interior decoration

So how do you choose the perfect bedroom wardrobe? Is a fitted wardrobe right for you, or would a tailor made free standing wardrobe be better? Where do you start?

First Things First
The first place to start is.. does it look good? Fit with your bedroom furniture? Wardrobes are usually the largest item of furniture in your bedroom, so its essential they look just right. Wardrobes in high gloss lacquer are the current modern vogue, but regardless of fashion the first thing to think of is 'Will a very, very large expanse of this colour/finish look good in my room?'. Many people tend to try to match the wall covering, which is a good idea if you want to maximise the appearance of space in your bedroom, & gloss/mirrored wardrobes reflect light back into the room so can be great for smaller spaces, or bedrooms without much natural light.

Dark woods or dark colours are best only really if you have other dark furniture in the same finish & have a large bedroom & of course whites & neutrals usually work well, as they are unobtrusive. But wardrobes don't have to blend in with the walls - lime washed French style Armoires can be a feature in themselves. Whatever you choose look at the outside first. You will be spending a lot of time looking at the outside so you will need to like what you see!

Quality - How Long Does It Need To Last?
Let's face it, sometimes buying an inexpensive option is the right thing to do. If you will not be in the property for too long, or if you are renting the property out you may not want (or need) to think too long and hard about the long term implications of your choice. Whilst an unattractive, badly fitted wardrobe will detract from the value of your property it is possible to be cheap AND chic as long as you keep a close eye on the aesthetics of your choice.

But for the longer term its probably better to spend a little more. Of course flat-pack wardrobes will always be the cheapest option, but they're never going to be as durable as professionally assembled or hand-made designs, so in 2 years time you may well be replacing it all. When shopping for wardrobes look at the quality of the hinges and how well they're attached, & the drawer mechanisms - if they're difficult in the shop they'll be impossible in a few years' time at home.

The best quality wardrobes are made in Europe (Italy or Germany seem to have the monopoly) & usually needed to be ordered to your requirements. Delivery can take up to 12 weeks, but the advantage is that you will be able to customise your wardrobe, choosing from a huge range of internal fittings not available with less expensive wardrobes, & choosing from a huge variety of carcass & door sizes. The other huge advantage of these wardrobes is the number of finishes available. Gloss & matt lacquers in virtually any colour, unusual textures & patterns (doors in faux crocodile look amazing, believe it or not!)

Fitted or Freestanding?
It is somewhat of a misnomer to think that only traditional fitted wardrobes can be used where you have a specific size to fill. Although fitted wardrobes truly are made to measure the good ones are very expensive. & you won't really get the choice of doors as the makers of fitted wardrobes don't make other furniture you can 'borrow' designs & finishes from. Having a fairly set range of door options is the only way a fitted wardrobe maker can be viable, and practicality not design is their strong point, but for really awkward spaces they may be your only option.

Freestanding wardrobes fall into two types. The 'what you see is what you get' type that can not be customised. These are generally the least expensive option, & if what you see is what you want & need then they can be perfect.
Colour ranges and options for types of finish tend to be less varied, and dimensions are fixed. Internal fittings are usually limited, although some manufacturers can offer a limited range of options. Generally a range of matching bedroom cabinets and chests will also be available to complement such types of wardrobe.

Customised free standing wardrobe manufacturers offer a much wider range of possibilities, so that although still made to a set design, the specification can be more closely tailored to individual circumstances. Both hinged and sliding doors are offered, a much wider choice of colours and finishes, lacquers, wood and glass. Component units are made to standard sizes, but units of different sizes can be combined to make a complete large wardrobe. Different heights can be offered to more closely suit the room. Corner units can fit round internal or external corners to make the best use of space.

A wide range of internal accessories are available, such as pull-out trouser and shoe racks, drawer units, extra shelves and hanging rails. Useful internal lighting can be fitted, with sensors to automatically light the wardrobe when the door is opened.

Summary
If you are looking for something to suit your needs rather than just a generic wardrobe a customised free standing wardrobe will give you the style, size & features you will need, without compromising on quality. However, as with anything it all comes down to how much you are prepared to spend. If you can afford a freestanding customised wardrobe then you will end up with something beautiful & practical, if not then you will need to do your homework to find something suitable.