How to Plan and Design the Right Wardrobe for Your Home
Ask most people what they would change about their previous home and they'll say "more storage". Most of the time, wardrobe problems come down to not planning the storage inside.
As we design and manufacture wardrobes for homes in Gurgaon every week, we thought we'd give you a simple guide: what type of wardrobe to choose, how to plan the storage, common mistakes, and the questions we get asked. If you're looking for design ideas and finishes, see our post on popular wardrobe designs for Indian homes.
Simple answer: plan your wardrobe around what needs storing. Make a list of what you need to store, then decide how much hanging, shelving and drawer space you need. From this, decide the wardrobe size, door type and finish.
Wardrobe planning summary:
Start with what you have
Measure the wall space, the ceiling height and the space in front of the wardrobe
Choose sliding or hinged doors based on the size of the room
Plan long hanging, short hanging, shelving and drawer space
Use the full height of your space with a loft
Use the right materials, hardware and finishes for the weather in Gurgaon
Wardrobe Types: Sliding, Hinged or Walk-In?
Mainly, it depends on how much space you have in front of your wardrobe.
Sliding doors | Hinged doors | Walk-in wardrobe | |
Space required | Minimal, as the doors slide | Around 2 ft of clear space for the doors to open | Needs its own small room or alcove |
Depth of unit | Slightly deeper to fit the door tracks | Standard depth | Open shelving on the walls |
Access | Only one section can be opened at a time | Everything can be opened at once | Everything is on view |
Best for | Small bedrooms or little space between the bed and wardrobe | Large rooms, or people who like to see all their items | Master bedrooms with extra space |
Things to consider | Tracks need occasional cleaning; use good-quality runners | Good-quality hinges keep the doors lined up | Needs good lighting and dust control |
Many flats in Gurgaon have the wardrobe right next to the bed. If there isn't much space between them, sliding doors will save you a lot of hassle!
Wardrobe Layout: What Goes Where
This is where many wardrobes go wrong. Below are the standard sizes we use as a starting point. Your designer should adjust these to suit your height and what you'll be storing.
Section | Typical size | What it's for |
Overall depth | Approx. 2 ft (600 mm) | Fits a hanger with clothes on it |
Short hanging | Approx. 3–3.5 ft | Shirts, tops, trousers folded on hangers and blazers |
Long hanging | Approx. 5 ft | Sarees on hangers, lehengas, dresses, long kurtas and coats |
Shelving | 12–14 in apart | Folded items; any taller than this and stacks tend to topple |
Drawers | 6–10 in deep | Innerwear, accessories, watches and belts; one lockable drawer for valuables |
Loft (above) | Up to the ceiling | Suitcases, seasonal bedding and rarely used items |
Base | 4 in plinth | Keeps the wardrobe off the floor during cleaning and mopping |
To get started quickly, sort your clothes into 4 piles: long hanging, short hanging, folded and small items. The size of each pile shows how much of each section you need.
If your family wears a lot of sarees and lehengas, you'll need much more long hanging space than someone who mainly wears shirts.
Useful extras to ask about:
Pull-out trouser and tie rails
Saree trays or racks
A tall section for the vacuum cleaner or ironing board
A small mirror on the inside of the door
Sensor lights that turn on when you open the door
How to Plan Your Wardrobe, Step by Step
List what you'll be storing. This could include clothes, sarees, bags, shoes, bedding, suitcases and valuables. Be honest about how much you have, and add around 20% extra.
Measure your space. How wide is the wall? How high is the ceiling? How much space is there between the bed and the wall? Note any switchboards, windows, AC piping or beams on the wall.
Decide on the door type. If there's little space in front, use sliding doors. Otherwise, use hinged doors.
Decide how much space you need. Use the 4-pile method above to work out how much long hanging, short hanging, shelving and drawer space you need.
Plan electrical points. If you want lights inside your wardrobe or a socket for a steamer, the wiring needs to be done first.
Choose your materials. Approve samples of the board, shutters and handles.
Approve your drawings. Make sure all measurements and sections are correct before anything is made.
Materials and Hardware
Your wardrobe will be opened several times a day for years, so it's important to get the right materials and hardware inside it.
Board: good-quality MR plywood is a common choice for bedroom wardrobes. If your wardrobe is going against a damp wall, ask for better moisture resistance.
Shutters: HDHMR or plywood with a laminate, veneer, PU or acrylic finish.
Hinges and channels: soft-close hinges and full-extension drawer channels from a well-known brand. Cheap hardware is the most common reason wardrobes start to sag or stick.
Sliding system: use a good-quality track and runners so your doors slide easily.
Back panel: if your wardrobe is going against an outside wall, ask about extra damp protection.
We've written more about boards and finishes in our bespoke furniture guide.
6 Common Wardrobe Myths and Mistakes
Myth 1: Sliding doors are always best
They're perfect for small rooms, but you can only open one section at a time, and cheap tracks can cause problems quickly. In larger bedrooms, hinged doors are often easier to live with.
Myth 2: A bigger wardrobe means more storage
A poorly planned big wardrobe can hold less than a smaller one with the right balance of hanging, shelving and drawers.
Mistake 3: Not going to full height
The space above your wardrobe just becomes a dust trap. Take your wardrobe up to the ceiling with a loft and use that space for suitcases and bedding.
Mistake 4: Too few drawers
Shelves are cheaper to make, so many wardrobes have lots of shelving and only one drawer. This leads to a mess with small items like innerwear, belts and accessories. Plan at least 2–3 drawers per person.
Myth 5: Mirrored shutters make a room look bigger, so always add one
A full mirror can help in a small room, but it will show all your fingerprints! You may also not want one facing your bed. Instead, you can put a mirror inside the door or on just one panel.
Mistake 6: Forgetting the wiring
Inside lights, a socket for a steamer and sensor lights all need wiring. If you don't plan for this, you'll have to drill into a finished wardrobe.
Wardrobes by MWM Spaces
All our wardrobes are made to measure in our 50,000 sq ft factory in Gurugram. First, we get to know you. How many people will share the wardrobe? What will you be storing? How much will you hang versus fold? Then we plan the layout and choose the materials and hardware.
As everything is made in-house, we control the quality of the board, the finish and the installation. We then install the wardrobe in your home and check every shutter, drawer and channel.
See our projects to see our work, or find out more about our custom furniture service.
Common Questions Asked
How deep should my wardrobe be?
Most homes do well with a wardrobe around 600 mm (approx. 2 ft) deep. This lets your hangers hang straight without the shutter pressing on your clothes.
Are sliding wardrobes good for small bedrooms?
Usually, yes! Sliding doors don't need space to swing open, so they're great when your bed is close to your wardrobe. Just make sure the track and rollers are good quality.
Should my wardrobe go to full height?
Most of the time, yes. A full-height wardrobe with a loft gives you extra space for rarely used items and means less dust builds up on top.
How long will my custom wardrobe take?
This depends on how big and how detailed your wardrobe is. Once your design is finalised, we'll give you a clear timeline.
Which is best: laminate, acrylic or veneer?
All have their uses. Laminate is durable and easy to keep clean. Acrylic gives a shiny, modern look. Veneer gives a natural wood look. We'll help you decide what's best for your room, your style and how much maintenance you want.
Can I have lights inside?
Yes, you can! Sensor lights are very popular. Let us know early so we can plan the wiring.
How do I stop my wardrobe from getting damp?
Avoid fixing it directly to an outside wall or a wall with a bathroom behind it. If you can't avoid this, we'll use moisture-resistant boards and leave a small gap at the back.
Can you design a wardrobe for an unusually shaped wall?
Yes! One of the main benefits of a custom wardrobe is that we measure your room on site. We'll design your wardrobe around beams, corners and sloping walls, so no space is wasted.
Comments