Many of us remember the old dorm days in college. A mini-fridge was a dorm essential feature to help us through a night session of studying.Having a cold brew or soda handy, while also being big enough to hold a leftover pizza.
if you’re looking to use retro pieces in your home, remember to read out post on retro kitchen decor ideas.
But mini-fridges also make great additions for man caves, porches, entertainment rooms or even a great addition to a small office or to keep next to your work area.
Now that the old is back in style with retro style home appliances, the retro mini-fridges are also gaining a lot of traction and would make a stylish addition to your desired area.
The 5 Best Retro Mini Fridges:
It is important to know what to look for and which specifications are important with these small appliances, so in the following guide, we will be looking at the 5 best retro-style mini-fridges on the market to help you narrow down your selection.
1. Daewoo FR-044RCNR Retro Mini Fridge
| Capacity | 4.4 Cubic Feet |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic |
| Weight | 61 pounds |
| Dimensions | 22.8 x 19.2 x 36.1 inches |
Another small size retro-style fridge with a great resume and fantastic potential. The design is as retro as they were back at the start of the Coca Cola days. If you have a vintage look in your home or maybe a retro-style area, this would be a perfect match.
One of the greatest features in this fridge is Energy Star efficiency. Small fridges tend to eat a lot of power because of the insulation needed to keep the low temperatures at this size, so having an energy-efficient small fridge is always a plus.
This freestanding refrigerator has easy control and soft dial so you can regulate how cool you want the inside and the freezer to be. The tempered glass shelves can be slid out and more space can be made available with ease.
A slide-out drawer is at the bottom for fruit, vegetables and anything else you want to keep fresh. On the side, there is a stainless steel wire bin to hold smaller products as well as a stainless wire tray for bottles and cans to hold your drinks nice and cool.
The freezer is the one feature that should be used more cautiously as it is more of a deep cooler where you would be able to keep your ice cubes and ice cream cold as opposed to freeze them there.
This retro mini fridge is by no means on the cheap side, but Daewoo has made sure to include many features you can find in full-sized freestanding fridges and you will definitely be saving money with the power efficiency. This is a great overall fridge to consider as a primary fridge for a tiny house or a dorm room essential, RV or a boat.
2. RCA RFR321-FR3208 IGLOO Mini Refrigerator
| Capacity | 3.2 Cubic Feet |
|---|---|
| Material | Acrylic |
| Weight | 50 pounds |
| Dimensions | 20 x 18 x 32 inches |
The RCA IGLOO mini fridge with a freezer compartment is a more sizable option if you are looking for the functionality of a full-sized fridge and freezer but less than half the size. This is a great option for a dorm room or a smaller office space.
There is plenty to be said about this handy fridge, which can serve in more ways than one. The adjustable tempered glass shelves make organizing the compartments an easy task as they are full width, presenting plenty of storage options.
The door of the mini refrigerator is also reversible so it can be switched to open the opposite way. This is convenient if you ever need to relocate and need to place it in a different space.
The door shelve is also full size, allowing for a variety of bottles to be stored with ease. And if you were wondering about can compartments, the door also has a dispenser style shelve for storing even more beverages.
The freezer compartment is just the right size to store enough ice cubes to have ready for any occasion. The design is sleek and would suit any household, dorm, office or garage space and with the adjustable legs and reversible door, you don’t have to worry about making it fit perfectly.
3. Cooluli Mini Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer
| Capacity | 4 Liters |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic and Aluminum |
| Weight | 4.85 pounds |
| Dimensions | 11 x 7-1/4 x 10 inches |
Backtracking to our other entry, this one is another retro mini fridge by Cooluli, which is targeted at the customers looking for the tiniest options on the market. The mini has a number of features that make it worth considering.
Once again as the other Cooluli fridge this also can act as a cooler and a warmer at the click of a button. A wall outlet is one option to power it and an adapter for the car is available if you decide to take it on the road and have a warm sandwich ready or a cool beverage within reach for you or your passengers.
What makes this little guy really shine, however, is its ECO mode capacity, which allows you to use a USB power bank to power it for even more portability on the go. The energy consumption is minimal thanks to the 3-amp high capacity cooling chip and you would barely be able to hear it as it runs on 28dB silent fan.
The design is on point as with every Cooluli product. A magnetic door with a metal finish for the handle makes sure the door stays safely shut to prevent anything flying out of the cooler/warmer.
There is also a useful handle on top for ease of carrying. One downside is that it is impossible to fit taller cans in this little fella, but with bigger options available of the same model, it is understandable.
At this great price, this retro mini cooler/warmer will make a perfect addition to your dorm room, office desk, alongside your bunk bed or even a great travel companion. Make sure to have a look at this environmentally friendly little buddy when you decide to get a mini-fridge.
4. Frigidaire Retro Mini Compact Beverage Fridge
| Capacity | 4 liters |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic |
| Weight | 6 pounds |
| Dimensions | 10.00 x 7.00 x 10.50 Inches |
The Frigidaire Retro mini compact fridge is all you can ever want out of a small fridge. A fridge that you would want to fit anywhere from your desk to your, living room or RV.
The best Quiet mini fridge and vibration-free. You won’t know it is there until you remember you want a cold beverage and it can hold up to 6 cans or 4 liters in capacity. Compared to other fridges it consumes far less power. You would need to allow it a good 2 hours for it to reach its maximum potential.
In the set, you will find both a power cord for your home and a 12V power adapter for your car. That makes it the perfect road trip companion for any vehicle. At 6 pounds of weight and the small size, you can easily fit more than a couple of these around the house in every nook and cranny you want to have a cold drink handy and ready to refresh yourself.
Let us not forget the cool old school design which matches any retro scenery you can think of. With the retro handle securing the contents of the fridge at cool temperature ready to be enjoyed wherever whenever. Inside there is enough room to not only store your drinks but also easily fit a snack like a sandwich instead of an extra can of soda.
For a fantastic price, this little buddy can be a great addition to your space. from the office, home, desk, shelf, car or any place you wish to have a cool drink or a snack handy.
5. Cooluli K10LGA Mini Fridge Coca-Cola Americana Retro Cooler and Warmer
| Capacity | 10 Liters |
|---|---|
| Material | Polypropylene, Aluminum, Glass |
| Weight | 7.9 pounds |
| Dimensions | 11.4 x 9.4 x 13.4 inches |
If you are a true retro fan and are looking for some true Americana, look no further. The Cooluli K10LGA mini-fridge rocks a retro-style design every Coca Cola fan and collector would love. This 10-liter mini fridge has some unique qualities, which make it a great pick for anyone looking for a small appliance.
Don’t be fooled by the size of this mini fridge at first glance. The inside can store 12 cans of your favorite drinks or alternatively use up to two more shelves to store safely your snacks at the bottom and some beverages over them.
One key feature of this product is that it isn’t just a cooler but can become a warmer at the flip of a switch. Compliments of the unique EcoMax Technology of Cooluli. From wine, food, beer, and snacks to insulin health and skincare products and medication, this little helper is of great value.
Take it anywhere you want as it also comes with a car adapter. So you can enjoy your cold brews during a long road trip or at the seaside or camp. For a great price, this mini retro fridge is a fantastic choice to keep the basics at arm’s reach. You won’t even hear it working unless you are really close or want to listen for the sound it makes.
Buying a Retro Style Mini Fridge
So now that we have had a look at some of the great options out there on the market, it is crucial to know what features and details to look at when you decide to go to the store to buy or order one online. In the following guide, we have included some of the most important details to consider when you decide to buy a mini Fridge.
Energy Star
The biggest problem with the small fridges is that they need to consume a lot of energy in order to cool your items properly. Because of their size limitations, there is not as much room for insulation as in full-sized models. This is why Energy Star certification is important so you can be sure you are conserving energy.
Retro mini fridges with Freezer or no Freezer
Another issue with most smaller size fridges is that the ones, which come equipped with a freezer, rarely work on par with the cooler. Make sure, if you are considering a mini-fridge, which is freestanding and bigger in scale and comes with a freezer, that it is one that will actually be able to serve your needs.
This is a rare occasion because most folks looking for mini-fridges usually look for ones to put on their desk or next to a couch to just keep a cold drink but still make sure you know what you want out of yours.
Size
The majority of people buy small fridges for their size, so this is crucial to consider it before going for a purchase. You need to know what the purpose of your mini-fridge is going to be and don’t go too big or too small.
Usually, the smaller ones can be great to keep your drinks cool, but you need to go a little bigger if you want to keep some snacks handy as well. Also, consider the place you will be placing your mini-fridge as sometimes it could be a tight fit in a nook or a small available space. Opt for a larger size one if you have the luxury of some extra space.
Price
As with any product, price is also key here. There are luxury brands who make retro mini-fridges and overprice them. Then there are the well-consolidated who charge more for the name, but you know you are getting better quality for your money.
Lastly, there are the ones who are the best bang for your buck and just get the job done. Based on your needs and preferences make the choice that is right for you.
What Is The Best Retro Mini Fridge?
In our professional opinion the FR-044RCNR Retro Compact Refrigerator, from Daewoo, is the best retro mini fridge currently on the market.
Even though it is the priciest product on our list, the Daewoo Retro compact refrigerator really hits all the marks in all the needed categories. The design takes you back to the old days. The capacity and placement of every shelf and bar inside are engineered so you can make the most out of the space. It lets you feel like you really have a pretty good size fridge which you can use as a normal one without any difficulty.
It has the Energy Star certification, which makes it energy efficient and not use a ton of power to keep everything cool. In addition, it is a freestanding refrigerator with a functional tabletop. You can place a matching microwave and beer keg fridge from the same line. All of these specs combined make this retro mini fridge our top pick.
