Like everything else in life, there are those who were born to plan out bedrooms and those who would rather do anything else. You know which one you are: When you move into a new place, or when you need an extra bedroom for new children or visiting relatives, you either get all excited and start spending quality time with design magazines or you get grumpy and depressed and try every trick in the book to avoid the issue.
Never fear! It’s not as difficult as you think, and there’s one aspect of the design that’s as easy as it is exciting: Choosing the right wardrobe design for your particular bedroom. There are three main aspects you have to consider when choosing a wardrobe: Your personal taste, the physical space it’s fitting into, and what it will be used for.
Know Your Style
There are no wrong answers to the question of what you want your wardrobe to look like. Traditional, modern, wood stain or pink – it’s up to you and the rest of the room. You can find a wardrobe in just about any style you might desire or have one custom-built. The key is to know what you want. Don’t just pick something out of a catalogue based on price – take your time and think about what the rest of the furniture looks like, what colours will be on the walls, and what pleases your eye.
Know Your Space
Wardrobe design begins with the space the wardrobe will stand in. Wardrobes are not one-size-fits-all, and if your wardrobe is too big for the space you will know it every single time you step into the room (possibly because you will have to climb over something to get in there). Measure the room carefully and plot out where everything will be so you know where the wardrobe will stand, and thus the exact dimensions you have to work with. This also will inform your choice of sliding doors or swinging doors – do you have space for doors that swing open outward without hitting the bed?
Know Your Needs
The final aspect of wardrobe design is what the wardrobe will be used for: An active child’s daily dressing routine? Storage of spare bedding and linens? Or will it stand empty until people visit? Knowing what you’re going to put in the wardrobe will guide you in your wardrobe design decisions, and help you figure out whether something stock will work for you or if you need to have something custom-built.
Don’t discount the power of the wardrobe! It has a tremendous effect on the overall success of your room design. A wardrobe that doesn’t match the rest of the room will stick out like a sore thumb and look awful. And a wardrobe that doesn’t function well is a waste of valuable space – not to mention priceless storage. When tackling a wardrobe problem, take your time and work through these three steps thoughtfully to ensure you make the right choices.