Storing a refrigerator in the bedroom is common for those who live in a small apartment or a dorm room. Refrigerators are a large part of a college student’s or studio apartment’s lifestyle.
Mini fridges are safe to store in the bedroom. The loud noise from the mini fridge may cause disturbances in your sleep, but having a refrigerator presents no danger.
Refrigerators are often big, bulky storage bins that are hard to move and require immense electricity to heat/cool properly. Mini fridges have become popular in living rooms and bedrooms, convenient for easy access.
This article will show you if having a mini fridge in your bedroom is safe.
Is It Safe To Have A Mini Fridge In The Bedroom?
Yes. There’s no immediate danger to having a mini fridge inside your bedroom.
Some other reasons may keep you up at night or be annoying over time, especially if you spend most of your time in the bedroom.
5 Things To Know About Mini Fridges In The Bedroom
Rise In Air Temperature
First, let’s understand how a fridge works.
Here is a fantastic video that gives a 2-minute explanation of how the mini fridge works.
Essentially the compressor is consistently heating up and removing extra heat from the mini fridge. This heat is generated and added to the refrigeration process. Excess heat is lost under and away from the refrigerator throughout the process.
A perfect example is if you’ve ever stood next to a fridge barefoot, there’s a good chance you’ve felt warm air either blow or be emitted from the fridge.
A mini fridge in the bedroom will emit this heat and cause a slight unwanted temperature increase. This will also not help the air circulate throughout the bedroom, as it will be uneven.
Unwanted Noise From The Mini Fridge
As shown in the video, a compressor allows cold air to be converted into heat and gas. This compressor is constantly working to keep the mini fridge at optimal temperatures.
Those who have never heard a compressor run sound like a motor that turns on and off (or sometimes consistently) as the temperature tries to regulate. This unwanted noise can distract guests who enter the bedroom, new spouses, or anyone visiting.
The unwanted noise also intrudes on another significant part of life: sleep.
Insomnia From The Noise
For those that enjoy a nice quiet, somber sleep. Having a mini fridge in the bedroom may affect how a person sleeps. As mentioned, the noise generated from the motor may cause frequent interruptions in the sleep pattern.
It may not be an issue for those who sleep with a fan or a TV or have background noise. However, if you like your sleep to be dead quiet with no background noise, having a mini fridge in the bedroom might constantly disturbance.
Unwanted Guests Entering The Room
If the refrigerator is in the bedroom, there may be scenarios where unwanted guests will consistently enter the room.
Houseguests at a party consistently go in and out of the bedroom. If you’re like most of us, we keep and store valuable items in the bedroom. It’s often a place of secrecy, whether in a drawer or a closet.
Having guests go in and out of the bedroom opens up the opportunity for things to go missing or stolen.
Another reason is if you have kids. Kids who are 5-12 years old will consistently be digging through the fridge for food, either early morning or late at night. If you go to bed early or wake up late, having a constant distraction going in and out of the fridge will disturb your sleep habits.
Freon Leak From The Mini Fridge
The last item on our list of why you should think twice about having a mini fridge in your bedroom is the potential freon leak. This is rare and uncommon, but we wanted to inform you of the worst-case scenario.
Freon is a gas/liquid passed through the refrigerator that is consistently heated and cooled. If there happens to be a break in one of the coils or some leak, Freon will be exposed.
A leak rarely occurs, but it’s good practice to understand the dangers and worst-case scenarios when storing products where you sleep.
Do Mini Fridges Need Ventilation?
Mini fridges need ventilation to allow the warm air to escape that is produced by the motor. Too much heat build-up can cause the mini fridge to be faulty and eventually fail.
We recommend you put the fridge up against the wall but ensure there’s a small amount of space underneath and on the sides of the mini fridge. This will allow for proper ventilation of the mini fridge.
Are Mini Fridges Safe In Bedrooms?
Mini fridges are safe for smaller bedrooms, dorm rooms, or basement hangouts.
Mini fridges are great for bedrooms to keep quick drinks or small snacks cold. As the bottom coil heats up and cools down, we recommend placing the mini fridge on a hard surface, preferably with no cushions or soft surfaces.
Best Mini Fridges For Bedrooms
If you’re looking to purchase a mini fridge for your bedroom or even for a college dorm room, here are our top picks:
RCA Black Mini Fridge
RCA, known for its electronic devices, has built a tremendous compressor-cooled, space-saving mini-refrigerator. Featuring built-in, can dispensers and a small freezer compartment is all you’ll need to keep drinks and frozen food at the perfect temperature.
Standard with each purchase comes two glass tempered shelves that are easy to clean and adjust.
The RCA mini fridge also comes in stock with seven different colors if you want to add some style to your fridge.
Here is an example of their blue mini fridge:
These different styles are great for lighting up a dorm room or matching interior decoration for a private room.
Midea Stainless Steel Mini Fridge
The Midea mini fridge is excellent for storing both frozen and regular food. The added benefit of the freezer is that it gives space to keep things like pizza, ice cream, or any meals that can be eaten later.
With adjustable temperature ranges, the refrigerator can be adjusted to your liking. Available in 3 different colors, these mini fridges are set to match any decor in your house or any dorm room wall.
Galanz Retro Red Mini Fridge
The Galanz mini fridge is a great retro fridge that perfectly fits any man cave or retro-themed room. This mini fridge comes in various sizes, from 3.1 Cu Ft. all the way to 10.0 Cu ft.
Standard with mechanical thermostat control, interior light, and a beautiful premium gloss finish, the Galanz mini fridge is perfect for all your mini fridge needs with added style.
Conclusion
Mini fridges are safe in the bedroom if you have nowhere to store them.
Dorm room mini-refrigerators are also safe to keep in the bedroom as long as they’re kept on a hard surface.
Mini fridges are an excellent option for college students or basements to stay stocked with drinks or small meals.
We list all potential dangers and mishaps for your knowledge and worst-case scenarios.
We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked bedroom questions for new and experienced homeowners. Questions such as having a furnace in your bedroom closet.
Our team of experts answers these questions to help assist you through DIY projects and home repairs.
For over a decade, Robin has been a real estate agent, interior design specialist, and mother. Through her trials and tribulations, she wanted to create the perfect website to help you save money and make your home look beautiful.