Not too long ago, the fridge was the ultimate workhorse of household appliances: a white box that hummed away day and night in a corner of the kitchen. Today, white has made way for stainless steel, fridge design has edged away from boxy, and there's barely a hum to be heard.

The continuing popularity of open-plan living, where the kitchen is very much on display in people's homes, has meant we're more conscious than ever of the aesthetics of appliances like fridges and freezers," says Nick Fry, General Manager Major Appliances for retailer Retravision.

And, for many homeowners, it seems bigger is better. Sales of larger models, such as french-door and side-by-side fridge/freezers, are growing steadily.

"We have found that consumers who are replacing their fridges are now looking at styles with a larger capacity," says Glacel Lubrin-Zabat, LG's Category Manager for home appliances.

Such is the interest in french-door and side-by-side fridges, manufacturers are scrambling to make more compact (and more affordable) versions that might appeal to homeowners stuck with a more traditional 900mm cavity in which to site a fridge.

Refrigerators will probably continue to be one of the most energy-hungry appliances in the home, but you can expect to see better-performing models hit the market soon, says Sonia Lancaster, Senior Brand Manager Refrigeration for Whirlpool. "As an industry we're continually striving to reduce the energy consumption of fridges and to reduce their carbon footprint."

Cool operators

There are a few factors to consider when you're choosing a fridge to suit the layout of your kitchen, says Brisbane kitchen designer Lee Hardcastle of Enigma Interiors. "Ensure the door will open fully, without hitting an adjoining wall. The door has to be able to open past 90 degrees, so you can access the crisper," he says.

Be aware of the depth of any new fridge. "Some of the bigger models look impressive in a showroom but overwhelmingly large when they're in place." And remember that if you're eyeing off a model with ice and water dispensers you'll need to have it plumbed in.

For a fully integrated refrigerator, make sure the width of the door covering is precisely the same as the surrounding joinery, says Hardcastle. Plus, adequate ventilation is crucial.

The big freeze

As the global financial crisis gathered momentum last year, sales of freezers rose by almost 20 per cent, says Nick Fry. "People were investing in freezers so they could tighten their belts. It was all about buying in bulk, freezing food up and cooking at home," he says. Since then, freezer sales have settled, but the market split between upright freezers and chest freezers remains 50/50.

"Space tends to be the main determining factor in choosing a freezer," says Fry. "If you don't have much room, a small upright freezer, like an 85-litre Haier, is best. But if you do have space, you can get up to 700-litre capacity with one of the big Fisher & Paykel or Westinghouse freezers."