As well adding a luxurious touch to your home, walk-in wardrobes offer a number of practical advantages. Whether the wardrobe is built-in or an extension of the bedroom, they help to declutter spaces, prolong the life of your clothing, and maximise your property’s value and functionality. Here are our top five tips on how to design a walk-in wardrobe dressing room.
When considering a walk-in wardrobe design, storage comes first! Carefully assess your needs and preferences in terms of how much half and full-length hanging space you’ll need for shirts, pants, coats and dresses. You’ll also need to factor in shelf space for folded items like knitwear, and storage for shoes, bags, underwear and accessories.
Pull-out hanging racks, stackable drawers and closet organisers can all keep items neat and tidy. And if you can extend your storage height as far as possible, top shelves are ideal for storing seasonal clothing you don’t need regular access to.
Light sources are used not just for visibility, but to create atmosphere and spotlight accents. Because many modern walk-in dressing rooms are closed-in designs with no natural light, quality lighting is a must, especially at night. ‘Cool’ lights will enable you to see colours better than warmer globes, and if you have a dressing table, spot lighting will allow proper makeup application.
Smart lighting is also worth considering. It’s energy efficient, and often includes automated controls that can be adjusted based on conditions like room occupancy, or the availability of natural light. Some can even be controlled remotely using apps that allow you to dim or group lights together, or even change their colour based on the time of day!
There are two basic types of furniture that suit a walk-in wardrobe design — fitted or freestanding. Professionally fitted options can be customised to the space available, but can be more expensive. Multi-functional furniture is ideal for those on a budget and examples include a mirror/drawer combination, a dressing table with shelves, or an ottoman with concealed storage that can replace a bulky chair.
For an environmentally friendly option, consider repurposing old furniture. Use a sideboard as a hanging cupboard, add shelving to a period wardrobe for folded items, and look for antique shoe trees, hat blocks and even a mannequin to display your favourite accessories.
Mirrors, whether they are stand-alone or fixed to wardrobe doors, don’t just have a practical use. Used in a walk-in wardrobe design, they can enhance the illusion of space, and if situated opposite windows or light sources, can maximise a room’s brightness.
They can increase a room’s appeal by reflecting attractive features, or adding a focal point, particularly if they have a unique shape or decorative frame. Mirrors are also a key part of feng shui principles, and can bring good “energy” to a room by balancing or accentuating its purpose.
Another great tip for maximising space in modern walk-in wardrobes is installing shelving. Custom-built shelves are ideal if they are within your budget, however height adjustable shelves are also worth considering. Open shelving works best from waist-height upwards and can store neatly folded clothing or show-off pieces like your favourite accessories.
You can also make use of “dead” space under the bottom of your walk-in wardrobe by installing narrow, slightly-angled shelving—the perfect place for shoes. Alternatively, install flat narrow shelves and store your shoes in covered shoe boxes to keep them in tip-top shape.
References
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