There is a very practical aspect to wardrobes and clothes storage, but the look and feel of the room should also be considered. Like all spaces the people live in there needs to be a consideration of how a room looks. Here a few ways to make the wardrobe feel part of the entire house and not just an extra room.
Wardobe Privacy
As a general rule wardrobes are private places. Only the house owner is expected to enter and see the inside. This privacy coupled with the relatively small space allows for some experimentation and very personal touches. Generally there will be at least one wall that is exposed and can be given a radical makeover.
Here it is possible to indulge in a colour that would not be considered anywhere else in the house. Shocking pink, lime green, black or heavily patterned loud wallpapers can be used depending on the whim of the owner or designer. The added benefit being that if the colour or pattern is only on a small area it can be easily changed.
Art Work as Storage
Items that are sometimes hard to store, such as handbags, ties or hats can be individually hung off hooks or rods. These items are often beautifully made and use wonderful colours but are seldom show off. Individually hanging them on the wall not only makes for an almost art like installation, but allows the user to easily see the selection of items available.
Continuity and Flow Between Rooms
If built in cabinetry is being made use the same material that there is in an adjoining room such as the ensuite or bedroom. Continuity between rooms is then maintained and it will feel as though the rooms are part of a set. The same effect can be done by using the same decorative light fitting and mirrors in the wardrobe as in the ensuite. As the rooms may be different sizes, the scale of the light and mirror may change to suit the room but still have the same effect.
Wardrobe Flooring Treatments
One major decision to be made is where to start and finish different flooring materials between adjoining rooms. As a rule the narrowest entrance point to a separate room is where the dividing line should be if necessary. As most bedrooms are carpeted the carpet should be seamlessly laid trough to the wardrobe. An adjoining ensuite is more of a problem as a different floor treatment is usually installed.
In this case keep the flooring colours as close as possible, even if the materials are different e.g. a light tile against a light carpet or dark tile against a dark wood. The same colour will make all the rooms look bigger.
A walk in wardrobe can often be considered part of the bedroom it is associated with. So it is important to keep some aesthetic elements consistent in both rooms.
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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