Renovating the home is a fact of life for many UK homeowners, previously a project to increase the value of a property and ensure its sale. However, attitudes to the home are shifting, and a recent survey has suggested that more people are renovating for their own benefit than to sell their home. If this is you, your renovating decisions get to serve your needs and vision – from a lick of paint in the dining room to the design of your bedroom furniture. Your wardrobe is a portal of sorts, to the way you express your personality – so here’s what to consider when designing one for you, and your home.

Space

The very first thing you should do is examine the space in which your fitted wardrobe will go. How wide is it, and how far out will your wardrobe come? What space is available to you for storage? Your next step is to consider what you want out of your wardrobe, so it is key that you understand the limitations of your space before you find out you do not have room for your initial ideas. The space can also inform the general design of your wardrobe, and quirks – such as slanted ceilings where a staircase may be, can be used to their strengths for a bespoke and useful outcome.

Usage and Practicality

As fitted wardrobes can be near-endlessly customised, you have a unique opportunity to design the furniture to suit your needs perfectly. But what are your needs? And how might they be reflected, even catered for, in the design of your wardrobe? You might be particularly enamoured by shoes, as such requiring easily accessible shoe racks that show off your collection. You might be a professional executive for whom image is important; a tie rack, and shelving space to display your cuff links and colognes might be of importance to you. Whatever it is you need, plan it out in advance.

With knowledge of the space in which your wardrobe will fit, you can draw out a detailed plan of it, with near-exact measurements for each space and compartment. This will give you the truest idea of how much you can fit in it. Take this time also to think about access to your wardrobe; will there be swing doors, or sliding doors? Is there room for behind-door storage solutions, or secret compartments for valuables?

Appearance

Lastly, your wardrobe will be one of two things with regard to your room’s décor: a statement piece, or part of the background. Now is the time for you to decide how the wardrobe is defined, and whether or not it defines the space. You might choose a painted fitted wardrobe in a neutral colour to blend into the wall, becoming another surface and giving a sense of space. Alternatively, you might utilise a statement wood such as teak or mahogany, and varnish it to create a bold edifice for your room – a piece of fitted furniture that draws the eye to its shape and design. You can go further with your artistic flair, painting different doors and compartments in different colours from a palette to create a patchwork feature wall in keeping with your individual aesthetic. There is no end to the ways in which your wardrobe’s appearance can affect the space – it’s up to you whether it is an active or passive part of the room.

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