Refrigerator Trim Kit: How we got a built-in look for less

Give your fridge a built-in look with a refrigerator trim kit. Here's how we filled the gaps around our refrigerator, ordered custom trim for our existing cabinets, and installed it ourselves in about an hour.

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I have loved the look of a built-in refrigerator for years. The price? Not so much.

When our old LG refrigerator finally needed replacing, we looked at a few ways to get that look without spending five figures or tearing out a wall of cabinets. We ended up buying a Hisense refrigerator (which, in spite of some reviews you'll read, has actually been great!) and adding a custom refrigerator trim kit.

With the trim kit, we got to keep our existing cabinets, covered the awkward gaps, and got a much more finished look!

What is a refrigerator trim kit?

A refrigerator trim kit is a set of trim pieces that covers gaps between a refrigerator and the surrounding cabinetry. Depending on the kit, it can include a top grille, side trim, or both.

Ours has three main pieces: a top grille and two long side panels. Together, they frame out the refrigerator and make it look like it belongs in the cabinet opening.

The trim gives a freestanding refrigerator a built-in appearance. Your fridge still needs the ventilation, door clearance, and installation space required for that model.

Our refrigerator trim kit before and after

Our new fridge was a little smaller than the LG that our cabinet opening had been built around. It fit, but the extra space above and beside it made the whole area look unfinished.

That was the problem we wanted to solve. We already liked our cabinets and didn't want to rebuild the surround just because we had replaced the fridge.

The trim filled those visible gaps and made a big difference without changing the cabinetry. The before-and-after photo shows it better than I can explain it.

If your refrigerator works in its opening but looks a little lost in there, this is an option worth looking into!

Which refrigerator trim kit we used

We ordered our custom kit from Refrigerator Trim Kits. They offer a trim kit for existing cabinets with options for a full kit, top trim only, or side trim only. For our kitchen, we needed the top and both sides.

The pieces were made to fit our refrigerator and cabinet opening. We installed the finished pieces ourselves, so there was no cutting metal or building a new wood surround.

The biggest things to sort out before ordering are the fit and finish. A custom size helps with the gaps, but you also want the trim to look right beside your refrigerator.

How much our refrigerator and trim kit cost

Our trim kit cost around $200 when we ordered it in 2024. Including the refrigerator, our setup came in under $2,000...a great deal in my opinion! Of course prices have gone a little crazy since then, so your mileage may vary.

Compared with the larger refrigerator and freezer combos we considered, this worked so much better for our budget. It also let us keep cabinet storage that we would have lost with a wider setup.

Your cost will depend on the refrigerator you choose and the trim configuration you need. Use our total as a reference for our project, then price your own kit using your measurements and selected options.

Will a refrigerator trim kit work with your fridge?

A custom fridge trim kit can work with different refrigerator brands, but you'll need to confirm that your particular refrigerator and cabinet opening will work.

Before ordering, check:

• Your refrigerator model. Have the exact model number handy so the supplier can review your setup.
• The cabinet opening. Measure the space around the refrigerator using the supplier's instructions. These need to be very specific...I'm talking down to the eighth of an inch.
• Ventilation requirements. Check your refrigerator's installation manual and ask how the proposed trim will work with those requirements.
• Door clearance. Make sure the doors and drawers can open as needed.
• The finish. Compare a physical trim sample with your appliance before choosing.
• Access for maintenance. Ask how the refrigerator can be pulled out and how the trim is removed if needed.

We chose a Hisense refrigerator because we wanted a fingerprint-resistant matte finish, an inside water dispenser, and no handles. It was what we needed at a price we were comfortable paying. But you don't have to choose our refrigerator to get a similar look. Start with an appliance that works for your family and your space, then confirm your trim options.

And once you have the outside looking good, my refrigerator organization ideas can help with the inside!

How to measure and order a refrigerator trim kit

Start with finish samples

Don't skip the samples. Stainless finishes can look different beside each other, especially in your kitchen's lighting.

Use the supplier's sample-ordering option and compare the available finishes directly against your refrigerator. That will tell you more than a product photo on your phone.

Have the refrigerator in place

For an existing cabinet opening, the supplier recommends having your fridge installed before ordering. That lets you measure the space as it will actually be used.

Choose the appropriate kit on the website, then complete the detailed measurement form they send for your order.

Check for uneven gaps

One thing we discovered: our opening wasn't the same width all the way down. There was about a ⅓-inch difference between the top and bottom.

That's easy to miss if you measure in only one spot.

Tell the supplier about uneven measurements before the kit is made. In our case, the solution involved extra adhesive to account for the difference. Ask what they recommend for your opening rather than assuming the same adjustment will work everywhere.

Confirm the details before fabrication

Review your measurements, finish, and selected pieces carefully. If something doesn't look right, send photos and ask questions before the trim is made.

Our kit took about one to two weeks to ship when we ordered it. Confirm the current lead time when you place your order.

How we installed our refrigerator trim kit

Our installation only took about an hour! The kit came with video instructions, which you'll want to follow for the specific pieces you order.

Here's how our installation went:

1. Review the instructions and lay out the pieces. Our kit included the top grille and two side panels.
2. Fit the top grille. We installed the top first because our uneven side gaps needed a little extra attention.
3. Secure the top piece to the cabinet surround. On our kit, the top grille attached with screws.
4. Fit and attach the side trim. Our side panels used strong adhesive. We took time to get them lined up with the refrigerator before attaching them.
5. Check the finished installation. Confirm that everything is secure, the doors and drawers operate properly, and the installation follows the refrigerator and trim-kit requirements.

This is a little bit different than the instructions you'll get from the trim kit company - we changed the order of installation to work with our cabinet opening. Use your kit's instructions as your starting point and contact the supplier if your setup needs to be adjusted.

What I'd know before ordering

• Trim won't change the depth of your refrigerator. If your fridge sticks out farther than you want, trim alone won't move it back.
• Make sure your existing surround is suitable. The trim needs the correct space and attachment surfaces for the kit you choose.
• Price the configuration you actually need. Top trim only and a full kit are different purchases. Check your selected options before comparing costs.

Other refrigerator options we considered

Before choosing our custom trim kit, we looked at a couple of other ways to get a built-in refrigerator look.

Frigidaire Professional refrigerator and freezer

I really, really wanted this option to work. These are actually two separate units (a full stand-up fridge and a full stand-up freezer) that are attached together and finished out with an add-on trim kit that Frigidaire manufactures.

The problem was the width. In our kitchen, it would have meant removing a large section of cabinetry and losing cabinet storage. The total was also more than we wanted to spend.

If you have the room and need that much refrigerator and freezer space, it may be worth comparing. Check the exact appliance models, compatible trim kit, and installation dimensions together.

We also looked at a Whirlpool refrigerator and freezer setup, but it had the same problems for our kitchen: too much space required and a higher total than we wanted to spend.

Forno Moena refrigerator

We also considered a Forno Moena refrigerator. It had the look we wanted, but the installation involved more work than we wanted to take on.

For the setup we considered, we would have needed a custom wood surround. Keeping our existing cabinetry and adding custom trim made more sense for us.

Was the refrigerator trim kit worth it?

For our kitchen and budget, yes! It solved the unfinished look around our replacement refrigerator without requiring a new cabinet surround.

October 2026 update: The trim has held up really well since we installed it! We've noticed some very minor lifting of the adhesive, but overall, it still looks great. We're still happy we went this route instead of changing our cabinets.

We have been so pleased with the result, and installing the kit ourselves made this a manageable, relatively inexpensive project. The finish samples, careful measurements, and help with our uneven opening were the details that mattered most.

If you're replacing a refrigerator and the new one leaves awkward gaps, a custom refrigerator trim kit is worth pricing before you start changing cabinets.

Have you used one, or are you trying to figure out what will work with your cabinet opening? Let me know in the comments!