Which type of wardrobe is right for you?
Friday, 8 June 2012 11:59 AM
If you find yourself in a position where you have accumulated so many clothes and shoes that you can no longer store them all, you have two options.
The first is to take your least favourite items and either throw them away or donate them to a charity shop.
Option number two is to invest in new wardrobes.
Of the two, many people opt for the latter. Some find it harder than others to part with items of clothing and are loathe to get rid of them, meaning a new wardrobe is the most practical way forward.
If you fall into this camp, you have several options in terms of the wardrobes available to you.
Below, we explore some of the most popular types of wardrobes and highlight the pros and cons associated with each.
Sliding-door wardrobes
Wardrobes with sliding doors are very popular with UK homeowners thanks to their combination of style and practicality.
Sliding-door wardrobes are perhaps the most modern-looking wardrobes available today and many of the doors double up as mirrors.
In terms of practicality, the fact that the doors do not open outwards means they can be accommodated in rooms where space is at a premium.
On the downside, such units tend to be large and need to be fitted, meaning you cannot move them should you decide to revamp your room at a later date. On the other hand, their large size means you should be able to find one to accommodate your clothes and shoes.
Freestanding wardrobes
Freestanding wardrobes tend to be cheaper than sliding-door wardrobes and can be moved as and when you please.
In terms of aesthetics, there are numerous attractive designs available, however, some people find them a little old-fashioned next to sliding-door wardrobes.
Coupled with this is the fact that they tend to be on the small side. The plus side to this, however, is that if your bedroom is small, your room should be able to accommodate it fairly easily.
Corner wardrobes
Corner wardrobes are becoming increasingly popular among young, trendy types who want to create a unique feel in their bedroom.
These units tend to be large, meaning they can accommodate all of your clothes and at the same time are contemporary and modern looking.
Like sliding-door wardrobes, these units are difficult to move once they are set up, so you need to bear this in mind when making your decision.
Unlike other pieces of bedroom furniture, wardrobes cannot be incorporated into a bedroom in a discreet manner.
Wardrobes are one of the most prominent pieces of furniture you can buy, meaning they need to satisfy aesthetic as well as practical criteria.
When making your decision, you need to consider not only the size of the wardrobe, its design and how it looks, you need to consider the size of your room, how your other pieces of furniture are arranged and how best you can accommodate the unit.
Also, you should look for wardrobes that have compartments for shoes at the bottom and other useful features that can minimise the amount of clutter you have in your room.
The key is to shop around and not base your decision on price alone. While discount wardrobes can see secure a bargain, your wardrobe needs to be large enough and look the part, meaning price should not be the determining factor.
