Depends on the fridge. Usually 1" is enough on the sides, maybe 2" on top.

Thank you so very much!

That's great news. It means that there's the right amount of space for a door to fit on that wall and have casing too! Ha ha LOL

I really appreciate your taking the time to answer. <3

Most models of refrigerators specify a minimum of about 1/2" clearance on each side for ventilation. The top is more, 1" to 2". Most also recommend setting the refrigerator forward from the back wall by about 2". Consult the manual on yours or call the manufacturer to know precisely. As mentioned previously, clearances for doors to open are different than for ventilation only.

Read the specs on the refrigerator and that will tell you.

Thank you all for taking time to comment! I REALLY appreciate it. <3

Yes, I could check an owner's manual and would not needed to ask on Houzz...but I was asking before making the purchase...which means I don't have one to check! LOL

At this stage, I was just scoping things out to make sure it's EVEN POSSIBLE to fit in all the elements of a Kitchenette that I'm hoping for, given my small space challenge... BEFORE buying the appliances. :)

To the point I was reminded of...having clearance for the fridge doors to open all the way...I'm elated to find online that there are brands of 24" refrigerator-freezers that come "panel ready."

This means the fridge can be integrated into my space and it will look just like it is more cabinetry. That really pleases me, because seeing a fridge in a bedroom--albeit a Master Bedroom--isn't pleasing to the eye.

But, even more important is that integrated fridges have special hinges that let doors open fully and the fridge doesn't have to extend out past the cabinets or walls on each side in order to open the doors all the way...so that the drawers can be pulled out.

Also, going the integrated route means I won't need a cabinet "box" and an allowance for the fridge to breathe. The necessary vents are built in.

But, I was close to thinking I was reaching for too much, given the small space. Yet. I dared to dream and your comments kept me going when I was beginning to think it perhaps was not possible to have it all in my Kitchenette.

I had been thinking that there weren't any brands making integrated 24 inch wide refrigerator-freezer appliances. I'm so grateful I stumbled upon one in my online search...which opened up a whole new search for my Kitchenette's fridge.

Thanks a bunch you guys for helping me to know that I DO have enough space for all the elements a kitchen/Kitchenette should have.

This kitchenette is going into what was originally the walk-in Master Closet. If an "apartment-sized refrigerator" wasn't going to fit on THAT ONE WALL, I was seriously going to have to rethink the oven or the dishwasher situation.

Thanks a bunch to you on Houzz for helping to keep me going...keeping hope alive...so my plans could evolve!

Pretty much all appliances these days have their manuals available online. That's a great resource when doing research.

Be careful when buying really narrow refrigerators. Because of the space needed for insulation, ice makers, and compressor, a 24" fridge is much smaller than (for instance) a 30" fridge. It sounds as if it's only a 6" difference. But in practice you lose a lot more capacity.

If you only have space for 24", it might help you a lot to buy a 24" all-fridge and place the freezer somewhere else (e.g. garage). The downside with this plan is that all-fridges tend to all be a lot more expensive -- not because they are more complicated (quite the opposite, in fact), but because they target a very different market. People buy high-end all-fridge and all-freezer columns for up-scale kitchen designs.

@eenymeeniemineymo Did I miss something, but won't you still need to have a cabinetry box to set the refrigerator into to conceal the sides? Also note that there is some difference between "panel-ready" and "integrated" as far as how it blends into surrounding cabinetry and the tolerances. If you're looking for something easy on the eye, you could also consider some sort of art fridge that is a decorative piece all its own, but that's a special market. I had a small apartment once where I did what was suggested above, purchased an all-fridge unit and placed it in a separate location from an all-freezer unit. They were small so not more than a few hundred dollars each, but you could probably find a decent deal on dedicated column units from an online discount place like Goedeker's.

Please, before even considering Goedeker's, do read all the assorted horror stories that have been posted on Houzz about them. I have no personal experience with them. But I have read one too many of those stories.

There are great discounters out there. But you should do some due diligence first, whether you actually get a deal.