Can my dream of having a walk-in wardrobe become reality?
I have always wanted a walk-in in our master bedroom, but earlier this year, my husband and I bought a duplex, which we love, but unfortunately doesn't come with a walk-in robe in our bedroom.
My husband is quite tall, so we have a king sized bed which measures just under 2.1 meters in width and around 2.1 metres in length.
I'd really like to maximise our bedroom storage.
Assuming our bed is placed so that it is parallel to the windows (with the foot of bed towards the ensuite), do you think it would be feasible for us to insert a wall to act as our headboard and build a walk-in robe behind the bed?
I know it doesn't leave us much room between the foot of the bed and the existing robe, but would that maximise storage space?
I just figured that building a wardrobe along the long side of the room (on the wall opposite the bedroom windows) would make the bedroom feel really narrow and tight.
Grateful for any ideas and advice!
Comments (33)
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Small master with insufficient wardrobe space - how should I fix prob?
Comments (9)Hi Lambkin, there are many conflicting elements when it comes to making these decisions so you really have to rank your priorities. Obviously you need more storage, so storage is one priority, but when it comes to really tight storage situations like this with a potential major downfall such as greatly devaluing the re-sale by losing a bedroom it's worth getting very detailed about what you actually need sorted and how cleverly you can accommodate those needs with minimum impact. I aproach these situaltions like this; Assess requirement for deep storage- ie clothes that hang need 600mm depth unless you want to compromise further by turning the rods the opposite way. Assess requirement for shallow storage- folded gear, shoes, other stuff on shelves. These only neeed 360mm depth, externally 400mm. Breaking it down like this enables you to approach tight spaces much more effectively. Depending on the lineal hanging space you actually require, you might be able to fit a couple deep of built in robes in the existing room- possible either side of the bed. These will be purely hanging space. Then you might do a shallower cabinet or long, low drawer unit for the shoes and folded gear. If you are really tight, shoes can be stored vertically in drawers. Consider other storage opportunities throughout the home where you can store overflow items and do a seasonal swap if need be. If after fully considering the downside of converting room 3, then I would intend to do it in a way that you can still present it as a bedroom if need be, so preferrably don't change the walls. There is a good opportunity for deep overflow wardrobe hanging in the niche by the window in room 3, it looks about 800mm. If that was double hanging , you gain 1.6 lineal meteres there and have hardly lost any space in the room. Then doing a long low freestanding drawer unit or credenza for folded gear or shoes will not dominate the space with the height. Good Luck...See MoreSingle Storey - Dream Home - Help please
Comments (11)Hi there Bec, wow so many thoughts and ideas for you, building a new home is a complex job. As annb said she would need to have quick access to children, there's two camps of thinking re this, those like Annb who would prefer the bedrooms together and those that like the separation of the Master suite. If in the bedrooms together camp perhaps swapping the master suite with the media/rumpus, media rooms don't need views and you already have a great kitchen/family alfresco space next to the future pool. Having the master suite with a view to the pool is good for safety reasons as well, the ensuite and family bathrooms could be back to back. The front Media room a great place to escape to for mum and dad. If you're in the camp of liking the master suite separation that's OK as well. The passage way already had a linen cupboard across the end of it and blocking any access not that it makes too much difference approx 1m extra to the kids. As I have all ready suggested that extra wasted passage space would make quite a difference to the small family bathroom. To screen or not to screen, what is wrong with just having a lovely plain colour full height shower curtain, it can be changed over every couple of weeks or just take a bucket of soapy water and dip the curtain into the water and hand wash, it really only gets dirty on the bottom third. Much easier and cheaper than having to wipe down glass shower screens and doors every time someone showers, you don't have to do that with a curtain.. I'am over cookie cutter bathrooms that must have screens, is using a squeegy too much. A big plus for no screens is for when and if someone needs assistance to shower, it can happen to anyone. In our 3 way bathroom from the 80's we have a tiled shower room 1800 x 900 which has a timber pocket door on the 1800 wall with a small opening window on the opposite wall. To the left of these a shower, both the shower area and the floor have a drain installed, it's a fantastic shower room with space for 6'4 sons but not for 2 persons to wash in. Not a showers screen or curtain to be seen. Do include with your plans for a future pool an external toilet and shower. cheers...See MoreA walk-in-robe dilemma
Comments (12)I'm intrigued that you find the shape of the WIR and pantry a problem. Mine are similarly shaped, due to the house being the shape of a huge V to maximize the aspect and views. I find the unusual shape efficient, as it minimizes the waste of floor space that always results from a square or rectangle-shaped room. By cutting off a corner, you end up with more much more storage space in a smaller room, which I think is perfect for rooms that are designed for storage rather than habitation. I also think angled walls can add a lot of interest to a room. I don't see them as a problem generally, though in your house I agree the angled staircase makes the traffic flow downstairs somewhat awkward. In my house, an angled bathroom wall is a major issue because of the challenges of placing a bath against it. But had the designer put the shower on that side, it wouldn't have been an issue. The upstairs of your house wouldn't bother me at all. Nor would the angled entry to the study. But I would not like the way the downstairs area is configured. Apart from the fact that you lose the walk-in-pantry, I do like Kate's suggestion. It opens the entry up and makes for a much smoother traffic flow. With the kitchen plan modified as she suggests, it could be a great improvement. It makes for a very wide hallway, though. I hate inefficient use of space so extra-large or unnecessary hallways bug me. In a house that size, though, perhaps it wouldn't be an issue. Depending how you access the dining room, you could potentially put a walk-in pantry or linen cupboard on the kitchen side of the short dining room wall. Despite my comments about angled walls generally, I would never have put the staircase in that position in that house. But I doubt relocating the staircase now would be practical or economically viable. So maybe you just have to compromise and learn to love angles!...See MoreMaster Bedroom make-over with walk in wardrobe and parent's retreat
Comments (8)Okay Kate, to quote my client..."Go for it!!! Will be the best make over Yet! " So the view is out through the sliding door that you see from the doorway into the bedroom. I felt the entrance to the room didn't do the room justice, so we are creating the new wall there which will become the back of additional shoe closet and travel section. The custom mirror on the new wall on the landing creates a sense of arrival when you get to the top of the stairway, and pause before entering what will be a lovely retreat. We will move this door across a little so that the room isn't completely exposed before you enter from the top of the stairs I really wanted the bed to face the view but the patio sliding door only gives space for a 350mm deep bedside table- it's a little compromise, but worth it to have the bed next to the window and view. Then, opening up the wall to what will become the TV sitting room has the bed centred to that new room. Then the Walk in robe will be accessed by a new doorway and with the additional storage room we've gained from the landing, there'll be plenty of space for shoes, luggage and linen. The new doorway position for the walk in means the client doesn't have to walk all the way around the room to get to the walk in wardrobe which saves a lot of walking after coming up a couple of levels from the laundry. In the video, the wall and door to the luggage room is removed so you can see the storage :) This is what I love about site visits- the client just wanted me to replace the existing wardrobes, and when I saw the potential in the room and threw these ideas around they were at first a little blown away by the change I was suggesting, but now they've started demolition and super excited....See More
Bsoturi
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
siriuskey
5 years agoHaving the robe opening behind sliding doors with a narrow walking space might work
Bsoturi thanked siriuskeyBsoturi
5 years agoHi Siriuskey, thank you so much for that design!!
Here is a photo of what the ensuite looks like. Is the toilet facing the wrong way?
siriuskey
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoThe ensuite looks lovely, it's just the floor plan drawing that made it look strange, totally out of scale, is this a new building
Bsoturi thanked siriuskeyoklouise
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agothe bed in my plan is a king size 185cm wide x 205cm long and bedlinen also uses extra space all around but the biggest issue in the room is the exact position of the windows and the available space to move the bedroom entry door..... another option to maximise storage without cramping the bedroom too much would be to sacrifice the existing biw and install new tall or ceiling height wardrobe with the back of the wardrobe facing the bedroom (painted or wallpapered??) without a dividing wall.. this would give the feeling of a wiw without the thickness of a wall and doesn't affect the windows still allows space for tall chests of drawers in the bedroom and 1m of walking space plus the bedside storage...the old wardrobe is about 2.5 wide and this new idea would create 3.4 lineal metres of custom sized wardrobe without the need for doors and, using chests of drawers (plus bedside drawers) adds an extra 2.6m x 500 of drawer storage...a total of 6m of storage wall (of varying heights) while still keeping the bedroom reasonable spacious ...checkout one of the on line flat pac wardrobe designers (eg IKEA or Kaboodle) to test some arrangements for the hanging and shelf space but i suggest that freestanding chests of drawers and bedside storage will offer lots of extra storage and be more flexible to use in different rooms and other homes
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Chris Joyce
5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agooklouise
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoheres' the two wardrobes without a wiw...this allows for an extra full height 3.4m wide wardrobes without changing the bedroom entry door or existing wardrobe and also allows space for chests of drawers and bedside table
Bsoturi thanked oklouisesiriuskey
5 years agoYour suggestion of one entry into the WIR gives extra storage 3.4m x 50cm long, plus 1.75 x 50cm plus 2050 x 275 narrow open shelves for shoes , sweaters etc.
I have put the opening into the WIR on the sames side as the ensuite door for easy movement between the two spaces.
Narrow shelving replacing the old wardrobe which can also have a TV set into it.
Space either side of the bed can be 775, one side having a chest of draws,, both sides having either wall or hanging lights, Plus shelving above the bed high enough so that you can sit up in bed without hitting your head, great for books, hand creams etc.
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C P
5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agosiriuskey
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoHi Emily, another floor plan for you, hoping to keep the door to the bedroom in the same position, entering via the WIR with full height robes, then opening to another wall of robe storage&dressing, the jagged lines opening up those wall sections. The ensuite would now be able to have a double vanity with mirrored shaving cabinets above
Bsoturi thanked siriuskeyBsoturi
5 years agosiriuskey
5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agobigreader
5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agosiriuskey
5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agoHi Siriuskey! I would love to be able to share measurements, but unfortunately, I can't at the moment because the property is currently rented out. :(
I have a photo of the bedroom, if that might help? I think the space between the window on the left and the ensuite entrance is about the same as between the window on the right and the back wall where the aircon unit is.
Bsoturi
5 years agoBsoturi
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
This chat has been so amazing, I just thought I'd leave my entire floor plan here, in case anyone had any ideas on how to better use the space/reconfigure. We're open to renovating downstairs, and for converting the garage into something since we have a carport. Would you anything?
oklouise