grocery list, a couple photos/art/invites/cards held with simple, coordinated magnets...but only on the freezer door(above the fridge) and not near the handle! There is nothing more annoying than knocking stuff off every time you go to grab a handle.

The front of our fridge can be seen from the living room and dining area so I try to keep it mostly clear - just a couple of really beautiful magnets (I collect them as travel souveniers)
and a postcard of our honeymoon trip to San Simeon. The side that can only be seen from the kitchen has a few more magnets, a couple more postcards and a dry erase board for the shopping list. What I have a problem with is keeping the top cleared of things that really should be in a cupboard.

I have a glass front fridge which doesn't hold magnets and like Devon, having a remodeled kitchen, I prefer a blank fridge.

That being said, I have a standard fridge in my garage which is where my magnets migrated. It always delights me when I go out there to be greeted by my old sassy, magnetized friends.

I've always had tons of stuff on my fridge (but then I always had largish kitchens) until my most recent move. My new kitchen is 6x10, and the blankness of the fridge helps maximize the clean lines of the room. One way I've maintained this is that I never unpacked all my kitchen magnets. There's no temptation.

robroz, my stainless steel fridge won't hold anything either....i was so frustrated until I realized the front door of my condo (next to the fridge) is steel!!! I stick all sorts of magnets and notes and a calendar up there, which is helpful to look at when i'm running out the door!

Mum uses one of those plastic semi-transparent magnetic Ikea frames to hold recent trip photos. (Me I keep these frames for the pc tower.)
As about my fridge, the most unusual magnet so far is a reproduction of Einstein's actual handwriting of the relativity formula :)
May I point out that most of the comments show the fridge doors to be a highly personal and creative space? Interesting, isn't it?

nooo, before the renovations our ugly old fridge was covered in crap (magnets, receipts, menus, photos, etc) but ever since the reno we haven't put a single item on our new fridge. sorry, but it looks soooo much better without stuff all over it.

one of those questions that really makes one think. My place is what might be gently called visually dense. Except for the fridge which is clutter free.

I have the same problem kiljoywashere (stainless fridge won't hold magnets) but also enjoy the clutter-free-ness of it all. To make up for it, I have a small magnetic whiteboard that gives me the space to write notes and hang a small number of items. It forces we to edit frequently.

I generally keep it clean and free of stuff but sometimes I have stamps or a wedding invitation on mine. Very minimal though. I don't like it cluttered.

I have a picture of my GODFATHER and another picture of some cute guy that used to work for me. (He was REALLY cute.)

I approach my refrigerator decorations the same way i approach my email signature. try to keep it simple and poignant. I'll change it depending on my mood, state of mind, or simply when i get tired of looking at the same old image or words.