Here’s a Super-Stylish Way to Upgrade Your Fridge Without Using Paint or Splurging on a New Appliance
When it comes to large kitchen appliances like refrigerators and ovens, it’s easy to keep things simple with black, white, or tried-and-true stainless steel. While those finishes are fine for some, others want a little more personality injected into their kitchens. Whether you’re renting or just don’t have the money to splurge on brand-new appliances, there’s a cool way to customize your kitchen that won’t cost you a fortune, and spoiler alert: It involves a little bit of a more adventurous approach to one of your major appliance’s colors, as inspired by content creator and designer Megan Zietz.
Residing in a 1,100-square-foot apartment with her family of five in New York, Zietz specializes in decorating with bold hues, and this expertise shines in the details of her own home, from its kaleidoscopic throw pillows to her trippy wallpaper picks. “We are homebodies, so we spend a lot of time at home, and I wanted to create a colorful and whimsical space that makes me happy when I see it all the time,” she says.
Her apartment has a fairly open floor plan, so for visual continuity, Zietz wanted her palette to flow seamlessly between the dining room and the kitchen. Since the home’s a rental, the kitchen started off with a mostly-white decor scheme that Zietz brought to life with just a few key colorful touches. As soon as you catch sight of the kitchen though, the first thing you notice is that her entire refrigerator has been wallpapered in a pretty teal floral pattern. Through this design decision — which is smart, eye-catching, and budget-friendly — Zietz turned her fridge into a true focal point, which the cook space had lacked before.
If you don’t have the time or patience for the messiness of painting your appliances — or you just want your decor decision here to be instantly reversible — temporary wallpaper (Zietz used NuWallpaper’s Summer Love Teal Peel & Stick) is probably your best solution for introducing some charm to this otherwise utilitarian kitchen appliances.
“Since we’re renting, the biggest challenge was making sure everything we do and have done is renter-friendly,” Zietz says. “All of the wallpaper and the backsplash in our home is removable and reusable.” Sure, wallpapering your fridge might take some patience as you work around its handles and line up your pattern’s repeat, but this upgrade can basically be accomplished in an afternoon or less.
Unsurprisingly, Zietz’s biggest piece of advice when styling your home is to not shy away from color. “Have fun with your space and don’t be afraid to make it your own, whether you’re renting or own,” she says. After taking her own advice, Zeitz turned something as functional as a fridge into a stunning statement piece that subtly complements the rest of her multi-colored abode.