Having a bedroom wardrobe design that works for you will not only make your spaces look better but can also make your daily routine easier. A well-designed and organised wardrobe will make storing all your belongings more accessible. But it can also serve as a focal point within the room.
Whether you have built-ins or a freestanding wardrobe, there are ways to make your wardrobe a design feature of your room. Here are my nine best tips for designing your bedroom wardrobe.
9 tips for bedroom wardrobe design
Built-ins vs freestanding wardrobes
Both built-in and freestanding wardrobes have their advantages. A built-in wardrobe will utilise the space you have to work with, but getting them to work well with different interior design styles can be tricky. A freestanding wardrobe is the opposite way around. There are many types that will work with different design styles, but they usually do not make good use of the space. Choosing between these two options is a personal choice, although the space and the design style you are working with will influence your choice the most.
As a rule of thumb, the more modern the style, the more likely that built-in wardrobes will work best, while a more traditional style favours a freestanding wardrobe as these usually have more intricate design features that work well with a more traditional design style.
Drawers will always be useful
As the popularity of walk-in wardrobes has grown, including a set of drawers in the design, it has declined slightly. However, a set of drawers will always have a place in the design of a wardrobe. They are perfect for keeping smaller items together and hidden away. In the case of a freestanding wardrobe, a set of drawers is the best way to go, especially when drawers are not usually included. If you are going with a built-in wardrobe, drawers can be included within the design, either on show or hidden behind the doors.
The hardware is the jewellery of the wardrobe
It doesn’t matter if you have built-in or freestanding wardrobes. The hardware you choose for your wardrobe can completely change the look of your room. The style of the handle and the finish will all make a big difference to the overall look of the wardrobe. If you want to create a modern style, a good choice for the handle is a long, simple pull handle. There are many options to choose from and lots that lend themselves to different styles. Art Deco is an excellent example of this. There are many options of handles with a stepped detail that mimics the designs from the Art Deco movement.
If you are working with a traditional style, choosing a smaller knob-pull handle would be better if you want a more traditional look. This will work better with the design, especially if the wardrobe already has other design details, as it will not overpower them.
Vary the hanging height of the rails
When planning your wardrobe design, you should first look at all your clothes and determine how much hanging space you will need. You will need to work out the amount of short and long hanging you need. The short rails will hold shirts, trousers, short skirts/dresses and jackets. Long hanging rails will have longer dresses. A short rail is usually hung at about 94cm from the ground, and a longer rail is hung at about 188cm from the ground. This way, you can make sure that the longer items are not crumpled as they are hung up.
Use your wardrobe doors like artwork
Thinking of the doors to your wardrobe as artwork is especially important if you have built-ins that take up one wall within your bedroom. They are taking up so much wall space, so using them to make a feature within the room makes sense. This can be done in many different ways. Wallpapering the door with a highly patterned or mural wallpaper will create the effect of one large piece of art on the wall. Suppose you want something a bit more subtle. In that case, textured wallpaper within a frame is an excellent way to add interest without making a big statement.
Add wallpaper to your wardrobe
As before, wallpaper can be used in bedroom wardrobe design to create the look of a piece of art on the wardrobe doors. It can also be used inside the wardrobe. This will work exceptionally well if you are working with an old freestanding wardrobe. Sometimes, the timber of the wardrobe can catch on clothing. If this is the case, wallpapering the inside of the wardrobe is an easy way to smooth the surface. It will create an exciting design feature when the wardrobe is open.
Utilise the space above
It doesn’t matter if you have a freestanding wardrobe or a built-in. There is almost always space above the top hanging rail. If you have a built-in wardrobe, then this space is best utilised by adding a shelf above the rail. You can then use boxes or baskets to house any item you do not want on show. If you have a freestanding wardrobe, you will need to be more creative about how you utilise the space. Small steamer trunks, old suitcases and large boxes are all excellent options depending on your space’s design style.
Rotate clothes if you are tight on space
Making sure that all of your belongings are kept tidily in your wardrobe is an easy way to make your space look well-designed. By having less clutter, the design and decor of the room can shine through. This can be more easily said than done, especially if you are short on space in your wardrobe. Rotating your seasonal clothes is a quick way to create more space. Rotating clothes to ensure they are not crumpled but overstuffing your wardrobe is also a good idea. This will ensure your clothes are well looked after and last as long as possible.
Make some space for shoes
Remember to make some space within your wardrobe design for shoes and boots. These could be shoes that are used for special occasions and need to be kept safe in boxes or bags. If this is the case, shelving will be the best way to organise your shoes. If you do not have any boxes to store, a shoe rail at the bottom of the wardrobe is an excellent way to utilise the space and make sure that the shoes are kept safe.
This post has been all about tips for bedroom wardrobe design.
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