Finding Space for a Wardrobe or Built-In Cupboard
In many homes, wardrobes and built-in cupboards might not be included, or you may be buying a home off-plan and prefer to arrange your own closet storage, but where to put it?
07/04/2022
ensoul.co.uk
Moving into an older home or buying a new home off-plan may mean that you need to plan for a wardrobe, closet, or built-in cupboard for all your clothing and accessories. Although, when buying off-plan they usually give you a standard choice of builders-grade built-in cupboards. But what if you don't want this? What if you would prefer to select the location and style for your cupboards? There are plenty of both DIY and ready-made products on offer to suit your wants and needs, so why not look around and get ideas for a custom solution that not only looks great but also reflects the style of your home?
The bedroom might be a master bedroom or a spare bedroom, it could even be a guest bedroom or a children's bedroom. Older properties don't always come with built-in cupboards and if it isn't built-in, whoever leaves usually takes non-fitted furniture with them. In the case of a new build, you might not like to have the builders-grade cupboards fitted and want to make your own arrangements for something a bit more custom to accommodate your needs. This is where having basic DIY skills and a few tools can make all the difference. Using basic power tools, you can have everything cut to size at your local Builders and then all you have to do is to assemble in place and finish off.
When a bedroom is small, you have to be cleverly creative to find space to install built-in cupboards for clothing and accessories.
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Space Around a Door
There are plenty of spaces in a bedroom that is not usually considered the ideal space for wardrobes or built-in cupboards and yet these spaces are not usually put to use and are perfect for built-ins. Around a door frame is one area that often gets overlooked and leaves valuable space unused.
Utilising the space around a bedroom door makes a lot of sense. The door usually opens inwards, and any storage installed in this area will not intrude on this but make use of this valuable area.
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Standard built-in cupboards have a depth of anywhere between 550 and 600mm, but you can reduce this and install narrower cupboards that still provide plenty of space for your clothing, accessories, and shoes. See our space-saving tip below that you can use to be able to hang your clothes inside a narrower cupboard, say 350 to 450mm in depth.
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Space-Saving Tip #1
Instead of a clothes rail that runs horizontally across the width of the cupboard, install one that pulls out at the front. This will allow you to install a much narrower built-in cupboard but still have space for your clothes on hangers.
Space Around a Window
A wall with a window is another area that gets overlooked as a potential space for built-in cupboards or a wardrobe. Again, this space is more often left open but offers valuable space that can be put to good use.
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It makes no difference if it is a sliding door, French door or window, the space on either side, above - or below in the case of a window - often goes to waste and is left unused. There are so many ways to use this space for storage rather than leave it bare, especially if the bedroom is small. If the room is tight on space, there is no reason why you cannot fit built-in cupboards that are not as deep, as mentioned above.
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Space Under a Bed
Storage beds are the ideal space-saving solution for children's bedrooms, but they are perfect for adults as well. In a bedroom that has very little space to spare, being able to store clothes in pull-out drawers under the bed frees up a lot of space. Then, you only need a small wardrobe with hanging space for clothes that are easily creased.
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Space-Saving Tip #2
If you have space for built-in cupboards but not a lot of space for all your clothes, adding mobile drawers under the bed will provide storage for shoes, woollies or items that do not easily crease.
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Space at the Top of the Bed
I have mentioned in previous articles that the top end of the bed is the best place to install built-in cupboards for storing clothes and accessories. This space is usually occupied by bedside tables or nightstands that can so easily be incorporated into the built-ins and therefore do not take up any additional space. There is no better place when floor space is limited in a small bedroom, both for adults and children.
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Space-Saving Tip #3
Working with whatever space you have available in a small bedroom; you can design a custom storage solution that meets your needs.
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