Everything You Need To Know About Smeg Refrigerators

It feels like Smeg refrigerators were created just to disprove the myth that kitchen appliances can't be sexy. Most well-known for their sleek, colorful, retro '50s style (though it's worth noting that Smeg also makes your standard stainless steel fridges and appliances, too), these refrigerators are as much of a statement piece as they are an appliance. They add a bright pop of fun to an otherwise boring (but necessary!) part of your kitchen.

Now, before you go off and buy a Smeg refrigerator — after all, they're a bit of an investment no matter what size or color you choose — here's what you should know about them, from their history to their special features.

1. Smeg's '50s style refrigerators launched in the '90s.

This might surprise you, given the fact that Smeg's fridges have such an authentic, retro vibe, but it's true. While the Smeg brand has been around since 1948 — founded in Northern Italy by Vittorio Bertazzoni, Sr., who came from a line of blacksmiths — its iconic '50s style refrigerators didn't become a thing until the 1990s.

2. They come in 16 colors and patterns.

You can get Smeg's '50s style refrigerators in a multitude of colors, including a few flag patterns (the Italian flag, the United States flag, and the Union Jack). Neutrals like black, white, silver, and cream are all options, so if you're not a huge fan of color, don't worry. But if you want a rainbow of options to choose from, Smeg has it — red, orange, yellow, lime green, pastel green, pastel blue, blue, and pink are all available.

3. They're a little on the small, narrow side.

Especially if you go for the one-door, top-freezer variety — they're only 9.2 cubic feet, and a standard size refrigerator is typically between 10 and 13 cubic feet or more. The two-door, bottom freezer option is 11.7 cubic feet, for reference. Both sizes are a little over 23 inches wide (most one-sided refrigerators measure between 23 and 36 inches wide, so Smeg fridges are on the low end). The one-door Smeg comes in at 57.5 inches tall — a few inches shorter than a standard fridge — and the two-door measures a little over 75 inches, which is actually taller than most fridges.

4. They make mini fridges, if you need one for your dorm (or bar area!)

You're not limited to outfitting your kitchen with a standard size Smeg — if you just want a mini fridge, Smeg has you covered. Their 1.2 cubic foot model measures just under 30 inches high, perfect to stash below a counter, and under the size limit enforced by most college dorms. They're expensive though — a mini Smeg will cost you $999.

5. You can match your small appliances to your Smeg fridge, too.

Want your toaster, juicer, blender, coffee maker, kettle, stand mixer, and more to match your colorful new fridge? Those are all options available to you — and you can even get a matching Smeg dishwasher, depending on the color you choose.

If a Smeg fridge is in your future, you can check out some of their popular fridges below, in three different models and nine of their signature colors.