Advice & Tips For Designing The Perfect Wardrobe.
This article will delve into wardrobe design best practices, storage ideas and Dos and Don’ts of Wardrobe design.
We thought there was no better person to speak to than Rhys Armstrong from Envision Kitchens in Berkeley Vale when it comes to talking about wardrobes. Rhys and the Envision Kitchens team offer a full suite of joinery services, including; new kitchen installations, kitchen renovations, alfresco/outdoor kitchens, custom office desks and workstations, wardrobes, entertainment units and many other custom-built joinery pieces. So if anyone is going to be an expert in Wardrobe and joinery design, it’s Rhys!
Rhys says high-touch rooms in your home, like the kitchen, bathroom, laundry or Wardrobe, need special design consideration. You must balance function, aesthetics and the available area to work with (particularly in small spaces like a Granny Flat).
One of Rhys’s biggest wardrobe design tips is to ask yourself: What clothes do you have (and how much!)?
Do you live in a location that requires a set of clothes for each season, meaning lots of hanging space for jackets and pants, while in the warmer months, you’ll utilise more drawers and shelves for t-shirts, shorts and lightweight clothing? Are you an office worker that needs extra room for hanging jackets, shirts, ties and trousers, or you could be a social butterfly that needs double-height hanging space for dresses and your jewellery, handbags, watches, sunglasses and personal items?
Another big decision is what type of Wardrobe construction you will go with? You have Hinged Door Wardrobes, Free-standing Wardrobes, Sliding Door Wardrobes and Walk-In Wardrobes to choose from.
It’s super important that you carefully consider your lifestyle. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all wardrobe design. It all comes down to your personal preferences!
RHYS’S DOS AND DON’TS OF WARDROBE DESIGN
Do Incorporate Drawers
One of the best ways to store T-shirts, shorts, socks and underwear in your Wardrobe is in drawers. Drawers use all the space from front to back and make it easy to access all the clothing, as you don’t need to reach behind or rearrange your clothes to get to those stored in the back.
Do Include Hanging Rails
Your configuration will depend on your clothes. For dresses, suits, pressed shirts and clothing that can easily crease, use a mix of single rail (for full-length clothing) and double rail (an upper and lower rail) to cater for shirts, skirts and trousers. Consider how many full-length items you have before allocating too much precious wardrobe space to a single rail section.
Don’t Waste The Lower Area Of Your Wardrobe
Consider using pull-out shoe racks in this space as they take up minimal space, allowing you have two or three rows without cutting into your hanging space. Another idea, if your Wardrobe is on a second storey, you could consider a laundry shoot to get your dirty laundry downstairs as you use it. No more overflowing laundry baskets or dirty clothes on the bedroom floor!
Do Embrace Inserts
You now know that drawers are a must-have, but you can make them even better by adding inserts. Adding inserts such as jewellery drawer liners or small boxes for ties can make better use of drawers while also helping to protect these items. Drawer inserts come at all price points, from plain plastic to luxury timber and velvet.
Do Use Smart Trouser Racks
Trouser Racks are much better than using trouser hangers on a hanging rail. It also instantly adds that luxe wardrobe feel! Trouser racks pull out so you can easily see all your options without rifling through your Wardrobe.
Don’t Forget The Inner Sides Of Your Wardrobe Or Behind Doors
Remember the inside of your wardrobe walls or behind the doors (for hinged doors). Add coat hooks, wire baskets, hang necklaces, or a mirror.
Do Consider Lighting
Lighting is an essential element of any space, especially in your Wardrobe, where you should be able to see what an item of clothing is without removing it from your Wardrobe. There are smart lighting options, from small downlights to slim LED strips. Consider using a motion sensor to turn your wardrobe lights on automatically! Complete your lighting plan early so your joiner can router groves for the lighting to sit flush and run cables behind your cabinets.
Do Take The Time To Design It
One last piece of advice from Neil Whitaker from the hit TV show The Block;
The rule of thumb was two-thirds hanging space to one-third shelving and drawers. But that’s a fluid ratio that doesn’t consider our growing passion for shoes. That’s where it all gets personal. My partner and I do not need glass-topped drawers to display jewellery or watches, but that may be someone else’s priority. We also tend to live in jeans and sweats and no longer require formal trouser hangers. I’m not trying to dodge specifics, but the best advice is that wardrobes — like kitchens and bathrooms — must be tailored to individual needs. Your ideal Wardrobe will be different to mine.
There you have it, the low down on designing a great, functional wardrobe from Central Coast’s top custom joinery team, thanks Envision Kitchens!
If you’re thinking of building a Granny Flat, feel free to check out our Granny Flat designs or get in touch for advice on your project or to book a free site inspection and quote!
