Modern Walk In Wardrobe Design

If you have ample space in your bedroom, you may wish to consider a walk in wardrobe. They are fairly easily constructed, consisting usually of simple 'stud' walls, with either a plain opening into the rest of the bedroom, or a door. Use all the available space - the space above the door and even the short 'corridor' into the walk-in wardrobe can be used as storage. A fully open-plan walk-in stylish contemporary wardrobe with no front is a luxury in terms of space, of course, but has the advantage of being flooded with maximum light.

The inside walls can be fitted out with a variety of hanging space, drawers, shelves, and even racks for shoes, ties and accessories. Make sure lighting is adequate, and even if the wardrobe gets lighting from outside, you may wish to supplement that with detail lighting such as spots. As well as being practical, such lighting creates a wonderful mood, making garment choice, at any time, something of an event.

Standalone or fitted contemporary wardrobes, or rather their long doors, can be very imposing - to good or bad effect. To soften the lines of your wardrobes, you could replace the doors' solid panels with pleated fabric to create an gentle armoire effect. Another suggestion is to replace the door with a wooden grille, fretwork or a lattice. The backs of the doors could then be lined additionally with a fabric to create a gentler facade. Because wardrobes, built-in or freestanding are so large, they will always battle with the bedroom's other big pieces, especially the bed. Wardrobe design and bed design then should complement one another, rather than have the two vying for attention.

A bedroom wardrobe can of course have either hinged or sliding doors. Undecorated doors tend to create smooth lines and an expanse of space. This can be advantageous in a contemporary setting, where uninterrupted lines add to the overall ambiance. In more period settings however, it's wise to break up these surfaces, either by decoration or by choosing hinged doors that open in sections, thereby allowing the eye to dwell on detail, rather than roam free over a plain expanse.

Standalone bedroom wardrobes are probably the cheapest option for your bedroom (walk in wardrobes are usually the most costly), but that doesn't mean that you have to compromise when it comes to style. There are wonderful contemporary designs available which are a positive asset to a bedroom. Don't forget that until only recently (a couple of hundred years ago) it was thought unhygienic to keep a wardrobe in the same room as you slept. Wardrobes were kept, until Victorian times, on the upstairs landing. Given the relative size of the modern wardrobe, this makes sense today, too. The proportions of a stairwell and landing are better suited than an average bedroom to taking large pieces of furniture such as wardrobes and armoires.

One of the hardest decisions to make when choosing a wardrobe is the type of wardrobe doors that you want. There are two types of wardrobe doors to choose from, but the range of styles, colors, and designs can often make the choice seem more overwhelming than it should be. To simplify your choice, here are the two types of wardrobe doors with their advantages and disadvantages:

Hinged Doors

Hinged doors are commonly used on the more classic style of wardrobe. They are hung on hinges and they rotate out as they open. Nearly all free standing wardrobes use hinged options, as well as a variety of walk in and fitted wardrobes.

Pros:

Hinged wardrobes are much easier to open and close.

Hinged options take much longer to damage.

The hinges are easily replaced.

Repairs to a hinged style wardrobe situation is often much easier.

Cons

A hinged style requires more space to open, as you need to swing the door outward to open it.

Hinged doors tend to be thinner and less sturdy.

Hinged styles can scrape the floor of your room if they are installed incorrectly.