Best of the Week: 30 Stunning Standalone and Built-In Wardrobes
A bedroom needs one, but they're often an afterthought. We want to change that by showing what's possible in wardrobes
Vanessa Walker
12 April 2018
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor. I work on beautiful house and garden stories all day and have come to believe the best homes are the ones that people are happy in.
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor. I work on beautiful house and garden stories... More
They’re often a box-like shape, and sometimes as dull as dishwater, but wardrobes don’t need to be boring. Here we’ve collected 30 lovely wardrobes that show that although shape may be limited, colour, material and texture can make this a standout feature (or a great supporting role), in a room.
1. Location: Mumbai, India
Why we love it: We are big fans of anything with shutters, and love this textured wardrobe, including the inspired colour choice. It perfectly answers the brief of creating a demeanour that bestows a down to earth, rustic and vernacular essence to the home.
Why we love it: We are big fans of anything with shutters, and love this textured wardrobe, including the inspired colour choice. It perfectly answers the brief of creating a demeanour that bestows a down to earth, rustic and vernacular essence to the home.
2. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: Black is such a refined colour for a wardrobe, and paired with some orange hardware that matches the bed base and artwork detail, this wardrobe demonstrates how a robe can support, rather than detract from, a room’s style signature.
Why we love it: Black is such a refined colour for a wardrobe, and paired with some orange hardware that matches the bed base and artwork detail, this wardrobe demonstrates how a robe can support, rather than detract from, a room’s style signature.
3. Location: Bengaluru, India
Why we love it: Colour blocking in the best possible way, with perforations to boot.
Why we love it: Colour blocking in the best possible way, with perforations to boot.
4. Location: Singapore
Why we love it: A beautiful example of how to seamlessly blend a wardrobe into a bedroom; in this case a child’s room. Here, the timber wraparound demarcates the sleeping space from the general circulation area.
Why we love it: A beautiful example of how to seamlessly blend a wardrobe into a bedroom; in this case a child’s room. Here, the timber wraparound demarcates the sleeping space from the general circulation area.
5. Location: Singapore
Why we love it: A simple, streamlined approach is more than valid when dealing with this storage space; yet the inclusion of subtle timber handles add a lovely bespoke detail.
Why we love it: A simple, streamlined approach is more than valid when dealing with this storage space; yet the inclusion of subtle timber handles add a lovely bespoke detail.
6. Location: Milan, Italy
Why we love it: If you need a built-in wardrobe and are on a tight budget, let this be your robe inspo. Plywood is an affordable material for a storage area that doesn’t need to be super sturdy.
Why we love it: If you need a built-in wardrobe and are on a tight budget, let this be your robe inspo. Plywood is an affordable material for a storage area that doesn’t need to be super sturdy.
7. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: Seamless, but the deep margins between segments add a sense of refinement to this shape. A lovely approach in a minimalistic bedroom, or a room where you don’t want to draw undue attention to the cabinetry.
Why we love it: Seamless, but the deep margins between segments add a sense of refinement to this shape. A lovely approach in a minimalistic bedroom, or a room where you don’t want to draw undue attention to the cabinetry.
8. Location: Hong Kong
Why we love it: And at the other end of the spectrum, this shows how you can add a defining element to a quiet box shape. This branch-like hardware adds a lovely element.
Why we love it: And at the other end of the spectrum, this shows how you can add a defining element to a quiet box shape. This branch-like hardware adds a lovely element.
9. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: The patina on these metal doors is just glorious, and a lovely fit for an eclectic property.
Why we love it: The patina on these metal doors is just glorious, and a lovely fit for an eclectic property.
10. Location: Singapore
Why we love it: The grainy veneer features throughout this condominium and makes a nice anchoring element in this light-infused bedroom.
Why we love it: The grainy veneer features throughout this condominium and makes a nice anchoring element in this light-infused bedroom.
11. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: A bank of panelled joinery with burnished frames and textured hardware perfectly suits this tailored, highly detailed home.
Why we love it: A bank of panelled joinery with burnished frames and textured hardware perfectly suits this tailored, highly detailed home.
You can appreciate the use of texture in this close-up shot.
12. Location: Dublin, Ireland
Why we love it: Again, simple design is elevated with standout timber handles. A great approach to a wardrobe that will last through several style changes in this family home.
Why we love it: Again, simple design is elevated with standout timber handles. A great approach to a wardrobe that will last through several style changes in this family home.
13. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: Matching the wardrobe to the door and skirting board colour is great way to add cohesion to a space.
Why we love it: Matching the wardrobe to the door and skirting board colour is great way to add cohesion to a space.
14. Location: Chicago, USA
Why we love it: Recessed handles in a subtle grey add a touch of hotel-like luxury to this guest bedroom.
Why we love it: Recessed handles in a subtle grey add a touch of hotel-like luxury to this guest bedroom.
15. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: We are big fans of this bespoke built-in joinery unit. Particularly admirable is the way the round timber knobs, set against the charcoal joinery, add a lovely artisanal element for very little outlay.
Why we love it: We are big fans of this bespoke built-in joinery unit. Particularly admirable is the way the round timber knobs, set against the charcoal joinery, add a lovely artisanal element for very little outlay.
16. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: Almost any storage container can be repurposed as a wardrobe. We love the shabby chic style in this beachy home.
Why we love it: Almost any storage container can be repurposed as a wardrobe. We love the shabby chic style in this beachy home.
17. Location: San Francisco, USA
Why we love it: One to file away. Leather straps and metal studs add personality to a plain wardrobe.
Why we love it: One to file away. Leather straps and metal studs add personality to a plain wardrobe.
18. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: Standalone wardrobes needn’t be boxy. Match the colour to your scheme, ensure the robe has some detail and voila!
Why we love it: Standalone wardrobes needn’t be boxy. Match the colour to your scheme, ensure the robe has some detail and voila!
19. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Why we love it: Such a great use of a small space. This built-in helps keep mess behind closed doors, while the detail in the framing adds a lovely decorative aspect to the room.
Why we love it: Such a great use of a small space. This built-in helps keep mess behind closed doors, while the detail in the framing adds a lovely decorative aspect to the room.
20. Location: Gloucestershire, UK
Why we love it: Notice how the surface of a wardrobe does not need to be covered entirely in mirror. All too often that approach is taken in Australia. Adding a frame creates a little more personality, while not compromising on the mirror functionality.
Why we love it: Notice how the surface of a wardrobe does not need to be covered entirely in mirror. All too often that approach is taken in Australia. Adding a frame creates a little more personality, while not compromising on the mirror functionality.
21. Location: West Midlands, UK
Why we love it: Another example of not going ‘the full mirror’. Segmenting up the sections adds interest and a sense of urbanity to this wall of storage.
Why we love it: Another example of not going ‘the full mirror’. Segmenting up the sections adds interest and a sense of urbanity to this wall of storage.
22. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Why we love it: And again, in a modestly sized area.
Why we love it: And again, in a modestly sized area.
23. Location: Singapore
Why we love it: But if you are going to go for mirror, why not consider adding a tint. The mirror finish on these black doors adds a dramatically different style to this room, giving it real gravitas.
Why we love it: But if you are going to go for mirror, why not consider adding a tint. The mirror finish on these black doors adds a dramatically different style to this room, giving it real gravitas.
24. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Why we love it: Cute kids’ room wardrobe inspiration.
Why we love it: Cute kids’ room wardrobe inspiration.
25. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Mixing the barn-style door with a modern colour is gold. Minimalist, yet it packs a punch.
Why we love it: Mixing the barn-style door with a modern colour is gold. Minimalist, yet it packs a punch.
26. Location: West Midlands, UK
Why we love it: Again, it’s all in the hardware. Think of it as a cheap and easy way to make the wardrobe yours.
Why we love it: Again, it’s all in the hardware. Think of it as a cheap and easy way to make the wardrobe yours.
27. Location: Moscow, Russia
Why we love it: Armoires are a lovely addition to a room, both decoratively and functionally speaking.
Why we love it: Armoires are a lovely addition to a room, both decoratively and functionally speaking.
28. Location: New York, USA
Why we love it: A bench for putting on shoes and a mirror for last looks. Here’s how to use a wardrobe outside the bedroom – in this case as a coat closet near the entrance – to great effect.
Why we love it: A bench for putting on shoes and a mirror for last looks. Here’s how to use a wardrobe outside the bedroom – in this case as a coat closet near the entrance – to great effect.
29. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: Upping the ante with chinoiserie is always a good idea in a highly decorative bedroom.
Why we love it: Upping the ante with chinoiserie is always a good idea in a highly decorative bedroom.
30. Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Why we love it: The colour, the panels, the brass rod; this is an absolutely beautiful way to integrate a wardrobe into a room.
Tell us
Which of these wardrobes is your favourite? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, share it, save it and join the conversation.
More
Did you see last week’s Best of the Week: 41 Beaut Bedrooms for Tots, Tweens and Teens?
Why we love it: The colour, the panels, the brass rod; this is an absolutely beautiful way to integrate a wardrobe into a room.
Tell us
Which of these wardrobes is your favourite? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, share it, save it and join the conversation.
More
Did you see last week’s Best of the Week: 41 Beaut Bedrooms for Tots, Tweens and Teens?
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A little disappointing. This is all about the exterior look of these wardrobes, with nothing about how well they are designed or how functional they are.
Some lovely ideas here, but I'll bet the owners of numbers 6 and 14 are going to have fun dusting the the tops of their wardrobes.
@geeannie1 I believe this feature was meant solely for those seeking aesthetic ideas on the cupboard doors and design not functionality. There are hundreds of suggestions on that topic elsewhere on houzz.