If you're anything like us, you treat your bedroom like a sacred space - a quiet, neutral zone where you can decompress from the day's events and regenerate for the next day. But R&R aside, the bedroom also doubles as the fashion capital of the home, thanks to one very important invention - the wardrobe.
Historically, wardrobes were pieces of furniture used exclusively by nobility. The very first model of a wardrobe was similar to a chest or trunk, in that they rested on the floor and opened upwards. If you were extremely rich or a king, you might have had a whole room called the 'wardrobe' to store your robes and precious items, filled with cabinets and lockers. Stand-along wardrobes were typically very large, heavy, and ornate, with carved designs and gold overlays for a polished look. It was only in the early 17th century in the United States where wardrobes adapted to include storage for hanging and folded clothes by way of hooks, rods, and shelves. It grew in popularity by the beginning of 19th century, where models included a hanging cupboard, a press above, and drawers below. Soon, interior doors, drawers, shelves, and fitted mirrors were added, making the wardrobe into the piece of furniture we know it to be today.
Picking a wardrobe should be as essential a decision as picking a bed or a mattress. After all, your wardrobe is probably going to last longer, and needs to adapt to your needs as your grow your clothing collection, family, or home. If you're in the market for a new custom-made built-in or stand alone, or just considering adding more storage space to your current place, check out some of our favourite tips for picking the right wardrobe, thanks to a little help from our friends over at
LiveSpace.
Settle on a type: One of the first decisions you will have to make is to choose between a free standing wardrobe and a built-in wardrobe. Free standing wardrobes can be conveniently transported to another room or to a new home when you choose. The alternative is to opt for your own custom built wardrobe. While built-in wardrobes are not portable and will take the time to design and build, they also give you the freedom to customise the size, materials, colors, finishes and storage accessories according to your preferences. Measurements matter: Check the size of the floor space available and the height of the ceiling before you buy your wardrobe. You will also need to check the height of the clothing rod as well. For blouses, skirts and pants, a height of 45 inches would usually suffice while children’s clothes can be placed at a height of 30 inches approximately. Deeper shelves are also advisable since they provide more storage. But make sure that the total measurement is not more than 15 inches because your apparel should be accessible. And of course, do not let the wardrobe block any source of lighting in the bedroom. Maintain adequate space between the rest of your bedroom furniture and the wardrobe for easy movement and operation. Experiment with style, but keep it consistent: Match the style of the wardrobe with the existing theme of your interiors and all your bedroom furniture. This includes the type of finishes, colors and detailing on the door. Opt for a wardrobe with decorative doors if your bedroom has ornate interiors. For a clean, minimalist look, you can even opt for a stylish open wardrobe without doors. The same goes for the colors and finishes on your wardrobe – pick hues that blend well with the existing palette of your room. Ensure that the design aesthetics of both your wardrobe and your bedroom compliment each other for visual harmony. Pick storage solutions that you need: Decide on the kind of storage you need for your clothing collection. Suppose your wardrobe consists primarily of dresses and formal wear, make sure you have sufficient hanging space. For those of you whose wardrobe is dominated by tons of accessories, it is best to opt for multiple drawers. That way, you can organize different kinds of accessories in each drawer. Getting a new wardrobe does not necessarily have to burn a hole in your pocket. There are a variety of options available in the market to suit different budgets. So remember these important factors in mind before you choose your bedroom wardrobe so you get the best!
Free-Standing Wardrobes: The first of your choices is the traditional free-standing wardrobe. The biggest of this type of wardrobe is its versatility. Unlike other types of wardrobes, a free-standing wardrobe can be easily moved around a room or even a different room or house. These wardrobes come in different sizes but even the largest can often be a little short of space inside. Another slight problem is that space needs to be left in front of the wardrobe for opening the doors. Most commonly free-standing wardrobes come in a wood finish although there are also plenty of metal, glass and plastic options on the market, and hinges rather than sliding doors. Fitted Sliding Door Wardrobes: Fitted wardrobes are often considered old fashioned but this isn’t the case at all. While older houses are likely to come with ugly, old sliding wardrobes there are a lot of modern, sophisticated options on the market right now. The biggest benefit of fitted wardrobes is the extra space you create by utilising them. Since, they are usually floor to ceiling, extra storage can be fitted above your hanging space. Fitting a sliding door wardrobe into an alcove in a room is a great way to utilise an often wasted space. Sliding doors also mean that space isn’t required for opening the doors outwards. A wide range of finishes means that you are sure to find doors to match the decor of your room. It’s important to remember though, whatever you pick, you will be stuck with for a fair amount of time. Sliding door wardrobes aren’t as cheap or easy to replace as standing wardrobes. The comparative cost and difficulty of installation is the biggest factor to put most people off but the clean, modern finish justifies it and the cost doesn’t have to break the bank if you choose a supplier wisely. Walk In Wardrobes: Walk in wardrobes are the ultimate luxury when it comes to clothes storage and are fairly rare. For people who are really into fashion and collect a large amount of clothing over time, walk in wardrobes can be the perfect solution. A standard walk in wardrobe would have hanging and storage space on every side with perhaps a chair to one side or a bench in the middle. That being said, walk in wardrobes are the most versatile of the three options and can in most cases be designed to the perfect spec for any given user. A walk in wardrobe could be added to a bedroom with a partition with sliding doors, or even more easily, a spare room could be converted. This is a good value option if you have an unused box room as the only costs involved are for fitting shelving and hanging space. Unfortunately, the space requirement for a walk in wardrobe rules the option out for those with small to medium sized homes.
Ready to get shopping? Check out some of our favourite wardrobe supplies in Doha, Qatar below.