Does your bedroom have to have a wardrobe?

Posted on May 28, 2024

Transform your bedroom with replacement wardrobe doors

A wardrobe is an item of furniture that most of us expect to see in a bedroom. But does that have to be the case? Is it possible to have a fully functioning bedroom without a wardrobe and, if so, what are some alternatives to a wardrobe?

A brief history of the wardrobe

Let’s start at the beginning. The word wardrobe first appeared in the English language in the early 14th century and derives from old French words “warder” – to keep – and “robe” – garment. Before the invention of the wardrobe people used to store their clothes in chests, and initially a wardrobe was just a room filled with cupboards and lockers to provide a bit more storage space for clothes. 

Gradually the wardrobe evolved to the standalone piece of furniture that we recognise today, with hanging space, shelves and drawers. The first standalone wardrobes were very large and heavy, and could easily stand eight people inside! But by the19th century wardrobes became smaller, and wardrobe doors became full-length and often fitted with mirrors. 

But given the history of the wardrobe, is it a really essential item, or could we go back to storing clothes in other ways such as in chests?

Advantages of a wardrobe

There are various advantages to having a wardrobe. Here are just a few for starters:

  • A wardrobe enables you to be organised and save time

A wardrobe is a great way to organise your clothes. For example, you may choose to hang them by item, style, or colour. But whichever way you decide, it should make your clothes easy to find which saves precious time, particularly when you are in a hurry.

  • A wardrobe helps you to keep your bedroom neat and tidy

A wardrobe also provides the opportunity to keep your bedroom neat and tidy. If you have somewhere to put your clothes away, you are less likely to leave them in untidy piles around the bedroom, which can completely spoil not just how the room looks, but also the relaxed vibe you want in your bedroom.

  • A wardrobe protects your clothes

Think back to the original derivation of the name wardrobe. It’s to keep your garments. And a wardrobe really does help you to keep your clothes clean and well cared for. If clothes are hung correctly, they will keep their shape for longer and will look better when worn. And being inside the wardrobe protects them from everyday irritants such as harsh light, cooking smells, insects and pets.

  • A wardrobe can be a beautiful piece of furniture

Wardrobes come in all shapes and sizes and can be a beautiful piece of furniture in their own right. Rather than just seeing your wardrobe as a necessary item, you could feature it as the centrepiece of your bedroom decor.

  • A wardrobe can have mirrored doors

Mirrored wardrobe doors are both useful and also make your bedroom look larger and brighter. So as well as the functional benefit of your wardrobe, it could transform the ambience of your bedroom.

So as you can see, there are many advantages to having a wardrobe. But what if you really don’t have much space for a wardrobe? 

Here are some possible alternatives . . .

Alternatives to a wardrobe

A couple of the more obvious alternatives to a wardrobe are clothes rails or hooks. Let’s take a quick look at each of these.

  • Clothes rails

It is possible to buy moveable clothes rails in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and you may well be able to find one in a style you like that fits the space you have. You could also consider fitting a ceiling airer to hang clothes from the ceiling. Whilst any of these options could help you store clothes in a space-efficient way, they are not ideal for keeping clothes looking their best.

  • Hooks

If your main issue with fitting in a wardrobe is floor space, could you make use of wall space instead? Either individual hooks or a peg rail could provide a functional and space-saving solution. If you use a peg rail you could also fix a shelf above it to offer some protection to your clothes.

However, there is another alternative that you may not have considered. A custom-built wardrobe. Let’s take a look.

A custom-built wardrobe

If you would love a wardrobe in your bedroom, and don’t like the idea of the alternatives, but are short on space, DIY Homefit may have the perfect solution! Did you know that we can create made-to-measure wardrobes to fit the space you have, and help to create the bedroom of your dreams?

So even if you have a small space, perhaps with sloping ceilings or awkward corners, we may still be able to custom-build something that will fit. 

You can read more about DIY Homefit’s made-to-measure service here.

We hope that this article has given you some food for thought about the benefits of having a wardrobe, alternatives to a wardrobe, and the possibility of a custom-built wardrobe. For more inspiration, why not take a browse through our gallery of bedroom pictures to find the perfect wardrobe for you.

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