When considering the many ways in which to store clothing, hanging space will always be desirable for items that would otherwise become crumpled in drawers, not great if you have just spent the last few hours ironing shirts for work. Hanging rails, freestanding or fitted wardrobes provide the best option for ensuring crease free clothes and of these, fitted wardrobes whilst popular in the 80s and 90s are making a comeback!
The beauty of fitted wardrobes lies in the opportunity to make the most of the space in your bedroom. If your bedroom has awkward shapes, nooks and crannies or sloping ceilings, fitted wardrobes can be customised to make maximum use of these spaces that might otherwise be unused. In this article, we look at the benefits of fitted wardrobes and the many features that they can offer.
Customisation and Configuration
A huge benefit of built-in wardrobes is the ability to design and customise the internal configuration to suit your particular needs. For example, if you have a wealth of suits or long dresses, the wardrobes can be designed with greater hanging space or trouser racks. If you have a beautiful shoes collection, spaces can be added to store or even display your shoes. Also consider options such as:
- pull-down rails
- tie drawers
- cosmetic units
- jewellery drawers
- hanging boot racks
- curved rails
- or even…laundry baskets!
For those who share wardrobe space with a partner, each portion of the wardrobe can be designed to best suit each individual need. Height differences can be taken into account by the positioning of the internal shelves so that they are within easy reach.
Fitted Wardrobe Doors
The choice you make for the doors of your wardrobes can be practical, a design statement – or both! Coloured, smoked glass or mirrored doors are all ways to express your personality, meet your practical needs and compliment your décor. The choices are endless! Wickes have a wonderful choice of fitted wardrobe doors, available to view here.
Awkward or Smaller Spaces
Not all bedrooms are built equal and if your bedroom has an awkward shaped layout, a fitted wardrobe can help you to get the best out of the available space. Your wardrobe can be cut around sloping ceilings, such as those in an attic bedroom, or wonky walls, alcoves and crevices. Many fitted wardrobes feature sliding doors which run along a track set inside the top and bottom of the frame so that when open, one door slots behind the other – a huge benefit over a hinged door that will need to swing out into the room when opened into a small space. Check out these great options from Sharps
Lighting Options
With a free-standing wardrobe, trying to see into the wardrobe on a dull dreary day and relying on a single external light source can be frustrating! However, a great benefit of built-in wardrobes lies in the ability to design them with integrated light fixtures. Spotlights can be sited at the top of the wardrobe and LED strip lights utilised on the shelves, making clothes easier to find. Have a browse through the wardrobe lights on offer at Ikea, they are bound to provide inspiration.
Installation Options
When selecting built in wardrobes, having a professional company to fit them can be a prudent choice. However, the cost of installation can be a drawback if you are on a budget. Don’t despair! There are many self-build options available to make the cost a little more in reach. You don’t need to be a fully qualified carpenter to fit them either as most require basic DIY skills.
Whatever your wardrobe needs, fitted wardrobes are one of the most flexible options and can be fitted just about anywhere. This does not however, mean that you need to compromise on design or your decoration scheme. Quite the opposite in fact, fitted wardrobes are almost infinitely customisable to whatever you need, so get your creative head on and design yourself a storage masterpiece.