Fitted wardrobe ideas

bathroomscleaning
25/07/2022
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Fitted wardrobes can be a great way to make the most of the space in your bedroom, particularly if it has awkward nooks and crannies, such as an attic room with sloping ceilings.

You'll find you can maximise your storage in ways that suit the clothes you own. If you wear lots of suits, for example, you can opt for extra hanging space; if you have an enviable shoe collection you can build in shoe storage compartments.

They can be a sizable investment though. While most of the 2,018 fitted bedroom furniture owners we surveyed were pleased with their purchase, 6% of those who had owned their furniture for more than two years said they weren’t satisfied with it.

Before you get started, think carefully about what will work for you so you don't find yourself disappointed by niggles when the work is complete.

Already have a vision of what you want? Head straight to our advice on buying the best fitted wardrobes. Or see the best fitted bedroom furniture brands, according to customers.

Fitted wardrobes come in a range of designs and layouts. How you intend to use them and how you want them to look will also play a part in what you eventually choose. To get started, click on any of the options below.

Fitted wardrobe doors

Hinged doors will give your wardrobes a more traditional look, while sliding doors can give a sleek finish and are a neat option if you have limited space.

You can ditch the doors completely with open-fronted wardrobes. These will put your items of display and create a more relaxed feel room. You’ll need to keep your clothes tidy though, to avoid your bedroom feeling cluttered.

Some options even use curtains in place of doors for a softer way to conceal your clothes.

Fitted sliding wardrobes

As the name implies, these have sliding doors as opposed to hinged ones that open out.

There are lots of different options for sliding wardrobes, including the number and width of doors.

They come in a number of different styles and finishes, from mirrored glass to more traditional wood.

The benefit of sliding wardrobe doors is that the doors take up less space. They're a good option if there is a snug fit between the wardrobes and the bed.

Fitted mirrored wardrobes

Both hinged and sliding wardrobes come with mirrored options. Doors can be totally or partially mirrored, and you can have all of the doors done in the same way, or just a few.

Full-length mirrors can be great for bringing light into the room, but bear in mind that they are tricky to keep clean – dust and fingerprints will show up more than on a normal door.

One option is to have mirrors incorporated inside your wardrobe doors. They could be hung on the back of the doors, integrated as pull-out panels or tucked at the back of a section. If you'll be using them to check your outfit in the morning, make sure they've got plenty of light.

Corner fitted wardrobes

As with any other tricky space in a bedroom, a fitted wardrobe can utilise a corner so that it isn't wasted.

They tend to come with options such as curved rails, particularly long rails or pull-out rails to make the corner easier to reach. Our section below on storage ideas shows more of the choices available.

Walk-in wardrobes

If you have the space, a walk-in wardrobe can make it easier to keep your bedroom tidy and clutter free.

These can include the same storage solutions as any other fitted wardrobes and can have internal doors or open shelving.

A smaller scale version can make a nice feature of a recess or nook.

Fitted wardrobes for small bedrooms and sloping ceilings

If your bedroom is an awkward shape, a fitted wardrobe can help get the best out of its dimensions.

Fitted wardrobe ideas

Having a wardrobe that's truly bespoke means it can be cut around sloping ceilings and wonky walls and built into alcoves and crevices. See some examples in the gallery.

Small and awkward bedrooms

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A large collection of images displayed on this page are available at https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/fitted-bedroom-furniture/article/how-to-buy-fitted-bedroom-furniture/fitted-wardrobes-ideas-aYQmj5D5cnv2

Not all of the companies we have reviewed offer a fully bespoke service. Argos, B&Q, Homebase and Ikea's wardrobes won't be designed to fit exactly into your space.

But they do offer a wide range of flexible storage options at a much cheaper price than bespoke designs.

You may choose to use an independent joiner or carpenter, as 12% of the people we surveyed did. They'll often design and build your furniture to fit your space and preferences precisely.

Big specialist brands, including Hammonds and Sharps, are also able to build furniture into specific spaces.

These were popular among our survey respondents too – 9% used Sharps and 6% used Hammonds.

More bought from Ikea (24%). It doesn’t build furniture to fit specific spaces – instead, you choose the best options from its collection to fit your room.

Visit our individual review pages for B&Q, Hammonds, Homebase,Ikea, John Lewis, Sharps, Sliderobes and Wickes to see exactly what each offers.

Fitted wardrobe storage ideas

There are a huge range of options when it comes to how the inside of your fitted wardrobe is configured. As well as the obvious drawers, cupboards and shelves, you can also have:

You can see some examples of these in the gallery below. Different companies have different variations, so look through brochures and websites to see what's available where.

Wardrobe storage solutions

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The seemingly endless array of designs means you can truly tailor your fitted wardrobe to make your life easier. You can also add lights to your wardrobe to help make your possessions easier to see.

Children's fitted wardrobe ideas

Lots of companies will create fitted wardrobes specifically for children, alongside other fitted bedroom furniture to maximise the storage space in their bedrooms.

This could include a desk, a bunk bed – which could have a den below it – or overhead storage for the things you don't need to access that often.

Sharps has a Flexispace system for children, which allows you to adjust the height of the storage and rails as your child grows taller. Hammonds also has a lot of solutions for integrated bedroom designs for children.

Should fitted wardrobes have backs?

A number of fitted wardrobe companies use what's called a 'front frame' for their wardrobes.

Front frame fitted wardrobes don't have backs, sides or tops, so can run floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. They are usually made of wood. Sharps only uses this type of frame, as it says it makes the most of the available room without using up space on extra walls.

However, this does mean that your clothes might get slightly more dusty than if they were completely closed in.

John Lewis and Hammonds offer an alternative 'premium' frame, which is fully enclosed.

They say that this not only protects your belongings from dust, but also makes the wardrobe more stable. They both have frames in wood or aluminium. You can see all three varieties in the gallery below. These examples are from Hammonds:

Fitted wardrobe interior frames

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More fitted wardrobe designs

The gallery below has inspiration for adding lights and mirrors into your wardrobes, incorporating a dressing table, alternatives to traditional wardrobe doors, or even building in a TV for that feeling of hotel-style luxury.

For more inspiration, some firms have their own design tools so you can better visualise the furniture in your own space.

When you know what kind of fitted wardrobes you're after, take a look at our fitted bedroom furniture reviews or get help deciding whether an independent carpenter or big brand is right for you.

Bedroom furniture ideas

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