10 refrigerator trends & styles for 2026
From convenient features to finishes, configurations and more, refrigerator trends evolve to keep pace with modern-day homes and family habits. Learn more about 10 emerging trends below, as well as which refrigerator styles offer the most space for your family in 2026.
What are the latest trends in refrigerators?
Refrigerator designs with flexible storage solutions are always increasingly popular. Multi-door models and refrigerator styles with exterior drawers make it easier for families to fit and find food in spaces that make the most sense for how they shop, cook and snack.
In 2026, you may be more likely to find models designed with intuitive organization in mind, featuring dedicated spaces for beverages, snacks, frozen goods and everyday ingredients that help minimize clutter.
Popular refrigerator trends to look for
Your family’s ideal refrigerator is likely influenced by both form and function, and the refrigerator trends for 2026 take both into account. Discover some of the trends in refrigerator organization features, finishes, lighting, styles and more below.
1. Temperature-controlled drawer
You can set the temperature of these drawers independently from the main compartment to accommodate whatever you’re storing. Select Whirlpool® Refrigerators such as this model feature a Refrigerated Exterior Drawer that gives you additional refrigeration space and lets you adjust temperature controls and dividers based on what you're storing.
2. Fingerprint-resistant finish
Keeping your refrigerator’s exterior clear of fingerprints and smudges is easier said than done, but the trending fingerprint-resistant finish on modern refrigerators can help you keep smears and sticky fingerprints at bay.
Not all stainless steel appliances are fingerprint resistant, but Whirlpool brand offers a Fingerprint Resistant finish on select stainless steel and black stainless steel refrigerators. That way, you can enjoy an easy-to-clean exterior without compromising your vision for your kitchen’s aesthetic.
Shop Whirlpool® Fingerprint Resistant Refrigerators
Available in stainless steel and black stainless steel finishes, Fingerprint Resistant refrigerators from Whirlpool brand offer a sleek exterior and flexible interior. The exterior on select Whirlpool® models resists fingerprints and smudges, while features like the Platter Pocket, Adjustable Glass Shelves and Prep & Store Bins—available on select Whirlpool® Refrigerators—help you accommodate the snacks and drinks your family keeps reaching for.
3. Measured fill water dispenser
Trending refrigerators pack extra features into water and ice dispensers to help streamline the day’s tasks. Dispensers on select Whirlpool® French Door and Side-by-Side Refrigerators feature a Measured Fill option that lets you select the exact amount of filtered water you need, then automatically fills your container accordingly and shuts off when it’s done.
4. LED lighting
Refrigerator lighting is designed to handle cold temperatures, but LED lighting goes the extra mile as it casts a bright, uniform light over your food to help you see what’s inside. When looking for the best refrigerator for your space, consider how LED lighting can help banish shadows from the back corners of refrigerator shelving so items like leftovers are less likely to get overlooked. Select Whirlpool® Refrigerators also have an LED Dispenser Night-Light, so you can easily find water and ice at night.
5. Fast ice production
Integrated ice makers eliminate the hassle of filling and storing ice trays, but some may have a harder time keeping up with your family’s habits. Some refrigerator dispensers include features that amp up ice production when you need it most.
For instance, ice makers on select Whirlpool® Refrigerators feature Dual Icemakers, letting you store more than twice the ice with a secondary icemaker in the freezer so you always have plenty on hand. Other models, such as this Whirlpool® Refrigerator, have Large Capacity Freezer Ice Storage, which stores over 7 lbs of ice.
6. Undercounter refrigerators
Undercounter refrigerators—sometimes referred to as beverage centers or wine refrigerators—fit snuggly amidst undercounter cabinetry to provide quick and convenient cold storage. These trending refrigerators make it easier to store your beverages and snacks in a convenient location and help make entertaining a breeze.
Whirlpool brand offers undercounter beverage and wine centers with select models offering features like custom temperature control, glass doors and LED lighting to help you fit and find your favorite beverages.
Whirlpool® 4 Door Refrigerators
Flexibility for the whole family
Flexible organization spaces make it easy to store your family’s favorites, from frozen meals to healthy snacks
7. 4-door refrigerators
Four-door refrigerators feature two separate refrigerator compartments on top and two separate freezer compartments below to help you stay organized. These models are considered a type of French door refrigerator and may even include a flexible compartment that can switch between freezing and refrigerating food based on your food storage needs.
Four-door models like this refrigerator from Whirlpool brand help maximize accessibility so you can find what you’re looking for.
8. Rapid cooling settings
Certain refrigerators feature quick-cool settings that temporarily lower temperatures in the fridge or freezer. This function helps newly added items reach the ideal temperature faster, adding convenience and flexibility to your daily routine.
Select Whirlpool® Refrigerators with the Fast Cool feature quickly chill just-bought groceries, leftovers and more by temporarily setting the refrigerator to its lowest temperature.
9. Specialized storage compartments
Many refrigerators include drawers, shelves and in-door storage to help keep foods organized, but some models take it a step further with specialized zones thoughtfully designed to store the snacks and meals your family reaches for most.
In the freezer compartment of select Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators, you’ll find Pint Size Storage for easy access to frozen snacks and pint-sized ice cream so they won't get buried in your freezer. You can also take advantage of the Pizza Pocket that easily stores frozen pizzas upright without the hassle of trying to fit them on flat freezer shelves.
10. Seamless integration
Not all counter-depth refrigerators are created equal. Some models labeled as counter depth may still extend slightly beyond your cabinetry, while others are engineered to sit nearly flush for a seamless, built-in look.
The True Counter-Depth Design on select Whirlpool® Refrigerators, for instance, features a 24-inch depth built to fit with your cabinets,2 while specially designed True Clearance Hinges allow the doors to open fully at 135°.
Shop Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators
Whirlpool® French Door Refrigerators can help you keep up with your family’s evolving needs. Select Whirlpool® models feature the EasyReach Zone and an adjustable divider with more than a foot of space for tall items. Other Whirlpool® models offer family-sized space, a large-capacity ice maker and flexible storage.
What style of refrigerator has the most space?
You’re more likely to find large capacity refrigerators in French door and side-by-side configurations, but each refrigerator type offers unique benefits to accommodate how different families function.
French door, bottom freezer and top freezer refrigerators typically feature more refrigerator capacity than freezer space, while side-by-side refrigerators usually have slightly more freezer space than other configurations and keep both fresh and frozen items at eye level.
How to choose the best refrigerator style for you
Finding the right refrigerator for your kitchen starts with identifying your family’s must-haves. Measure your refrigerator cutout, consider the capacity you’ll need to store every ingredient comfortably, and think through your preferred layout—whether French door, side-by-side or another configuration.
From there, explore features that simplify your routine, storage options that fit the way you shop and snack, and finishes that complement your kitchen’s overall design.
Explore Whirlpool® Refrigerators
Whirlpool® Refrigerators have the styles, capacities, finishes and features your family needs to operate smoothly. Select Whirlpool® Refrigerators offer flexible storage that fits your life, featuring the Whirlpool® Prep & Store System and six unique storage zones—including the EasyReach Zone, EasyView™ Drawers, and the Pizza Pocket—so your family can easily find and store the foods they love. Features like the Infinity Slide Shelf and Flexi-Slide™ Bin—available on select models—let you customize your fridge’s storage space to accommodate what you load inside.
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1. Compared to normal ice production.
2. Based on standard 26" cabinets and counters, not including doors.