Which are the best bedroom wardrobes – freestanding or fitted?

Choose the best bedroom wardrobes for your home from DIY Homefit

If you are planning to change your bedroom wardrobes any time soon, one of the key decisions to make is whether freestanding or fitted wardrobes are best for your bedroom.

So in this article we explore what kind of factors are important when choosing a wardrobe, and how well both freestanding and fitted bedroom wardrobes meet the need.

A good investment

Freestanding wardrobes are usually cheaper than fitted wardrobes, and can be taken with you if you move home. So in both those respects they could be a sensible option if you are simply looking for a quick fix short term storage solution.

However, if you are upgrading your bedroom in the home you plan to be in for a while, fitted bedroom wardrobes are definitely a good investment. They can be custom made to make the best use of every inch of space in your bedroom, and will enhance both the functionality and appearance of the whole room. And good quality fitted wardrobes should last for years so should be viewed as a one-off cost.

But even if you decide to move home, your fitted bedroom wardrobes can give you a good return on investment. Recent research by Country Properties indicates that home buyers are likely to be attracted to – and pay more for – a home with fitted storage. Not only can fitted wardrobes improve the appearance of bedrooms, but they also mean that the new owners can move in and unpack straightaway without having to find more money for new bedroom furniture.

Ease of installation and maintenance

Whatever kind of bedroom wardrobes you choose, it makes sense to find ones that are easy both to install and maintain. At first, freestanding wardrobes would seem the better option here. For example, a good value self-assembly wardrobe could be purchased, assembled and in use all the same day. But the speed of installation also has to be balanced against the quality of the finished product.

Many fitted bedroom wardrobes can be installed quickly and easily, particularly if you use an experienced professional to do so. For example, at DIY Homefit we can recommend local fitters who are familiar with all our products. Check out our Find my Nearest Fitter page to see options near you.

As well as installation of your wardrobes, you also need to consider maintenance. Freestanding wardrobes are notoriously guilty of gathering dust and dirt, and will need regular cleaning to keep them looking at their best. On the other hand, fitted furniture makes it much easier to keep your bedroom clean and tidy. There are no wardrobe tops or other awkward to reach places to clean, and the additional custom storage space enables you to keep more of your stuff protected from dust, dirt and damage.

Making the most of available space

When choosing new bedroom wardrobes, you want to ensure that you use the available space in your bedroom to its best advantage. This is where fitted wardrobes really have the edge. Custom-built wardrobes ensure that there is no dead space, aligning with windows, sloping ceilings, alcoves and skirting boards.

If you have a small bedroom, then fitted wardrobe sliding doors can be a life saver. They can free up space outside the wardrobe because, unlike hinged wardrobe doors, there doesn’t need to be floor space in front of them for the doors to open outwards. 

Wardrobe sliding doors can also give you easy access to the particular section of wardrobe you need, and it will be fully visible rather than partially blocked by an open door and hinges. If you are interested in bedroom wardrobes with sliding doors, check out DIY Homefit’s Sliding Wardrobe Door designer that enables you to custom design your own wardrobe sliding doors quickly and easily online. 

Flexible storage inside the wardrobe

Another important consideration when choosing new bedroom wardrobes is the kind of storage available inside the wardrobe. Your choice is likely to be less flexible if you decide to buy pre-designed freestanding wardrobes, most of which have a set number of configurations to choose from.

However, if you choose custom fitted wardrobes, these can be tailored to your specific needs and requirements. Whatever combination of hanging space, shelving and internal drawers you want for your wardrobe, you will be able to create the perfect solution by opting for custom-built fitted wardrobes. 

To find out more, check out DIY Homefit’s Bedroom Wardrobes, Cupboards, Drawers, Made to Measure page here.

Creating a good ambience in the bedroom

No matter how functional or practical a wardrobe is, it will not bring you joy unless it also looks really good. And there are some lovely-looking wardrobes around; both freestanding and fitted.

However, if you decide to get a freestanding wardrobe, you will need to be careful with the positioning so that it does not block the flow of natural light within your bedroom. As well as spoiling the ambience of the room, lack of natural light in a room makes it more difficult to find things easily and can even interfere with the process of getting ready in the morning.

Many people find fitted bedroom wardrobes to be more aesthetically pleasing as they create a sleek, streamlined feel to a bedroom, and help to boost natural light rather than interfere with its flow. They can even help to create a cosier atmosphere in a room by blocking out any extraneous noise coming through the wall on which they are installed.

We hope that this article has given you some ideas for the pros and cons of different types of bedroom wardrobes and help you to make the decision on which might be the better option for your home. 

For more inspiration, why not take a browse through our gallery of bedroom pictures to find the perfect bedroom wardrobes for you.

And remember to check back here soon for more home and lifestyle tips from DIY Homefit.