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25 built-in wardrobe ideas – stylish fitted designs that will maximize space in your bedroom |

(Image credit: My Fitted Bedroom )

Take inspiration from these super stylish built-in wardrobe ideas – because wardrobes aren't just for keeping the clutter at bay, they can be beautiful focal points in your bedroom. We've pulled our favorite looks, featuring paneled doors, upholstered doors, wallpapered doors, plastered doors... are you sensing a theme here. But we also cover what's inside the wardrobes, the configurations of hangers to shelves, drawers to cubby holes, to help you design a built-wardrobe that not only looks stylish in your bedroom but suits you and your lifestyle too.

'From a practical and aesthetical perspective, fitted wardrobes offer the most effective and efficient way to make use of the space within your bedroom. Before exploring wardrobe options it's worth being clear about your requirements, budget, and desired style.' explains Rachal Hutcheson of Sharps .

'There are many solutions to choose from yet, despite appearances, not all the offers are equal and different designs will utilize your space with varying degrees of efficiency.  It is important to understand how each design makes use of the area and the types of construction used before committing.'

'Choosing a reputable company that employs expert designers and consultants will make all the difference in the planning and purchasing process. Their experience in working in houses that present similar challenges can help you to arrive at a design which meets your preference in terms of style as well as making the layout work for your unique needs.'

1. First up, assess your needs

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)

Before we get into all the lovely built-in wardrobe ideas, you first need to assess what you actually need. Think about what type of clothes you have most of – do you need more hangers than drawers, do you want to shelve for your ever-expanding shoe collection, and do you want plenty of space for more bulky items like coats and jumpers? 

'A sensible place to start is by assessing your storage needs. We all organize differently so think about; the volume of clothes and shoes that you have, whether you might need areas for bedding and towels and how much space you might need in the future.' explains Rachal.

'Once you have considered the capacity start to think broadly about the design elements of the interior fit-out and what you might like to include. There are many options for personalizing a fitted wardrobe, to ensure it works perfectly for your lifestyle, for example combining hanging rails with pigeonhole shelving, internal drawers and shoe storage will help keep you organized whilst allowing easy access to the clothes you need, when you need them.'

2. Mix open and closed storage 

(Image credit: Future)

While a wall of doors might suit your style if you are trying to blend your built-in wardrobe into the room, mixing both open and closed storage gives you the opportunity to turn your storage into decor too.

Mariana Poletto, Senior Designer at Neatsmith says that her 'clients are choosing to have a combination of doors and open wardrobe interiors creating both practical storage and emulating luxury boutiques for an at home fashion experience. Partly this is driven by high street shopping not being available over the last 18 months and the resulting increase in online shopping, and partly through a new recognition that storage doesn’t just have to be practical but can be a space in the home to be enjoyed.'

3. Add character to plain doors with panelling

(Image credit: Future)

Paneled doors are a really popular option with built-in wardrobes as they add interest, texture and create the illusion of original features in a modern bedroom. These bespoke, floor-to-ceiling wardrobes were designed to match some existing original paneling found throughout the rest of the home. And if you're wondering how one would reach the very top, there's a ladder that doubles up as rustic decor too. 

4. Paint kids' wardrobe doors in chalkboard paint

(Image credit: Future)

Fashion stylist Siouxsie Dickens has updated the sliding board doors in her kid's bedroom with chalkboard/blackboard paint, turning plain cupboard doors into an ever-changing canvas. And of course, this look needn't be just reserved for children's rooms either, you could create a very adult-approved mural by either commissioning something beautiful or having a go at it yourself (if it goes horribly wrong no harm done, just wipe it away).

5. Create a rustic look with shutter doors

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

Proof that fitted wardrobes don't have lack personality. Interior decorator, Sera Hersham-Loftus of Sera of London has used antique louvered shutters for her glamorous built-in wardrobes, mirroring her very eclectic style whilst still keep the space practical.

6. Bounce light around small or dark rooms with mirrored doors

(Image credit: Future)

This narrow space has been used to create a dressing room with built-in wardrobes on either side. Pretty wallpaper in panels on one side adds a glamorous touch, while mirrored panels on the other make the space feel bigger and provide a practical solution when the owner is getting ready.

7. Add warmth to a grey scheme with natural materials

(Image credit: Future / Paul Massey)

Floor-to-ceiling wardrobes here utilize the entire wall space while designing them with the same timber tones as the floor creates a calm and cohesive scheme. Plus, the warm wood tones add warmth to the grey bedroom scheme and soften those cooler shades. 

8. Upholster built-in wardrobe doors for a luxe look

(Image credit: Future)

A little fabric goes a long way in this tailored master bedroom created by Wolf Lewitt Interiors , where upholstery lends a soft touch to plain wardrobe doors, instantly elevating them from ordinary to extraordinary.

9. Add a playful touch with a curtain

(Image credit: 2LG Studio)

Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead of 2LG Studio agreed that they wanted to keep shoes behind a curtain in their dressing room. That way, they had the option to hide them or have them on view – a clever way to hide away a mountain of clothes/shoes when you need to. Plus, a curtain adds a nice softness to a built-in wardrobe and breaks up the solid wall of storage.

10. Fake tongue and groove with MDF

(Image credit: Studio Peake)

Built-in wardrobes in this master bedroom is made with pre-grooved MDF boards and painted in the same shade as the walls. A really easy way to cheat a more expensive look. The top of the built-in wardrobes offers space for displaying personal collections.

11. Paint your wardrobe to match your walls

(Image credit: Future)

Similarly, in this bedroom scheme by Suzy Hoodless , the wardrobe doors are clad in a pre-grooved wood which gives the room texture and charm.  Walls and wardrobe doors are painted the same shade of porcelain pink. The sheepskin chair lends a luxurious, sculptural element to the room.

12. Take built in wardrobes right into the corners

(Image credit: Future)

An awkward loft conversion space has been utilized for storage, while sleek, handleless wardrobe doors keep things simple and clean. Built-in wardrobes line the entire wall, and continue right into the corner under the sloped roof, maximizing every square inch of space.

(Image credit: Design by Tom Barlett)

Designer Tom Barlett designed this smart storage as part of a renovation project in a west London townhouse. Sleek and simple, but bold in color they are the main feature of the bedroom and the starting point for the primary color scheme. You almost can't tell this is a built-in wardrobe, appearing more like a feature wall. 

14. Decorate wardrobe doors with wallpaper

(Image credit: Future)

Because wallpaper isn't just for walls. The built-in wardrobes in this beautiful bedroom are covered in Gucci’s Heron wallpaper, turning them from bland, barely noticeable built-in wardrobes into a show-stopping piece of furniture that perfectly suits the glamourous vibe. 

15. Or opt for a delicate mural

(Image credit: Future)

Similarly, a deGournay wallpaper covers the wardrobe doors below, encompassing the doors into the rest of the bedroom scheme and turning them into a feature wall rather than just storage.  

16. Update old built in wadrobes with paint 

(Image credit: Lucy Barlow)

If you've inherited built-in wadrobes that are just a big blah, rather than starting from scratch just update with a lick of paint and some stylish new hardware. These plain wardrobes look gorgeous thanks to their new coat of sage green paint, complementing the bedroom's wallpaper. 

17. Go for whitewashed wooden doors for an airy, relaxed look

(Image credit: Nato Welton Production)

The dressing area leads through to the ensuite bathroom – there’s even a dressing table in the cupboard. The whitewashed oak surfaces give this master bedroom an airy, relaxed look.

18. Inject luxe texture with suede upholstery

(Image credit: Future)

There’s a certain sumptuousness to this bedroom, with its rich textures and colors. An impressive amount of storage space helps keep it clear of clutter, while the upholstered wardrobe doors inject instant luxe texture.

19. Disguise built-in wardrobes with decorative plasterwork

(Image credit: Future)

Paneled walls open to reveal hidden storage and screen doors glide seamlessly into wall recesses to separate this South Kensington apartment. The entire wall behind the bed is actually a run of concealed cupboards with white moldings. 

20. Transform recessed handles into a 3D art display

(Image credit: Paul Massey)

These built-in wardrobes were made bespoke for this industrial, late-Victorian home in north London. The design (which conceals inset handles) is based on dandelion seeds being blown in the wind. Inside, the wardrobes are meticulously arranged with a space for everything.

21. Use wardrobe doors to conceal a built-in vanity area

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)

This clever design ensures the built-in wardrobes also incorporate a dressing table area, keeping this vanity space out of sight the rest of the time, and keeping a calming neutral bedroom design.  

22. Use raw, weathered wood doors for a rustic effect

Nature feels like it’s just an arm’s reach away with these huge windows overlooking the garden and the rustic built-in wardrobe reflects that connection with the outside space. Made bespoke from reclaimed wood, it adds lots of lovely texture to this boho style bedroom.

23. Go for gloss for a bold look

These wall-to-wall wardrobes provide ample storage space and are painted in a bold teal gloss shade for a statement look. Going for a gloss finish may seem brave, but lacquered walls are bang on trend right now, plus this is a look that can work really well in a small bedroom as it helps bounce plenty of light around the space.

24. Or go for gloss wood doors for a retro look

This bedroom has been transformed into something really rather gorgeous with the gold-leaf ceiling, one raw concrete wall and lacquered green elsewhere. We love the mix-up of modern and traditional – with retro style wood wardrobe doors.  

Built in wardrobes are split into floating top and bottom bedroom storage, creating a shelf area in the middle to display treasured items or have things easy to hand.

Does a built-in wardrobe add value?

Practical storage is always going to add value to a home and is very appealing to potential buyers too. Lack of storage space is in fact one of the most off-putting aspects of a home when you come to sell, so turning those awkward spaces like alcoves or under the eaves into easy to use storage, or adding a wall of built-in cupboards to a bedroom is going to make your home more attractive when you come to sell.

Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.

28 stunning kitchen cabinet ideas – clever and stylish kitchen cabinet designs

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(Image credit: Cave Interiors)

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Finding the best kitchen cabinet ideas for your space is mighty important and so we've rounded up our favorite ideas that are both gorgeous, and functional, to help point you in the right direction.

If you're looking for kitchen remodel ideas, you'll often start with cabinet doors inspo.

Experts at Wren Kitchens say, 'The arrangement of your cupboards and cabinets can change the entire look and feel of your kitchen. 'It's key to arrange your cabinets and plan a kitchen layout in a way that will suit your lifestyle and your taste, so that the next time you reach for whatever it is you need, it's in the exact right place.'

Explore our favorite kitchen cabinet designs below and get creative for your own space. From floor to ceiling kitchen cabinets to open shelving or drawers for the best storage options, we have plenty of clever ideas below and you're sure to find the perfect fit.

You'll find more kitchen ideas and inspiration on our gallery, but keep scrolling for the main event.

How to choose the best kitchen cabinets

The place to start is by looking at your kitchen design and overall style. Begin with an easy question: do I prefer modern or traditional kitchen design? 

If it’s a timeless look you’re seeking, a Shaker kitchen door is the classic choice, while a more traditionally paneled Georgian kitchen door will provide a slightly more stately tone.  

For modern kitchens, it has to be a plain slab door and go without handles for an even more contemporary look.

Of course, the kitchen cabinet door design or even color/finish is not where the decisions end.

The most successful kitchens are fitted with cabinetry that is meticulously planned, both inside and out. 

Kitchen storage needs to be thoughtfully allocated – divide and conquer using dedicated dividers, shelves and baskets. Integral lighting can be used to boost the impact of interesting materials. 

And don’t forget the handles – they should never be an afterthought. Even recessed handles can bring a design dimension via color-contrasting shadow lines or interesting placement.

(Image credit: deVOL)

On the kitchen cabinetry design catwalk, black is the new black, and the new grey for that matter. Easy to combine with almost any other shade, black is your quickest route to drama and depth. 

Why not channel your inner Abigail Ahern and paint your kitchen ceiling black, too? This is The Real Shaker Kitchen with Bella Brass handles and Staved Iroko countertops, from deVOL .

(Image credit: Sola Kitchens)

While handle-less cabinetry is an undisputed winner for achieving a slick, contemporary look, the minimalist aesthetic needn’t lack interest. 

Here, the golden glow of burnished brass puts push-to-open island cabinet doors firmly in the spotlight. A nanotech coating arrests the oxidization process to prevent tarnishing and make the doors easy to clean. This is the Form 6 range from Sola Kitchens .

See more luxury kitchen design ideas (that we'd copy if money were no object).

3. Mix up kitchen cabinetry materials

(Image credit: Wren Kitchens)

Interesting pairings – the more dynamic the better – can shake-up kitchen cabinetry design without breaking the bank. 

Look no further than Wren Kitchens for a master class in mixing cabinetry materials. 

This is the brand's Minerva island unit, which ends in a striking combo of industrial-look galvanized steel and dramatic Christus Granite. Paired with deep grey pan drawers with brass accents, the results are undeniably Insta-worthy.

4. Dress to impress

(Image credit: Topps Tiles)

Think of handles like jewellery for your kitchen cabinet doors. Take time to find the perfect shape and finish to dress them up. 

We love the leather strap-style handles on this simple flat-fronted door in on-trend millennial pink – find similar at Turnstyle Designs . 

5. Kitchen cabinet ideas that make use of space: choosing drawers over base cabinets

(Image credit: Smallbone of Devizes)

Deep pan drawers are considered far more efficient storage-wise than standard shelved base units. 

The main pro: everything is brought nicely into view – say goodbye to getting down on your knees to reach into the depths. 

The only disadvantage is that contents can slide around upon opening. Happily help is at hand via a classic peg and dowel drawer base that will keep everything neatly in place, and can be easily adjusted to fit different sized dishes.  

This elegant kitchen cabinet design is by Smallbone of Devizes .

6. Find kitchen cabinet ideas that add interest with texture

(Image credit: Roundhouse)

The smartest kitchen designers appeal to all the senses when choosing cabinetry. Introducing a textural element is essential for including a tactile treat. 

One fashion-forward option is cross-sawn timbers, which leave the rugged marks of the saw blade un-sanded, and embrace rustic charm with a chic, modern twist. 

Here, Roundhouse nails the look with River-washed ply doors on its Urban Metro range.

(Image credit: Magnet)

Bored of deliberating between classic Shaker versus modern flat-fronted doors? Now Magnet is offering a middle option that’s neither overtly trad, nor uber contemporary. 

It picks up on our obsession with parquet, one of the hottest flooring trends of the decade, and promises to bring a fresh geometric edge to the kitchen. 

Avoid overkill by using it as a feature door on a kitchen island, or restricting to units below eye-level.  

If you are planning on getting a kitchen island then make sure you check out more of these clever kitchen island ideas. 

8. Kitchen cabinet ideas that use vertical space for added storage

(Image credit: Charlie Kingham)

There’s something wonderfully reassuring about a library ladder in the kitchen. So sophisticated, not to mention convenient. 

The trend has stemmed from the need to access those handy yet awkward top cupboards for kitchen storage. 

But it also brings a little definition to an otherwise relentless stretch of floor to ceiling kitchen cabinetry. 

Match your metal to the cabinetry knobs, and the ladder finish could pick up on timbers used elsewhere, like the utilitarian bar stools here. What’s not to love? 

9. Hide clutter with pocket power

(Image credit: Cave Interiors)

Pocket doors are a great kitchen cabinet ideas: brilliant for shutting everything away when not in use. 

They are especially popular in open plan kitchens, where the workhorse side of things (appliances, taps etc) can look messy and, well, too kitchen-y, when relaxing.  

Look for really good, strong runners for smooth action doors that are effortless to use, and plan an interior that looks good when open. 

This smart example is clad in wood veneers for beautiful contrast. Made to Cave Interiors ’ design and specification by Ottima .

10. Up the style factor with edgy details

(Image credit: Martin Moore)

They say the Devil’s in the detail and, in the case of Martin Moore’s luxurious New Deco range , the detail is devilishly striking. 

Each door is edged in brass to create a lavish outline that smartly frames solid panels of marble-look porcelain.

11. Fit open shelves for easy access

(Image credit: Neptune)

Channel your inner Downton by embracing open shelving, which is enjoying a style revival amid those seeking a pantry-led utilitarian vibe. 

Be prepared to evict any outright ugly crockery but don’t get obsessive with aesthetics – the most successful open cabinetry is purposefully uncontrived.  

In fact, most kitchen designers recommend using open shelving for daily-use items so that the dreaded dust never gets a chance to settle. This is Neptune’s Suffolk kitchen hand-painted in Teal .

12. Add warmth with burnished metals

(Image credit: Mowlem & Co)

Love warm metals in the kitchen but ready to dial down the glitz of copper accessories? This season, burnished metal is making a play for attention. 

On kitchen cabinet designs, the smart money is on the latest spray-lacquer metallic finishes, which are robust and easy to clean. And, unlike the real deal, won’t tarnish or patina in time. 

This is a bespoke kitchen in dark oak and metal-effect lacquer by Mowlem & Co . The countertop is Sensa granite in Orinoco, from Sensa by Cosentino .

13. On a budget? Try a DIY option

(Image credit: Aleksa Studio)

Buying your carcasses and doors from the same manufacturer is the most common way to guarantee the perfect fit.  

However, Sweden-based Superfront is shaking things up with its clever kitchen cabinet idea that’s opening design doors for adventurous DIYers. 

Tailored to fit Ikea’s most common carcasses, Superfront’s beautiful collection of door fronts, handles, legs, sides and tops are simply a joy to behold. 

For example, this kitchen designed by Aleksa Studio features Ikea cabinets with Big Fish doors in Pitch Black from Superfront .

14. Look for kitchen cabinet ideas that celebrate curves

(Image credit: Humphrey Munson)

There’s no better way to show-off the craftsmanship of bespoke kitchen cabinetry than with beautifully veneered curves. Use the direction of the natural gain to accentuate the shape. 

This is Humphrey Munson’s Nickleby range , featuring a stunning curved breakfast bar in smoked oak.  

15. Work in a pantry

(Image credit: Mark Taylor Design)

Walk-in pantries offer one-stop storage for all your dried and tinned foods, not to mention those outsized pans and culinary gadgets that won’t fit comfortably in regular kitchen cabinets. 

Pantries fitted to an external wall will stay relatively cool inside to provide useful ambient storage for butter, cheese and root vegetables. This impressive pantry is by Mark Taylor Design .

16. Devote space to a breakfast cupboard

(Image credit: Davonport)

A breakfast cupboard with bi-fold doors is perfect for Marie Kondo enthusiasts who prefer to keep countertops clutter-free. 

Fitted with sockets to keep the toaster and blender on stand-by, the doors can be left open without getting in the way.  

Some versions come fully-loaded for hot beverages with a boiling water tap and coffee machine inside. This breakfast cupboard is in Davonport’s Tillingham range .

17. Break up a solid run of cabinets

(Image credit: Valcucine)

A mix of open and closed kitchen cabinetry will punch shape and style into a wall of units. Here, smart wine racks bring an extra dynamic that works to further soften the kitchen’s contemporary design. 

This is the Sine Tempore kitchen in elm from Valcucine .

18. Opt for modern industrial cabinetry

(Image credit: Steel/Bradshaw Luxury)

For a modern industrial-look kitchen with solid construction, look no further than Steel Cucine’s modular kitchen units. 

The Italian manufacturer is now offering a wide range of cabinets and prep stations featuring the same robust style and solidity of its celebrated range cookers. 

The 120cm-wide cabinet with stainless steel countertop shown here is available in the UK from Bradshaw Luxury .

(Image credit: Rational)

Advances in LED technology is taking the illumination of kitchen cabinetry to next-level exciting. 

Task lights underneath your wall units are still de rigueur for safe prepping. But, for more decorative kitchen lighting ideas, concealed LEDs are where it’s at. 

Hidden under plinth lines, behind backsplashes or in recessed shelving units like this one, they emit gentle mood lighting that brings cabinetry to life. This is Rational’s Tio range in metallic bronze and metallic anthracite.

20. Make use of a wasted corner

(Image credit: The Main Company)

Fixed on a roller system, aluminium tambour doors glide up out of the way when not required – ideal in those often-wasted kitchen corners.  

This bespoke kitchen in engineered sawn oak is by The Main Company .

21. Customize ready-to-paint units

(Image credit: Howdens)

If you’re happy to get your brushes out, this Howdens kitchen might be the answer to color-customisation on a budget. 

Its Shaker-style Burford Paintable kitchen cabinet range brings an element of bespoke tailoring not generally expected from your local builder’s merchants. 

Find out how to paint kitchen cabinets and then make sure you choose the best paint for kitchen cabinets.

22. Choose a surprising paint shade

(Image credit: Masterclass)

Living Coral may have been Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2019 but we’ve still got a place in our hearts for 2016’s Rose Quartz. 

Or any delicate pink for that matter. In the kitchen, pink cabinetry can be used to soften dramatic blacks and moody greys. For timeless elegance, it’s hard to beat Masterclass’ Vintage Rose, one of the latest shades in its Solva Shaker kitchen range .

23. Re-purpose antique furniture

(Image credit: Malcolm Menzies)

Kitchen cabinet design ideas don’t all need to be brand spanking new, adding one or two vintage elements is a fast-track way to add character. 

Hunting down the right pieces is all part of the fun. Head to salvage specialists like Retrouvius for reclaimed science benches and haberdashery displays. Antiques shops are also great resources, and the furniture can often be restored for you – try The Old Cinema .

24. Invest in drawer inserts

(Image credit: Naked Kitchens/Malcolm Menzies)

Dedicated silverware and utensil drawers are the chicest way to keep contents neatly in place.  

Timber silverware inserts not only look fantastic, they also have a noise-dampening effect. For extra practical benefits, request removable silverware trays that can be carried to the dining table when it’s time to lay up. 

These oak drawers are part of a bespoke design by Naked Kitchens .

25. Create character with glass-fronted units

(Image credit: Clayton Cabinets/Darren Chung)

With its 1950s overtones, ribbed glass lends new cabinetry a comforting vintage feel. Happily, it also partially obscures contents, so you don’t have to be too tidy when packing away the food shop. 

In this bespoke fitted dresser by Clayton Cabinets , the sliding doors have recessed handles to allow them to be pushed right back when using the toaster inside. 

Cabinetry is from Clayton Cabinets, designed in collaboration with Nikki Bailie Design .

26. Give an Ikea kitchen a bespoke feel with the help of Plykea

(Image credit: Plykea)

Are you designing a kitchen and want to achieve the look and feel of bespoke plywood units, while working from a flatpack budget? Or are you stuck with an outdated Ikea kitchen that needs an update? 

Faced with these exact design dilemmas, Tim Diacon and Adam Vergette founded Plykea , an upscaling service that transforms Ikea Metod Kitchens with the help of bespoke and stylish plywood fronts and countertops; and the very affordable results don't disappoint. Get in touch with them for a quote.

27. Invest in timeless, bespoke cabinets that never date

(Image credit: Blakes London)

We say, a classic, detailed design showcasing quality materials and workmanship is always the best way to go. You can opt for a restrained Shaker-style design that will never date, or go as ornate and luxurious as you like. 

We think these cabinets by Blakes London strike the perfect balance between understatement and luxury.

28. Create a versatile space with sliding doors

(Image credit: Cream & Black)

We love kitchen cabinet ideas with a mix of open and closed storage; it just breaks up a wall of cupboards and means you can keep some of you best kitchenware on show.  

Of course, you could mix in some glass fronted cabinetry, or why not copy this kitchen cabinet idea and have sliding doors that can slot individually across the entire run?

In this kitchen, designed by Cream & Black , the cabinet doors run along a rail so you can switch up which areas they cover.  

Linda is a freelance journalist who has specialised in homes and interiors for the past 19 years, beginning on a trade rag for the Daily Mail Group and now writing full-time for the likes of Homes & Gardens, Livingetc, Country Homes & Interiors, and of course Real Homes. Linda is our resident mattress reviewer. She spends at least a week on every mattress she tests for us, as does her ever-patient husband. In reviewing mattresses for us for more than a year, she has become something of a very opinionated expert. She lives in Devon with her cabinetmaker husband, two daughters and many pets, and is locked in an on-going battle to drag their red brick Victorian home out of 1970s swirly-carpet hell. ..

How to make a built-in wardrobe with your own hands

In this article we will consider: coupe. Today, its popularity knows no bounds, and it is due to several reasons. Firstly, the absence of swing doors, secondly, compactness and, thirdly, the possibility of hidden installation. In fact, it differs from an ordinary wardrobe only in the sliding door mechanism. It is about such a furniture design that we will talk in this article, in which, together with the site stroisovety.org, we will study in detail the question of how to make a built-in wardrobe with your own hands.

Do-it-yourself built-in wardrobe photo

Assembling a do-it-yourself wardrobe: calculations and cutting material

This way to solve the issue of making a do-it-yourself wardrobe can be called the simplest - conditionally it can be divided into three stages. Conquering the heights of furniture craftsmanship, you have to learn the art of design and engineering, perhaps carpentry and become a good furniture assembler. But first things first, let's start learning the basics of design and engineering skills.

With the design of the cabinet and the position of the shelves and partitions, I think you will figure it out yourself - there are no subtleties here. The main thing is that it is convenient to operate this design, but we will touch on the technical aspects of manufacturing a sliding wardrobe with our own hands in more detail.

So, for convenience, we transfer the design of the sliding wardrobe from mental images that you have thought up to a piece of paper and, in accordance with the installation location of the future cabinet, put down all the necessary dimensions. You need to start with the width and height of the whole product - it is on the basis of them that the dimensions of all other partitions and shelves are calculated.

Do-it-yourself wardrobe calculation

Now you need to focus and be as consistent as possible. When the overall dimensions are ready, making a do-it-yourself wardrobe will require detailing all its parts - on another sheet of paper (can be scaled), we draw each individual element of the cabinet. Start with the sides, top and bottom - mark the full dimensions of the part on each of the drawings. Do not forget that the shelves and partitions inserted inside the cabinet should be less than the overall size of the cabinet exactly by the thickness of two sheets of chipboard used. It is necessary to decide on this issue in advance; as a standard, such furniture is made of laminated chipboard with a thickness of 16mm. Here they are to be taken into account.

Let's move on and, taking into account these 16mm, we put down the dimensions of each individual part of the sliding wardrobe. When this painstaking work is finished and everything has been checked several times, we move on to the next stage of design.

I hope everyone has seen how the front ends of furniture chipboard are made? Such an operation is called trimming - when calculating the sliding wardrobe with your own hands, on each of the detailed drawings it is necessary to mark the edges that will be pasted over with a special tape. Pasting the ends in the factory costs a lot of money, so you don’t need to mark everything in a row - your task at this stage of work is to determine exactly those edges that remain visible from the front side of the closet.

Making a sliding wardrobe with your own hands

Well, have you figured it out? Now you can take a deep breath and experience a deep sense of satisfaction, then go to a specialized warehouse that sells furniture chipboard and saw it along the way, and order all the necessary parts.

Completely forgot. What about sliding doors? Everything is simple here - having the general dimensions of the inside of the cabinet, height and width, we report them all in the same warehouse and the local craftsmen independently determine the dimensions of all the structural elements of the sliding system. You just have to choose the door material - as a rule, they provide a choice between various mirrors, chipboard and plastic pseudo-mirrors. Decide on this yourself.

How to assemble a built-in wardrobe with your own hands

After all this mess, it's time to relax and get ready for assembly work. While parts of your closet are being made, it will not be superfluous to take care of the necessary tools. The minimum you need is a screwdriver, just in case, a jigsaw (suddenly you miscalculated in some sizes), a drill for confirmations, a set of different drills for wood, a stapler with twelfth staples and a lot of furniture fittings, ranging from mounting angles and confirmations to small screws and wooden chops.

Assembling a sliding wardrobe with your own hands is not difficult at all. During its development, you should have drawn a complete picture of this process - we can say with confidence that even when you are awake, you will clearly and clearly understand not only the general assembly sequence, but also the installation of each individual part.

How to assemble a sliding wardrobe with your own hands photo

You need to start with the main parts, that is, from the sides, top and bottom, at this stage you need to twist the main box. Considering the dimensions of even the smallest wardrobe, this will not be easy to do - first of all, it is necessary to mark and drill holes for confirmations. When they are drilled, you can install a special hex bit on the screwdriver and connect the box parts into a single product. Further it is easier - all internal boards can be fixed, as they say, in place - they installed it, drilled two boards at once and screwed in a confirmation.

When the box with partitions is assembled, it is necessary to take care of the back side of the cabinet - as a rule, it is closed with laminated fiberboard. This part is fastened with a stapler every 5-10cm.

How to make a sliding wardrobe with your own hands

Things are even easier with shelves - they are held not by confirmations, but by special steel pins. You only need to drill four holes for each shelf and drive the pins into them, then the shelf is simply placed on top of them.

As for the adjustable legs, they had to be attached to the bottom even at the stage of screwing the closet frame - you must admit, the assembled wardrobe is not so easy to turn upside down.

Depending on the dimensions of the finished structure, these legs will need to be installed from 4 to 6 - in each of the corners and possibly in the middle.

So we got to the installation of the sliding system. Now our task is to install the sliding wardrobe doors with our own hands. Despite their size, this is easy to do. Unpack them and find the top and bottom guides. How to distinguish them? The bottom guide is flat with narrow grooves, and the top one is voluminous and has wide grooves. We fasten them into place - the upper guide, respectively, up, and the bottom one down the sliding wardrobe. It remains only to insert the doors and adjust them.

How to install a sliding door on a sliding wardrobe

Doors are installed as follows - first insert the upper rollers into the guides, then lift the door and, pressing the lower rollers, install it on the lower rail. Adjusting the sliding wardrobe doors is no more difficult than installing them. On both ends of each door at the bottom (hidden under the boot) there are two screws - one fixing, the other adjusting. Here with their help it is necessary to achieve the position of the doors in the level.

Adjustment of sliding doors photo

Do-it-yourself installation of a sliding wardrobe will also require you to adjust the stops - they are needed so that the doors do not hit the cabinet body. The stops are located in the grooves of the lower guide and in order to protect the doors from impact damage, they simply need to be moved to the desired position.

That seems to be all. Now with full confidence we can say that the built-in wardrobe with your own hands is ready. Difficult? I agree! But it's very interesting. And most importantly, it will be possible to be proud of the independently mastered specialty.

Author of the article Yury Panovsky

Built-in wardrobe: What you need to think about before calling a measurer

The work of planning the internal space of a wardrobe is often compared to ordering a kitchen set. Yes, a measurer will help you with an engineering solution and offer design options. But he will not be able to decide for you, it is more convenient for you to have two hangers and shelves. Or instead of them - it is better to make one barbell and baskets.

In order for a built-in wardrobe to make you not sigh, but delight, you need to think carefully about the interior layout: distribute departments and sections, plan shelves and hangers, drawers and organizers. At the same time, we will find out how many swords, trousers and boots we have.

Kirill Egorov House of Architecture and Design

Question 1: What size can I make a wardrobe
It is clear that we will have to start from the size of the room or part of the space (say, a corridor or hallway) that we decided to allocate for a built-in wardrobe. But there are a number of important nuances.

Cabinet depth. The standard depth of a wardrobe with hinged doors is 60 cm. So much is needed to freely fit coat hangers with clothes on a regular longitudinal bar: at least 55 cm is required for a comfortable arrangement of outerwear, 5 cm less for light clothing. If it is a wardrobe with sliding doors, it is better to add another 10 cm - this is how much the compartment design will “eat”.

In a cabinet less than 50 cm deep, you will have to replace the longitudinal rod with end rods. Correctly calculate their number: on average, 8 coat hangers are placed on a 40-cm end rod.

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Pak Daria

Fact: sometimes cabinets are made deeper than the standard. In the example in the photo, the closet is located under the loft bed (mattress width 90 cm). And the designer of the project added a number of internal shelves for seasonal items in boxes, for example. They will be hidden by clothes on the shoulders.

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Ksenia Bobrikova. Xenia Design Studio

Idea : With the help of a cabinet, you can level out the flaws in the layout. In the example in the photo - a wardrobe with sections of different depths. One with the ability to enter (dressing room), the other - in the size of a standard wardrobe. Behind the closed door, it is impossible to guess that there was an unfortunate ledge in the room.

Cabinet width. The minimum width of the wardrobe is not regulated, but there is no point in making it less than 40 cm - otherwise boxes with men's shoes will not fit. Most often, cabinet sections are a multiple of 50 cm in width.

Maria Panchenko

Door width. What if you want wider doors? It all depends on the type of door.

► Sliding doors. For the middle and economy segment, focus on a width of 120 cm. Larger doors will sooner or later loosen the roller system when moving. This rule does not apply to elite collections, where XXXL doors are specially designed with reinforced strength guides, hangers and rollers.

Free workshop

Important rule : the width of the door should be matched to the width of the section. No matter how wide you push the doors apart, “dead zones” are still formed in the closet that are never open. If there is a drawer in such a zone, it simply will not slide out. An exception is a four-door wardrobe: it is possible to plan the doors in it so that two sections open at once in the center.

By the way: if the width of the sliding curtain is not enough, add drawers to it (example in the photo). That's also possible!

STUDIO8

Idea: cabinet fronts can duplicate the internal filling - they do not have to be solid sheets from floor to ceiling. Kitchens are often designed according to this logic. However, 5 facades will always cost more than one (of the same size in total). If only because the number of loops and the need to process the edge are 5 times more.

Ariana Ahmad Interior Design

► Swing doors. They are usually made in a width of 60 cm. A wider door will be too heavy and the hinges may not support it. The most harmonious proportions of the height and width of the door are 1:5. Facades of this size are easy to use and do not warp.

The maximum height of sliding doors is 4 m: this is the length of the profiles in popular designs. But if you want chipboard doors above 278 cm, you will have to use decorative partitions. Or choose another, more expensive material.

Joinery Wood

Length. Cabinet can be any length. If he has a floor or ceiling planned, then you need to take into account the limited length (height) of the plate - the same 278 cm for chipboard. This obstacle is easily overcome: the master puts a vertical wall and attaches the next plate to it - and so on ad infinitum. In addition, most often the closet can do with the floor and ceiling of the apartment: in this case, own structural elements are not used.

The maximum length of the guide for compartment doors is 4–5 m. It is not recommended to join them, since the rollers wear out the most at the joints. The alternative is the same column wall, which actually breaks your closet in two. It will still look like a monolith - what's the difference?

In the case of compartment doors, there are restrictions on the minimum cabinet length - 1 m. Doors (and there must be at least two of them) do not let out less than 50 cm wide, otherwise they will fall out of the rails.

Quatrobase Studio

Question 2: How to plan the inside of the closet
Designers recommend that before planning the closet, make a list of all the things that you will store in it, and then add another 20% "to grow the wardrobe."

Step 1: Make a complete list of clothes, shoes.

Step 2: Group the items in the list according to how they are stored. Decide what will lie on the shelf or in baskets (knitwear) and what will hang (trousers, jackets).

Step 3: Decide how many items you have in each category. Will they fit in four drawers or do you need all 10, is one meter of rod enough?

Tip: Decide on the price in advance: the inside of the cabinet can be very diverse in cost. Therefore, limit the budget that you plan to meet. An amount not exceeding 10% of the cost of the cabinet itself is considered rational. But in the end, it's up to you to decide.

ARTICLE DESIGNER…
Wardrobe filling: How to calculate that all things fit

Kutenkovs project

Longitudinal and end bars
Clothes hanging on coat hangers will occupy the largest compartments. For women's clothing, we plan a box with a height of 150–160 cm. If long men's coats or raincoats are hanging in the closet, put a height of 175 cm. For each hanger, you can lay 5 cm - this will be the width of the compartment (and the length of the longitudinal bar).

If you have a narrow cabinet with end rods, put 60 cm in the width of the compartment on each hanger. End hangers are usually made a little - 2-3 pieces.

Sometimes it is worth making separate boxes with a barbell for short items: skirts, trousers, shirts and blouses. They require a lower height - 80–100 cm, which means they save space.

If men's trousers are to be hung without kinking, set aside 120 cm for them.

Nikita Maksimov // Interiors and plywood furniture

If you need a length of a longitudinal rod of more than 120 cm, provide a vertical support rod in the middle. It is placed at a distance between the upper and lower partitions and is connected to a horizontal bar with a special coupling. This is necessary so that the longitudinal bar does not bend under the weight of things. If heavy things are hanging on the hangers - fur coats, coats - the length of the bar without support should not exceed 100 cm. behind the outer wall. Make it better than ordinary horizontal shelves. Sliding doors, rolling back and forth, push the side wall, creating a shock load. Horizontal shelves located close to the side plate will connect it with the rest of the cabinet's load-bearing structures. One barbell will not provide such a strong bond.

Haven Design and Construction

Boom with lift
The lift is a special tool that allows you to lower and raise the boom (as pictured). Such designs are quite expensive, but are indispensable in tall cabinets when you have to use the space right under the ceiling. The elevator will lower jackets and skirts right into your hands, and then again remove the bar with things to an unattainable height.

SpaceMakers of Atlanta

Shelves
Built-in wardrobes are ordered for more than just clothes. Almost everything can be stored on open shelves (except what needs to be hung): bed linen and knitwear, books and dishes. For clothes, you can use long shelves (80–120 cm), and for heavy books and dishes, the length of the shelf should not exceed 80 cm. A convenient distance between the shelves is at least 40 cm.

If you are making a shelf longer than 80 cm, provide a vertical partition under it as additional support. Otherwise, the shelf may bend during operation.

Armarium Studio

Shelves mostly store a variety of knitwear - it can stretch out on hangers. In addition, the shelves are suitable for storing neatly folded jeans, bags, jewelry boxes, hats. So make more shelves - everyone will come in handy.

In Vogue Kitchens & Joinery

Special shelves
Wide shelves are designed in the upper part of the cabinet - for blankets, blankets and bed linen. In addition, it would be nice to provide compartments for sports equipment. Think about what exactly you will store there. Four pairs of roller skates? Tennis rocket? Yoga mat? It is better to measure especially dimensional fixtures in advance. At this moment, you understand the advantage of a chess player over a bodybuilder.

In addition, at the very top they usually make a large long shelf for suitcases, bags and camping equipment. Height - 45–50 cm.

richhof

How to keep shelves tidy
Clothes can slide off shallow shelves, and on long ones they quickly turn into a shapeless pile. To prevent this from happening, make small shelves with a rim or break a long rack into separate square cells: in this way, each pile of clothes will have its own cell. Keeping order will become much easier.

Another way to organize the contents of open shelves is to put everything in boxes.

Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

Roll-out shelves
Roll-out shelves are more convenient than fixed shelves - they make it easy to find and get what you need. And the distance between them may be less than between ordinary ones. True, convenience is not cheap. Roll-out shelves are meaningful only in the austerity space mode.

richhof

Drawers
Drawers are just as much more convenient than their stationary counterparts - they allow you to easily view the contents. And besides, they save cabinet space: the height of a standard drawer is 20–25 cm, the shelves are 35–40 cm. The drawers better protect the contents from dust. They have one minus - they are expensive, so it makes sense to use them locally: for all sorts of small things that are inconvenient or impractical to store on the shelves: hats, gloves, scarves and other accessories. For stockings, socks and underwear, shallow drawers are used - about 12 cm high.

Kay Wade, Closet Factory

The most convenient drawer models are those with a transparent front. They allow you to see the contents of the drawer without pulling it out.

When designing a drawer and calculating its width, be sure to take into account the width of the hinges for hinged doors and door joints in wardrobes. If the box is made to the full width to the maximum, it may simply not slide out.

Finch London

Interior handles
Drawer handles in a cramped wardrobe are a waste of space. Even the most modest hinge will eat 1-2 cm of the closet, which you won with such difficulty from the room. Therefore, it is better to choose drawers with recesses in the front panel.

Studio Bazi

By the way: not only drawers, but also entire sections can be pull-out - a convenient solution when we are dealing with a non-standard deep niche. In this case, it is reasonable to change the opening mechanism (when the facade is pressed, the internal contents are pulled out - an example is in the photo).

Then the width of the wardrobe section should be made a multiple of 60 cm - the size of the coat hanger with a jacket or coat.

Anne Chemineau - Decor Interior

Econize Closets & Blinds

Organizers
Drawer dividers and organizers help prevent chaos. They can be built into the box, or they can be sold separately from it. If you can’t stand laundry piled up in a heap, it’s better to invest in this additional option and enjoy laying out socks in cells. Like solitaire.

raumplus

You can find the right organizer for almost everything. The main thing is that there are enough boxes to accommodate them.

New Style Cabinets

Closet in a closet
Especially valuable and delicate things are stored behind additional doors. This design allows you to better protect the contents from dust and other adverse factors. Doors, as a rule, are made of glass, but you can also make deaf ones - it’s even more economical.

Astakhov Furniture Bureau

How to store shoes
Special inclined shelves for shoes are a very convenient way to store shoes and boots. Alas, such shelves are not very roomy. It is more rational to divide shoes into two parts: the one that is worn now, and the one that needs to be stored - seasonal, elegant, for special occasions. Leave what you need on the shelves, and put the rest in boxes and put it in the far corners of the cabinet.

Shelves for shoes are usually designed at the bottom of the wardrobe. Their standard length is 80-100 cm. Or - a narrow fully retractable section is designed for the width of the boot (shown in the photo).

Organizeology

Tall boots are easy to store hanging on special spacers - so the shaft does not lose its shape, and creases do not appear at the bottom.

Hannah Brown

If shoes and bags are an important part of your life, you can give each item a separate place in the closet. Of course, in the living room or dining room, such an exhibition would be inappropriate, but in the dressing room or hallway - completely.

SpaceManager Closets

How to store ties
Dedicated organizers are handy, but they take up a lot of space. Ergonomic, but expensive option - vertical sliding cabinets.

The most economical way is with rods or hooks on the cabinet door.

Closet Factory - Michelle Langley

Order lovers can store their ties in the closet drawer. Beautiful, economical and convenient to choose. But are you sure that you will roll them into a roll every time and put them in place?

Wendy Scott Closet Design

How to store jewelry
Special equipment exists in jewelry storage cabinets. If your closet is also a dressing table, consider how much and what kind of jewelry you will store here. Boxes with tangled chains are a thing of the past - now jewelry is conveniently hung individually, so it's easy to choose the right one. Small pull-out trays with organizers will help you arrange rings, earrings and bracelets - conveniently and beautifully, like in a shop window.

Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

If there is no space for a dressing table in the closet, use the open end. Here you can hang beads and chains, hair accessories on hooks or even furniture handles. It is not necessary to close this wealth with a door.

Custom Kitchens by John Wilkins, Inc.

Built-in ironing board
A rare but very appropriate design in a wardrobe. It will save you from folding and unfolding the ironing board and worries about where to attach it.

MARKINA DESIGN

Mirrors
The most popular way to place a mirror in a closet is to make the doors mirrored. You can close the cabinet with mirrors completely or partially. This is ergonomic: the mirror does not take up extra space, and reflective surfaces add shine, light and volume to the interior.

HUX London

If you are not a fan of large mirror surfaces in the interior (indeed, they do not add coziness) - mirror the inner surfaces of the doors. True, this method is only suitable for swing structures. Two open doors with mirrors inside provide a pier glass effect: you can see yourself from the front and back.

Alexander Lakidon's author's furniture studio

The original solution is a retractable mirror. It allows you to see yourself in a different light than what is on the door. Such a mirror is convenient when the closet is in a narrow aisle, and there is simply no place to look at yourself in the door.

Another advantage of the retractable mirror is that you don't have to wipe fingerprints on it all the time.

MARION STUDIO

Plinth
This piece of built-in wardrobe comes in handy if you have an uneven floor, which means that there may be problems with doors mounted to the very bottom. Compartment doors will ride downhill, and you can’t install a guide on the bumps. Swing doors can also warp, in addition, ugly gaps will remain between the door and the floor. The plinth allows you to level the bottom level of the cabinet, eliminating these problems.

Dell Anno Canada

Lighting
Adding lighting to your closet is effective, practical, but not necessary. With the help of lighting, you can make open shelves more interesting, more mysterious - the space behind the glass doors. After all, illuminated shelves make it easier to find what you need.

It makes sense to mount lighting inside sections if you have open shelves and want to get a beautiful decorative effect. Lighting hidden inside one shelf will not reach another compartment. If you want to illuminate the contents of the closet so as not to rummage through things in the dark, mount the lamps in the visor. Do not forget to leave a gap between the visor and the upper border of the swing doors - so that they do not cling. The transformer for built-in lights is usually installed on the roof of the cabinet.

MARION STUDIO

How to properly equip the mezzanine
The mezzanine is a separate space in the upper part of the cabinet. It’s not so easy to get there, so basically the mezzanine works like a pantry: seasonal things and sports equipment, suitcases and dresses that “I will wear when I lose weight” are removed here. Inside the mezzanine, as a rule, do not make additional compartments and drawers. If the height of the cabinet allows, you should not make separate doors to the mezzanine - this will only increase the cost of the cabinet. A separate compartment door will be especially expensive, so if you really have to, it’s better to make swing or folding doors there.

By the way: sometimes it is more reasonable to lower the ceiling than to make an excessively high mezzanine.

Rikki Snyder

Solid front or split front?
It is not necessary to hide the contents of the sections behind large monolithic doors. You can make your own separate doors for each section and block. Drawers in this case will become part of the facade. You will get quick access to things, and the front will look more interesting - if, of course, you planned the design aesthetically. Hidden behind large doors, shelves and drawers can be arranged according to logic rather than aesthetics. And, besides, solid facades will cost less.

Valery Krauklit

Closet with a secret
A whole secretary can be arranged behind the doors of the built-in closet. Drawers for papers and letters, shelves for collections of coins and cigars, a sliding table for a laptop. In standard configurations, this is difficult to find, but to order it is easy.

If desired, the built-in wardrobe can have a built-in safe, or maybe a refrigerator for cosmetics or watch holders with a recharge function.

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Asiya Orlova Design

will be painful for you.

So, what can you give up? If you are planning a closet, replace the expensive aluminum system with a cheap steel one. It is, of course, less reliable, but if you do not look far ahead, it will do. The service life of an aluminum system is 20 years, while that of a steel system is an average of 5–7. Well, steel is noisier.

Armarium Studio

Another savings resource is the number and design of doors. If you replace narrow doors with fewer wide ones, it will be cheaper. In some places, doors can be completely abandoned - to make a combined facade with open shelves or to put hinged doors instead of compartment doors.

You can reduce the cost of the cabinet due to the materials used. Instead of an expensive "facade" chipboard, use a cheaper, thin white board inside. If you have planned the shelves correctly, their load-bearing capacity will not be affected by this.

Full drawers are convenient but rather expensive. Can be replaced with those that extend 3/4; settle for ball bearing guides instead of roller ones. Yes, the drawers won't slide as smoothly, and they won't be able to pull out all the way, but that doesn't always matter. Or abandon the boxes in favor of ordinary shelves.

Inspired Closets by Organized Spaces

Even shelf fastenings can be saved. Instead of invisible eccentrics that pull shelves and sidewalls together, order corners.

Learn more