The walk in wardrobe or dressing room is becoming more popular in new or renovated homes. Here are some design tips for better and increased storage potential.
Maximize the Closet Storage
Drawers are more efficient storage than cupboards. They allow for the entire space to be easily utilised and allow more of the stored items to be seen when the drawer is opened.
Above chest height shelving or cupboards are a better option as drawers above this height cannot be looked into. Maximise your storage by putting shelving up to ceiling height. The higher shelves are a good place for seldom used objects such as Christmas decorations.
Hanging Garments
Keep the long hanging area to a minimum and maximise your short hanging. Double stacking hanging rails is a good way to do this. If you are not tall there are movable pull down rail system for easier access. Another option is to have a hanging rail above the drawer units. This then gives a bench space or countertop for temporary storage of items, such as when clothing is being put away, or a place to have personal items on hand such as toiletries, cosmetics, or hair dryers.
Dressing, Undressing and Laundry
As a large wardrobe is a place to dress in make sure there is at least one mirror and where possible put in a full length mirror. For undressing make a spatial allowance for dirty laundry. It may be as simple as a place for a laundry basket or a laundry chute. If one or more users have a job where they get very soiled clothes or plays a lot of sports, a large bench with a hinged lid gives an area to dump a lot of dirty clothes and equipment. If the chest seat is also padded it can be used as a seat as well.
Shoes and Boot Storage
It is possible to have a pull out drawer system for shoes and boots. Another alternative is to not install a kick board and instead mount the wardrobe cabinetry on legs. This allows for shoes to be stored underneath. Remember that boots need to be stored standing up so allow a space for this. The other option is to place shoes under your hanging clothes but there are issues with odours and dirt from shoes being transferred to clothing.
House Positioning and Ventilation
If the wardrobe is a new room remember that it can be an internal room. While natural light is good, direct sunlight can fade or damage clothes so there is no need for a window. In fact privacy can be compromised if there is a window. It is important to have some airflow through your wardrobe. If the air does not circulate there is the possibility of mildew. An extraction unit connected to the light switch is effective or if this is not possible use a dehumidifier.
Care of clothes is important. Cramming them into a small space makes it hard to find specific items and can undo hours of ironing. Think about the users of the wardrobe and what they need. It is probably more than just storage.
Debra DeLorenzo - Debra DeLorenzo is a fully qualified bathroom and kitchen designer (CKD/CBDNZ) and has been in the design industry since 1996. She has won ...
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