1. CREATE A CORRIDOR-LIKE PATH
‘Why does a closet always need its own space and a wall to lean against?’ asks designer Gisbert Pöppler. Proving that closets need not be sealed off behind closed doors, the wardrobe area in this open-plan Berlin apartment creates a porous layout between the dining and living room areas. A central and fixed unit creates a corridor-like path from room to room, bringing another layer of function to an architectural feature that easily could have been a simple partition wall.
2. SET A ROOM DIVIDER
Creating a custom wardrobe from scratch is a costly endeavor that requires skilled carpenters, but there are ways to cut corners. While the design above is tailor-fit through and through (it divides the room while also creating a hallway to the door), you can get a similar look with savvy furniture hacking.
3. BUILD IN MORE THAN JUST STORAGE
In the Swiss Army Knife wardrobe above (which doubles as a sleeping pod, with a proper bed tucked behind sliding doors), designers pulled out all the stops. ‘To maximise storage use, we always consider how best to use vertical and horizontal storage space,’ says Jack Mama of London’s Studiomama of the unit’s many compartments. ‘We like to combine open and closed storage with shelves for either clothes or other kinds of objects – design elements like pull-out shelves and drawers, allowing you to access even those items that tend to get buried at the back.’
4. SAVE FLOOR SPACE
Building wardrobes directly into the wall can save space compared with having floating furniture in your bedroom layout – and in doing so, you might just create a seamless storage solution like this custom design. ‘Initially, this bedroom had no closets, so we built them in and added architectural trims around the room,’ explains interior designer Ghislaine Viñas. ‘We wanted the room to feel seamless and not interrupted by closet doors, so we carried our trim throughout the bottom of the space and added wallpaper above it. It's a sneaky way of hiding the closet and providing uniformity to a small room.’
5. ECHO YOUR HOME'S CHARACTER
Inspired by her upbringing in Switzerland, where wardrobes of all shapes and sizes were common in lieu of closets – all while enhancing the interior style – designer Stefanie Brechbuehler outfitted this modern bedroom with a show-stopping design echoing exterior architecture featured in the home’s new extension. ‘In this case it pays homage to the new addition with its unusual rounded corners and also becomes a beautiful focal point in the room,’ explains Stefanie, nodding to the project’s inside-and-out approach. ‘The interior was customized to the needs of our clients which is a great benefit of custom work.’
6. HOUSE A WHOLE UTILITY ROOM IN A SMALL SPACE
Perfect for open-plan spaces, fixed yet floating wardrobes can establish different zones without putting up floor-to-ceiling walls. In this Krakow apartment, a hulking mirrored design serves multiple functions. ‘The first and most important thing was to separate the bedroom area from the living area,’ explains designer Marcin Czopek, noting that a partition wall would just waste space. But in addition to an enclosed wardrobe, it also pockets a utility room complete with a washing machine – one unit, double duties.