Ocal Ham Beque

In This Review: Top 5 LG Refrigerators  | LG Counter-Depth MAX™ French Door Refrigerator  | LG Side-By-Side Door-in-Door® Refrigerator | LG Bottom Freezer Refrigerator | LG Top Freezer Refrigerator | LG 11 cu. ft. Bottom Freezer Refrigerator | Buying Guide | How to Organize Your LG Refrigerator | FAQ | Who This Guide Is For | Methodology | Why Trust Us

When shopping for a new refrigerator, choosing a model from a well-trusted brand is essential. LG is one of the leaders in high-end refrigerators of various sizes, types, and price ranges. From bottom-freezer, to French door, to side-by-side fridges, LG has a wide variety of high-quality refrigerators to choose from. To help you find the best LG refrigerator for your needs, the This Old House Reviews team researched the best LG refrigerators on the market. Here are our top picks.

Top 5 LG Refrigerators

Best French Door

Good for: Customers who like the sleek appearance of a French door fridge and want their refrigerator to blend in with their kitchen cabinets.

Read more: LG Refrigerator Review (2024 Top Picks)

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a large storage capacity
✔ Includes an internal water dispenser
✔ Features Door Cooling+, which blasts cool air to all areas of the refrigerator

✘ Some customers found it difficult to store tall items
✘ Capacity may be too much for smaller families or single people

What Customers Are Saying

We found that customers who gave this product a positive review were impressed with its oversized capacity, stylish design, and quiet operation. On the other hand, some who were let down with this product found that the water dispenser did not always work properly, and others felt that the included drawers were not sturdy. 

Best Side-by-Side

Good for: Families who are looking for ample fridge and freezer space and a top-of-the-line ice and water dispenser. 

Pros and Cons

✔ Can make slow-melting craft ice, cubed ice, or crushed ice
✔ Has a large capacity with up to four shelves on the side
✔ Features door-in-door design for frequently used items

✘ May be too large for smaller kitchens
✘ Has narrow shelves

What Customers Are Saying

Our team found that customers who gave this product a positive review liked that it had a stylish, modern design and did not show fingerprints, while several others were impressed with its ice maker. However, there were a few customers who felt this fridge’s doors were difficult to close, while some had issues with the control panel not working correctly. 

Best Bottom-Freezer

Good For: Homeowners who want a large-capacity fridge with the organizational elements that come with a bottom-freezer model. 

Pros and Cons

✔ Makes it easy to organize items in both fridge and freezer
✔ Features five sensors for temperature control and a linear air compressor
✔ Has a smudge-resistant, fingerprint-proof finish

✘ Some customers had issues with the door not closing properly
✘ Does not include an ice dispenser or water filter

What Customers Are Saying

Customers who were pleased with this product liked that it came with several shelves and trays for organizing their food items. Others were impressed with its smudge-resistant finish and its large amount of storage space. On the other hand, we did notice a few customers say that this LG refrigerator was noisier than expected, and others said the compressor went out after minimal use. 

Best Top-Freezer

Good for: Customers looking for a straightforward top-freezer refrigerator that has ample capacity for up to three people.

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a more affordable price than some other LG models 
✔ Features humidity-contained crisper drawers that help extend the shelf life of fruits and veggies
✔ Comes with LG Smart Diagnosis so you can quickly assess issues over the phone

✘ Features less capacity than some other models in this review
✘ Does not keep refrigerated foods at eye level

What Customers Are Saying

We found that customers who gave this product a positive review liked that it was spacious, ran efficiently, and was quiet. However, there were a couple of reviewers who claimed that this fridge was too low to the ground, making it difficult to open. Others had issues with the freezer not working properly. 

Best Compact

Good For: Single people who need minimal fridge capacity and are looking for a high-end, space-saving model.

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes a reversible door hinge
✔ Has a bright recessed LED light that makes it easy to see your items
✔ Comes with a print-proof stainless steel finish

✘ Has a minimal capacity
✘ Does not have an ice cube maker

What Customers Are Saying

Our team noticed that several customers who gave this product a positive review liked that it ran quietly, fit well into small spaces and that it was particularly effective at keeping foods fresh for long periods of time. However, there were a few reviewers who claimed the temperature ran warmer than they expected, and others thought the shelf heights were too narrow. 

Guide for LG Refrigerators

There are several important factors you should consider before deciding on the best refrigerator for you. When shopping, think about things like the type of fridge you want, how much space you have, what design features are important to you, and your budget. Read our guide below for the most important factors to consider when purchasing a new fridge. For more information on the things to know when buying an appliance, check out our major appliance buying guide. 

Type

There are several types of LG fridges available, including: 

Top-Freezer

Top-freezer refrigerators feature two doors and two handles, with the fridge on the bottom and the freezer on top. These fridge types are the most common type of refrigerator and typically have a lower cost than other types. 

Bottom-Freezer

Bottom-freezer refrigerators have a pull-out drawer below the fridge that opens up to a freezer. They provide ample freezer space and more organization options for frozen foods, and allows the fridge to be at eye level. 

French Door

French door refrigerators are growing in popularity and provide a sleek appearance in modern kitchens. LG French door refrigerators are energy-efficient and feature two doors that open in opposite directions, providing extra storage. The freezer on these models is on the bottom.

Side-by Side

Side-by-side LG refrigerators have two full-length doors that open in opposite directions. These refrigerators provide ample freezer space while keeping your refrigerated items easy to access.

Capacity

The capacity of a refrigerator measures how much food you’ll be able to fit in it. It’s generally recommended to have at least four-to-six cubic feet of space in your fridge for each member of your household. For example, a family of four should have somewhere between 16–24 cubic feet of space to comfortably fit a full grocery order. LG refrigerators come in a variety of sizes, with smaller refrigerator models having anywhere between 10–20 cubic feet and larger models that can reach up to 27 or 28 cubic feet of space. 

Design and Finish

In addition to finding the right type of fridge for your home, you’ll also want to find one that matches your kitchen’s style. LG refrigerators typically come in white, stainless steel, print-proof stainless steel, or black stainless steel. 

Energy Usage

The refrigerators mentioned in this review are all ENERGY STAR-certified, meaning they are at least 15% more efficient than the federal minimum standard for energy efficiency. The more energy-efficient your fridge and freezer are, the more money you’ll save on your electric bill at the end of the month.

How To Organize Your LG Refrigerator 

Even if you have a large-capacity fridge, knowing how to properly store your food items can be a challenge. To help you make the best use of your refrigerator and freezer space, here are some important tips to keep in mind.

• Organize by temperature: Organizing your kitchen by temperature helps prevent cross-contamination and keeps everything organized so it’s easy to find. Use the upper shelves for leftovers, drinks, and ready-to-eat foods like meats, cheeses, and yogurts. Use the lower shelves for raw ingredients that need to be cooked, like raw meats and eggs.
• Use clear containers: Using clear resealable containers for leftovers and other items can help make it easier to spot what’s what when you open your fridge. You also may want to consider using labels if you have a lot of containers in the fridge at once. 
• Properly store produce: LG refrigerators come with crisper drawers that help keep your fruits and veggies fresh for longer. Keep the fruits in one drawer and the veggies in another to prevent them from ripening too quickly. 
• Use the door for drinks and condiments: Storing drinks and condiments on your door will help reduce clutter and make them easily accessible when you need to quickly grab them. The door is also the warmest part of the fridge, so it’s best to keep less perishable items there. 
• Organize after you shop: When putting food away after you’ve gone grocery shopping, take time to move the items you just bought to the back and move older items up towards the front of the fridge. This will help reduce waste and ensure you don’t forget about food you already have.

FAQ About LG Refrigerators

How do I tell if my refrigerator compressor is bad?

To tell if there’s an issue with your refrigerator compressor, listen for a slight humming noise, which could be the result of the compressor not working properly. Also, if the compressor turns on and off too frequently or your refrigerated items aren’t cooling properly, it could be because the compressor is not working.

What is the best temperature to set your refrigerator to?

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you should aim to keep your fridge at a temperature of at or slightly below 40°F to safely store food. A higher temperature could lead to bacteria and foodborne illnesses. 

How long do LG refrigerators last?

LG makes high-quality refrigerators that should last for years, typically well over a decade. To ensure your refrigerator lasts as long as possible, perform routine maintenance by cleaning the coils and the interior regularly, fixing any issues as soon as they come up, and setting it to the proper temperature. 

How often should I defrost my refrigerator?

If your LG freezer does not have an automatic defrost option, you should manually defrost it when the ice reaches a thickness of around 1/4 inch, which typically occurs around once a year. 

How We Selected the Best LG Refrigerators

To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.

Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of LG refrigerators with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers. 

Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.

Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. 

The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.

Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.

Questions or Comments?

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.

If you were inspired (like I was!) by my last post to add some more green to your home, I have lots of green home decor finds to share with you today!

Click here for all above sources

Click here for all above sources (all Target!)

Click here for all above sources (all Amazon, see more green decor in this folder of my Amazon Shop)

Sources for above: Toaster (I have this!) // Electric Kettle (My daughter Kylee has this in cream) // Cast Iron Pot // Green Floral Chinoiserie Lamp // Green Artichoke Decor Accent // Green Cross Pillow Cover // Green Striped Vase // Braided Green and Blue Rug (same rug as seen in The Tiny Cottage, but theirs is the Barn Blue color) // Green Floral Pillow Cover // Herringbone Throw (color options) // Moss Spheres // Scalloped Edge Pillow (color options) // Sailboat Watercolor Print

More Green Decor (click each thumbnail below for details):

5 Pretty Rooms Decorated with Green

Blue and White Decor (132+ Pieces I Love on Amazon!)

At the beginning of this year, I made my Master List of Home Goals just like I’ve done for the last several years. But this year, I tried to keep my goals reasonable. So how did I do? Let’s take a look.

Goal #1 – Finish the Home Gym

At the beginning of the year, our home gym looked like this…

I had just finished our master bathroom remodel at the end of 2022, and all throughout that project, our home gym was used as a workshop, storage room, etc. So by the end of the bathroom project, the home gym was a complete disaster. The stripes on the walls were done (but still needed lots of touchups), and most of the trim was installed (but still needed to be finished), and everything else was a mess.

So my first goal of 2023 was to finish our home gym, and I did! I love how this room turned out. Since Matt and I both use it, I tried to make it appropriate for both of us. I got my color on most of the walls, but it’s mixed with lots of black and wood to keep things from looking too much like a candy shop.

Goal # 2 – The Carport

I’m not doing these in the order in which I listed them in my post at the beginning of the year because I want to start with the things that actually got finished. And after years of being in an in between state (usable but not finished), the carport is finally finished. At the beginning of the year, it looked like this…

I hired out this work because, quite frankly, I didn’t want to do it myself. And I’m so glad I did! It’s finished, and I got to focus on other things while it got done.

I’m still having to use it as my workshop where I use my saws, so this is as good as it gets for now. And I do still want to build a storage cabinet and do a couple of other things, but the carport itself is finished and finally has a ceiling, lights, a ceiling fan, etc. You can click here to see more pictures of our finished carport.

Goal #3 – Front Porch And Exterior

Our front porch was in pretty rough shape at the beginning of the year, and several things needed maintenance, starting with the actual porch boards.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get my whole list finished, but I did make some progress! I sanded down all of the porch boards and restained/resealed them (although they still need one more coat). I also sealed and repainted the porch ceiling, and gave the front door a fresh coat of paint.

I love the progress, but I still have some things left on my list that I’ll need to focus on next year, like finishing the stone skirting, making some flower beds, rehanging a shutter that fell down during a rainstorm with really high winds, and making window boxes. You can click here to see more posts about projects I’ve done on the front porch.

Goal #4 – The Studio

My studio was obviously the biggest project of the year, and I didn’t quite get it finished. I feel like I’m so close to having a finished studio, but there are still quite a few projects for me to finish up next year. But I did make a whole lot of progress. Here’s what the room looked like at the beginning of the year. (Actually, it’s not. This room as a mess, piled with stuff that had been moved in here from other rooms.)

I did so many projects in this room, starting with sanding and painting the floor, installing and painting cabinets, removing that wallpaper and replacing it with a much larger mural, and so much more.

I had hoped to get the whole room finished by the end of the year, but I knew that was a very lofty goal. I’m pleased with the progress that I did make on it, and I’m very excited about getting it finished first thing in 2024! You can click here to read more about the studio.

Goal #5 – The Guest Bedroom

I did have three things on my list of goals that I wanted to do in the guest bedroom (that we’re currently using as our main bedroom).

Those included adding wainscoting to the lower walls, continuing the floral design on the other two walls, and building a new base for the bed. I didn’t get around to doing any of those things. 😀 I guess I’ll try again next year.

Goal #6 – Kitchen

This is one of those nagging goals that I’ve had in mind since 2019, but have yet to actually commit time and effort to it. I wanted to remove the dishwasher and replace it with a cabinet for storage.

In hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t spend time on that. Now that I’ve pretty much decided that I want to redo our kitchen (either as part of our addition or sometime soon after), I really don’t want to put any more time or effort into making this kitchen work better for me. I’ll just wait and include all of those things (like a Rev-a-Shelf pop up shelf, which is what I wanted to put in that spot) on my wish list for our new kitchen.

So that covers all of the goals I had set for 2023. In all, I think I did a pretty good job! I didn’t get everything finished, but I also made a whole lot more time for myself, for family, and for friends this last year. There was a time in my life when I’d work on our house (or condo before the house) 12 hours a day with no time for anything else. I feel like 2023 was a year of finding balance and really evaluating priorities. So while I may not get house projects finished as fast as I used to, my life feels so much fuller these days. I loved that about 2023, and I plan to continue that in 2024.

Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.

Do you have a friend or family member who loves to make small repairs and upgrades around the house? Your favorite DIY-er will love to get tools that can help them prepare for the projects they’ve already started planning for the new year. Since Christmas is fast approaching, now is the time to pick which gifts you’ll be giving to the DIY enthusiasts in your life. Here are some of the best power tools, hand tools, and home improvement gadgets to gift this holiday season.

Why You Can Trust Us

This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. 

Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.

Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.

Questions or Comments?

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.

Now that our English-inspired cottage kitchen is “finished”, let the merry Christmas festivities and memory making begin! This will be our first family Christmas in this home! In anticipation of wonderful new family gatherings and memories that will be made here, I want to share a little story about our kitchen design that you may not know.

We designed this space with memorable details inspired by the kitchen in the English Tudor home where we last lived together as a family. The last Christmas we had together there was in 2008, just days before we moved away (in a terrible snow storm!) on January 1 to begin new lives.

This makes me teary! Seasons change. It is a long story I won’t share in great detail as I’ve chronicled a lot of it on the blog.

If you’ve followed for a long time, you might even remember our English Tudor home as we lived there when my blog began way back in 2007! While our family never all lived together in one house permanently again, after my husband and I along with our second-grade son moved to Washington state, our two daughters eventually moved to Seattle to be closer to their brother and began new lives there, too.

Our oldest daughter Kylee and her husband Lance have since returned to the area in Oregon where we lived before, but the sacrifices our daughters and son-in-law made during that season to be near family as their brother grew up brings me to tears. As bittersweet as that season was in many ways, we were very blessed that our family remained close regardless of circumstances. And while we left our last family home, we’ve created other homes that each became a special backdrop for family times and memories!

Fast forward through many more changes, challenges, adventures, book writing, blogging and blessings, including two more moves in the following decade to now….

We are empty nesters now, just getting settled here in our “cottage by the sea” where we moved two years ago.

At the time we invited my parents to move here with us, we weren’t exactly sure how it would work for us all in this smallish home on a small lot. But we just trusted this move and home was the right decision and that somehow we’d figure it out! And we did.

This past year we went through a big renovation to rework our floor plan including a small addition. Now this home is a comfortable place for all of us to enjoy island life and the comforts of home. I will share more of my parents’ Tiny Cottage soon!

This brings me back to the story about my inspiration for our new kitchen! I designed the kitchen in original English Tudor back in Portland around existing elements to create a warm and welcoming space a budget! Previously it had been a smelly rat-infested space with raccoons on the roof, but I found ways to salvage what I could. Needless to say, we improved it greatly! It became a charming English-inspired family kitchen and the heart of our home where so many gatherings took place and memories were made.

While we’ve renovated two other kitchens I also loved since then, neither of them were quite right for my favorite English-inspired style from our Tudor.

When we decided to create a new kitchen here, there were many appropriate style directions I could have gone in. Ultimately, I was inspired to bring in my love of English-inspired design along with the related memories of our family home in Portland to this one!

Leaving our hometown, our family, and our English Tudor all those years ago was hard, but now with our new Englished-inspired kitchen I feel like I have a piece of that special season and home back with me!

Even though we didn’t replicate every design element of our English Tudor kitchen exactly, we created a similar feeling while also incorporating the style and features that honor this coastal home.

Now every time I see the warmth of our creamy white cabinets, the bin pulls on the drawers, our soapstone counters, the tongue and groove paneling, a nickel faucet at the white sink, a charming stove alcove, the brackets under our glass cabinets, the open shelves, the center island, the bookcases, the space for the kitchen stool, the toile fabric, I feel like we’re home again.

Of course, everything is not the same as it was in that last Christmas in our English Tudor! There are no kids living here day to day with us now. But our family is happy and healthy and building their lives and we have our first grandbaby on the way!

Seasons change, homes change, but the love of family does not.

In just a week or so, our three kids and two son-in-laws will return home. Not to the same English kitchen where we last lived together long ago, but to this new inspired one we created for family. Here in our English-inspired kitchen in our cottage by the sea, we are filled with gratitude that new family gatherings will take place, more Christmas memories will be made and old ones cherished. Our heart is here. This is home now.

I will for sure return to share more of our Christmas home and the Tiny Cottage, too.

From reducing energy consumption to recycling waste, it seems like everyone is interested in doing their part to help the environment these days. While green living conserves natural resources and cuts down on pollution, it also has the practical benefit of saving money on your utility bills.

Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. is living proof of the power of going green.

While you probably know him best from his many roles on television and film, he’s been an outspoken advocate of sustainable living for almost 40 years. Everything about his home demonstrates his commitment to treading as lightly as possible on the earth.

He’s even written a book, Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life, about his experiences.

Sustainable Site

The first consideration in building a green house is minimizing the environmental impact to the site. Just north of San Diego, the green development of Del Sur is doing just that. Their emphasis on environmentally friendly building practices and commitment to preserving 60% of the development’s land as open space have earned Del Sur some of California’s top environmental awards.

Pervious paving of driveways, streets, and parking lots is another way to limit damage to the environment.

While pervious paving has the look and feel of concrete or asphalt, it allows rainwater to filter through and soak into the ground.

This decreases runoff that can pollute waterways and lower groundwater levels, as well as reducing the need for costly storm drains and retention ponds.

Reuse and Recycle

The Ranch House at Del Sur is both a welcome center and an example of sustainable development. Since shipping building materials long distances greatly increases their impact on the environment, many of the materials at Del Sur were obtained locally.

Walls for the Ranch House were constructed from stones found on the property while the wood flooring and the ceiling beams came from structures that were being demolished.

Nonprofit organizations like the Reuse People are given buildings that have been slated for demolition in exchange for tax deductions. They then disassemble it and resell the materials to finance their efforts. By taking the building apart piece by piece, they are able to reuse about three-fourths of the total weight and recycle much of the rest.

Companies like TerraMai in California, specialize in turning high quality wood from demolished structures into lumber for paneling, flooring, and millwork.

Since much of it comes from older, slow growing trees, the wood is stronger and more stable than lumber produced today.

Rather than tearing down older inefficient homes and apartment buildings, some developers like Marty Bhatia of OM Development, LLC in Chicago, convert them into energy efficient and environmentally friendly structures. Buyers are even provided with a manual that explains the building’s green features.

Green Products

Green building materials can be made from just about anything, including agricultural waste.

Environ Biocomposites produces a composite material made from recycled sunflower hulls known as Dakota Burl® which doesn’t emit harmful gases and can be used for a number of interior applications.

Kirei Board is an environmentally friendly product manufactured in China from sorghum stalks that remain after harvesting.

The lightweight panels have an interesting grain pattern and can be used for anything from cabinets to flooring.

Conserving Water

A family of four uses on average 400 gallons of water a day, or almost 150,000 gallons a year.

Toilets are the largest user of water in the home. Older models require up to three times the water of new high efficiency toilets such as the Persuade™ and San Raphael™ from Kohler.

Replacing an existing toilet can cut your home’s water usage by as much as 10,000 gallon a year.

Showers are another big water guzzler. Replacing a standard showerhead with a low-flow model, like the Kohler MasterShower® Ecofficient™, can save up to 20%.

Adding low-flow aerators to kitchen and bathroom faucets will help as well. Be sure to check with your local water provider to see if tax credits are available for installing water conservation devices.Another way to cut down on water usage is by funneling the runoff from your roof to a storage tank for watering your lawn.

Some systems, such as the Deluxe Potable System from Rainwater Management Solutions, can even filter the water for use in your home.

If replacing bathroom fixtures or installing a rainwater collection system isn’t in your budget, you can still cut down on water usage by repairing leaks, limiting time in the shower, and washing only full loads of clothes and dishes.

Read about and watch Going Green, Part 2

Find out more at our Going Green webpage

Other Tips From This Episode

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Checking for Drafts

A simple test for air leaks is to pass a butane lighter slowly around the edges of doors and windows. If the flame bends or flickers, repair or replace the weather stripping until it remains steady. Be sure to keep the flame away from curtains or other flammable materials.

Best New Products with Emilie Barta:
n:vision Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

CFL light bulbs from n:vision carry the Energy Star rating and use 75% less energy than incandescents while delivering the same amount of light. Since they last about 10 times longer, you can expect to save $40 to $50 over the life of each bulb. For more natural looking light, choose a color temperature rating of warm or soft white. Find out more at The Home Depot.

Ask Danny:
Installing a Programmable Thermostat

I’ve heard that if you install a digital thermostat it will lower your utility bills. Is that true? -Vicki from Spanish Fort

Installing a programmable digital thermostat allows your central system to reduce heating and cooling when the house is empty. While this can save up to 15% a year on utility bills, the actual amount will vary depending on how it is set and the amount of time the house is vacant each day. If you have a heat pump, use one of the newer hybrid thermostats that are designed to work with these systems.