HOW DEEP SHOULD A CLOSET BE?
“I always start with function over form,” says Sarah Peake at Studio Peake. “What are you going to put in your closet? Particularly for a bespoke piece, you can calibrate the interior as you see fit. We very often will measure clothes and shoes to ensure that everything will fit perfectly. I normally allow 23.5 inches depth for hanging, sometimes I go slightly bigger if it’s a cupboard full of lots of winter coats. For bedroom shelving in closets I normally stick to 16 inches so things don’t get lost at the back.”
WHAT ARE THE OTHER PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF BUILDING A CLOSET?
As well as measuring the items you need to keep in your bedroom storage, it’s worth thinking about how accessible they need to be. “Things that you use often should have easy and fast access, whereas things that you don’t use often can be stored away in higher parts of the closet,” says Matias Gorlitz. “The amount of long clothing to hang, or how many accessories you own can also inform how many hanging racks, drawers or shelves you may need.”
3 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT STYLE OF CLOSET
As a closet or built-in wardrobe is usually a large part of any room, it is important to get it right. “It will have such a big impact on the room overall,” says Sarah Peake. “But there is so much opportunity to have fun with the design and you can use it as a helpful ‘anchor’ for the rest of the scheme.”
1. PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS
Make sure the decorative features of a closet work with the rest of your room. “Elements such as a frame, visible hinges and details such as flutings and cornices can immediately make a closet feel more traditional, whereas elements such as lay on doors and recessed plinths can make something much more contemporary,” says Sarah Peake. “Designing the closet at the same time as choosing your furniture and fabrics will help make sure it all works together.”
2. CONSIDER A UNIVERSAL STYLE
When in doubt, a modern closet can be a safe choice, as it is easier to blend with other styles. “Modern style is actually quite universal — it suits almost every character of interior,” says Matias Gorlitz. “Simplicity and modernity is definitely something that people appreciate the most. We’re seeing a lot of people leaning towards soft neutrals that blend into their spaces, or going the opposite way with a bold statement closet.”
3. GO FOR A SEAMLESS SHADE
If your closet takes up a large proportion of your room, painting it the same shade as the walls will make it less domineering. “We find in smaller rooms a more seamless design is popular so as not to disrupt the eye,” says Sarah Peake. “In the V-grooved closet pictured above, the design allowed for a large amount of storage in a small space. By painting the closet the same color as the walls, we prevented it from feeling like an overbearing piece of furniture.”