How do you ensure that your custom wardrobe is going to have the right type of storage, and enough of it, for all your belongings?
Gone are the days of walk-in wardrobes having a standard shelf and rail set-up, with many people now opting for customised internal fit outs to maximise the storage space available.
But while every wardrobe will be as unique as the individual designing it, some golden rules will help to ensure maximum storage and an aesthetically pleasing finished product.
- Hanging Space
Clothes vary in length depending on the item, and the size so there is no hard & fast rule when it comes to how long each hanging space requires, but most wardrobe designers would recommend placing the top hanging rail at 2100h from the floor. This means it is installed high enough to allow for a second hanging area below, thus creating twice the hanging space, but not so high that you’ll require a step ladder to reach the clothes.
It’s also a good idea to ensure you have a shelf in between the two rails of a double hanging area, as it prevents the bottom of clothes hanging at the top getting caught on the coat hangers on the bottom rail.
*Expert Tip– Place your long hanging areas in the corners or awkward to reach spaces, as traditionally long-hanging rails hold the clothes worn least frequently.
- Drawers
A lot of people can get overexcited thinking that the bigger the drawer, the better. It’s important to ensure your drawer is the right size to hold your clothes, so fold two items and place side by side – this would be your ideal drawer width. Also, it’s not very convenient to be digging through your drawer trying to reach the item at the bottom to keep the extra deep drawers for things like jumpers that are quite bulky once folded.
*Expert Tip– If your walk-in wardrobe is open to the bedroom, i.e. it doesn’t have doors, placing your drawers opposite the opening of the robe creates a clean, tidy appearance & will be aesthetically pleasing.
- Shelving
Shelving is a great inclusion for all those items that often get overlooked in wardrobe design, such as handbags, hats, and other accessories. Keep in mind what you’re using your shelving for though, as it may get frustrating if you have to bend down to reach the bottom shelf on a daily basis. Open shelving is a great option for above drawers or can be a good space filler if you have awkward areas in the wardrobe that can’t be used for hanging or drawers.
Expert Tip– Adjustable shelving gives you more flexibility, so consider not fixing the heights of your shelf.
- Shoes & Accessories
It’d be safe to say most people would own more than one pair of shoes (more than 100 pairs in some instances!) so it’s important to consider where these will be stored when considering the layout of a custom wardrobe. An experienced wardrobe designer will be able to recommend an option based on how many pairs of shoes you have, and how often they are worn, including angled shoe shelving, pull-out shoe shelving, wire baskets & adjustable shelving.
Don’t forget about items such as tie & belt racks, and scarf racks, which are great for not only holding ties, belts & scarves but also things like small handbags, hats and umbrellas. Jewellery tray inserts for drawers are also another great way of ensuring everything has a place in your wardrobe design.
Expert Tip: Put a mirrored door in front of shelving. Not only will this give you a full-length mirror, but it can also help increase the longevity of anything stored on the shelves as it’s protected from the light & dust.
