I tried the mini fridge
Mini-fridges aren't just for dorm rooms. That's why like mini fridge.
I recently moved into a new home. The kitchen features a full-size refrigerator and space for a mini-fridge under a nearby counter. At first, I wanted nothing to do with the mini-fridge. Two refrigerators - why?

I thought about filling the space with a bar cart. But then I saw this vintage-inspired mini fridge and I changed my mind about the bar cart. Now that I've had a mini fridge for a few months, I'll never go back to storing food and drinks together. My regular fridge has never been cleaner, neater and more spacious - all thanks to the mini fridge.

What is a mini-fridge?
A mini-fridge (sometimes called an under-the-counter refrigerator) is exactly what it sounds like. It's a smaller version of the typical refrigerator commonly found in every American kitchen. The differences are in size, smaller electricity bills, and freezer compartment - some mini-fridges don't have freezer space (mine doesn't). In my opinion, mini-fridges are a chic way to store frozen drinks at the right temperature, away from the food you eat.

You might think that mini-fridges are only for fine overpriced snacks in dorm rooms and hotel rooms. Wrong! Mini-fridges have been featured in interior design magazines and celebrity homes. Khloe Kardashian has two mini-fridges in her bedroom. One mini-fridge holds wine and rosé, while the other mini-fridge contains almost every brand of soda imaginable.

Mini-fridges come in all shapes, sizes and colors. The previous owner of my home had a glass-front mini-fridge to store and display wine. Larger stainless steel mini-fridges are popular for both beverage and refrigerated food overflow storage for parties and holidays. Some very small mini-fridges are designed to keep skin care products or medications cool and organized. If you want to keep extra ice, you can also find mini-fridges with small freezers.

Of course, mini-fridges don't have to live in the kitchen. If you have a home bar, a movie room, or, oops, even a garage where everyone likes to gather - a mini-fridge is a no-brainer. No more running to the kitchen to keep everyone hydrated and happy.

Why I love using a mini-fridge
Initially, I bought the vintage-style mini fridge because of the lovely aesthetic and space in my kitchen. But even when I move to a small studio apartment, I take my mini fridge with me. The main reason I love using a mini fridge is how much space it clears up in my regular fridge.

Soda cans, sodas, wine and beer bottles take up a lot of premium fridge space. Now that I have those drinks in the mini fridge, I have room in my regular fridge to keep everything more organized. I have room for freshly washed arugula in my giant salad spinner. I love to entertain with mini-fridges. Sending guests to the mini fridge for a beer is far less intimate than bringing people into my food fridge. I keep the mini fridge colder than my regular fridge. The temperature adjustment is handy for making rosé colder without affecting the cheese and leftovers in my regular fridge.