Decorating
10 Chic Wardrobe Ideas That Will Go the Distance
Get your wardrobe right and achieve a more stylish bedroom, less clutter and stuff you can actually find
Choosing the right wardrobe style matters – and that’s true whether you’re a shopaholic or a staunch minimalist in the shoes, bags and clothing department. Your wardrobe is usually the biggest piece of furniture in your bedroom, apart from the bed, meaning it has a huge impact on the look of the room. Having ample storage also means less clutter elsewhere.
When buying, be realistic and think about your needs, especially if you share a wardrobe with your other half. Will that cute, freestanding vintage number cut it? Or do you actually need a full-on bank of sliding doors? Consider the interior, too – there’s no end of ways you can organise rails, shelves and racks these days. Get it right, and hopefully you’ll wave bye-bye to scrabbling around on your knees for that shirt you last remember seeing in 2011.
When buying, be realistic and think about your needs, especially if you share a wardrobe with your other half. Will that cute, freestanding vintage number cut it? Or do you actually need a full-on bank of sliding doors? Consider the interior, too – there’s no end of ways you can organise rails, shelves and racks these days. Get it right, and hopefully you’ll wave bye-bye to scrabbling around on your knees for that shirt you last remember seeing in 2011.
Install a shabby chic armoire
A painted, French-style armoire is elegant and timeless, and brings a boutique boudoir air. This lightly distressed, reclaimed wardrobe adds to the trendy rock star’s pad vibe, along with the day-glo orange four-poster and stag head.
Hunt for authentic wardrobes on eBay and in antiques markets and vintage stores. A cream or white finish is always classic, or consider powder grey or baby blue.
Explore more ideas for rock star style
A painted, French-style armoire is elegant and timeless, and brings a boutique boudoir air. This lightly distressed, reclaimed wardrobe adds to the trendy rock star’s pad vibe, along with the day-glo orange four-poster and stag head.
Hunt for authentic wardrobes on eBay and in antiques markets and vintage stores. A cream or white finish is always classic, or consider powder grey or baby blue.
Explore more ideas for rock star style
Design to fit
Fitted wardrobes are a perennially smart choice. They can be designed for the exact dimensions of your space, big or small, and you can plan the right combination of rails and shelves for you. Their streamlined look stops rooms feeling cluttered and they’re mercifully free of nooks and crannies that collect dust.
This is a faultless lesson in how to do them well: modern, chic, subtle, with plenty of mirrors to both make the room feel larger and help the homeowner get dressed in the morning.
Fitted wardrobes are a perennially smart choice. They can be designed for the exact dimensions of your space, big or small, and you can plan the right combination of rails and shelves for you. Their streamlined look stops rooms feeling cluttered and they’re mercifully free of nooks and crannies that collect dust.
This is a faultless lesson in how to do them well: modern, chic, subtle, with plenty of mirrors to both make the room feel larger and help the homeowner get dressed in the morning.
Sacrifice a corner
If too many fitted wardrobes leave you cold, consider this on-trend option instead: an industrial-chic walk-in closet, complete with stylish spot lighting. I love the chalky dark grey finish and the period-style windows. The finished wardrobe is part stylish writing shed, part upmarket shop display, and all the better for it.
If too many fitted wardrobes leave you cold, consider this on-trend option instead: an industrial-chic walk-in closet, complete with stylish spot lighting. I love the chalky dark grey finish and the period-style windows. The finished wardrobe is part stylish writing shed, part upmarket shop display, and all the better for it.
Install sliding doors
A bank of floor-to-ceiling sliding doors is a popular way to make the most of potential storage space in a room; the doors usually run on tracks fitted to the floor and ceiling. Here, they look neat, clean, glamorous and modern.
When planning, think about how many doors you want, and whether you’d prefer one of them to be mirrored instead. You can buy sliding doors off the peg for DIY installation, or have them made to measure.
A bank of floor-to-ceiling sliding doors is a popular way to make the most of potential storage space in a room; the doors usually run on tracks fitted to the floor and ceiling. Here, they look neat, clean, glamorous and modern.
When planning, think about how many doors you want, and whether you’d prefer one of them to be mirrored instead. You can buy sliding doors off the peg for DIY installation, or have them made to measure.
Embrace thoroughly modern
A generous wall of minimal, modern wardrobes can look smart and cool, as seen here. The clean lines complement the room’s slick style perfectly, and the pale doors are chic without being naff. The soft shades also ‘disappear’ without looking nondescript, for a calm, ordered effect.
A generous wall of minimal, modern wardrobes can look smart and cool, as seen here. The clean lines complement the room’s slick style perfectly, and the pale doors are chic without being naff. The soft shades also ‘disappear’ without looking nondescript, for a calm, ordered effect.
Save it for shoes
A wardrobe just for shoes might feel like an extravagance. But if your collection of heels is on the large side, and you can spare the wall space, it could well be worth it.
This bespoke number has been designed for the job in hand and nothing else, meaning no more scrunched and squashed boots languishing under suitcases or mysteriously missing sandals.
Browse more bedroom storage ideas
A wardrobe just for shoes might feel like an extravagance. But if your collection of heels is on the large side, and you can spare the wall space, it could well be worth it.
This bespoke number has been designed for the job in hand and nothing else, meaning no more scrunched and squashed boots languishing under suitcases or mysteriously missing sandals.
Browse more bedroom storage ideas
Go for something different
All too often, wardrobes veer towards the plain, but this elegant, bespoke number stands out from the crowd, thanks to some unusual mirrorwork and long handles.
Clever tweaks mean it’s ultra-practical, too. Drawers in the bottom act like a mini chest of drawers, while the hooks and long mirror on the side are touches that make life easier. Another big plus for a freestanding wardrobe, of course, is that you can take it with you when you move.
All too often, wardrobes veer towards the plain, but this elegant, bespoke number stands out from the crowd, thanks to some unusual mirrorwork and long handles.
Clever tweaks mean it’s ultra-practical, too. Drawers in the bottom act like a mini chest of drawers, while the hooks and long mirror on the side are touches that make life easier. Another big plus for a freestanding wardrobe, of course, is that you can take it with you when you move.
Mimic the gentlemen’s club look
This beautiful walk-in closet has period charm in spades, topped with a touch of silver screen glamour. It features old-school wooden fitted wardrobes with brass handles, with an assortment of drawers for socks and undies, and cupboards for shirts, ties and dresses. One to grow old with.
This beautiful walk-in closet has period charm in spades, topped with a touch of silver screen glamour. It features old-school wooden fitted wardrobes with brass handles, with an assortment of drawers for socks and undies, and cupboards for shirts, ties and dresses. One to grow old with.
Make it fit for a lion, a witch and a…
If you’ve harboured escape-to-Narnia fantasies since childhood, a traditional freestanding wardrobe could be for you. This solid oak update of a traditional design looks lovely without the mustiness, and could be tomorrow’s antique – and somewhere for your own children to indulge their imagination, of course.
If you’ve harboured escape-to-Narnia fantasies since childhood, a traditional freestanding wardrobe could be for you. This solid oak update of a traditional design looks lovely without the mustiness, and could be tomorrow’s antique – and somewhere for your own children to indulge their imagination, of course.
Try modern and wooden
Don’t assume wooden equals super-traditional or retro, however – a contemporary wooden wardrobe with simple lines can transform a bedroom. This large, sturdy freestanding number adds warmth and colour, and complements the bedframe and chest of drawers beautifully.
TELL US…
What kind of wardrobe have you gone for, and would you recommend it? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Don’t assume wooden equals super-traditional or retro, however – a contemporary wooden wardrobe with simple lines can transform a bedroom. This large, sturdy freestanding number adds warmth and colour, and complements the bedframe and chest of drawers beautifully.
TELL US…
What kind of wardrobe have you gone for, and would you recommend it? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
It’s common sense to use alcoves for wardrobes in a bedroom, especially if your sleep space is snug. Twin built-in wardrobes either side of a fireplace look timeless yet still eternally in vogue.
Choose a period style with beading like these for a cool, classic look; the mid-grey paintwork elevates them above more obvious white. And the cupboards above are perfect for stashing spare duvets, sheets and towels. You can ask a carpenter to build something similar out of MDF or wood.