Whether you’ve moved into a new house or are redecorating your current house, the wardrobe debate will crop up. Should I use a standard freestanding wardrobe or splash out and get a built-in wardrobe? But how do I know what is best? Luckily for you, our specialists at SlidingRobes Direct have put our heads together to design this helpful guide to help you decide.

Freestanding Pro’s and Con’s

A freestanding wardrobe is a storage unit that stands on its own, independent of the walls and floor.

Pro’s

1. It is usually the more affordable option because it doesn’t require custom fitting or installation; most people buy the freestanding wardrobes and put them together using a sliding wardrobe doors kit, manual and two helping hands.
2. Another advantage of a stand-alone wardrobe is mobility, meaning you can move it from room to room and even house to house. This also means you can sell your wardrobe if you decide to refurnish your property, which is a sustainable choice. If the wardrobe has been kept in good condition, you will always have a return on investment, even if it is just a tiny amount of money.
3. When you buy a freestanding wardrobe, your style can usually be matched with other products like a chest of drawers, bedside tables, or a dressing table. Stand-alone wardrobes have other options in the same range for buying a set simultaneously.
4. Lastly, stand-alone wardrobes can be purchased on the same day due to their common pre-made flat-pack nature. Most stores will carry standard rages in stock and can arrange delivery to your door if needed.
5. Companies like SlidingRobes offer kits to adjust freestanding wardrobes with better-quality materials, such as handles, hanger bars, and rollers.

Cons

1. The reality of wardrobe assembly is never as simple as it sounds. The heavy wardrobe parts need at least two strong people per box to transport them to where they will be assembled. Then, to build the wardrobe, the manuals usually say the task will take at least three hours to assemble. However, this depends on the quality of the manual and the assembler’s ability to work out which of the millions of tiny parts fits where. This task is not for the faint of heart, and wardrobe kits provided by the manufacturer can be misleading.
2. Flatpack furniture parts can be inaccurate due to the nature of these being mass-produced products. The parts are not assembled and quality checked before you buy them. The quality of the product will be assessed as you are building it.
3. Flat-pack furniture is usually made from artificial materials like MDF, which diminishes the quality of the product when disassembled and reassembled, weakening more and more each time. Flat-pack furniture also often combines simple, friction-based fixings like dowels, which can’t withstand repeated stress.
4. Non-flatpack freestanding pieces are HEAVY, and unless they are made in the room itself, a freestanding will have to be relatively small to fit into the space.
5. Most only use ¾ of the height of a standard room, leaving a significant amount of unusable space, gathering dust, and, nine times out of ten, becoming a dumping ground for unsightly materials by the rest of the family.
6. It can clutter your space; freestanding wardrobes, though they are designed nicely, can sometimes feel out of place due to the lack of a streamlined presentation that fits perfectly. They’re a stand-out piece.
7. Freestanding wardrobes are also usually prebuilt to a specific design, which may not be the most efficient way to organise what you have. You have to make do with what it provides.

Fitted Wardrobe Pro’s and Con’s

A fitted wardrobe is custom-made to your taste and space, built into the wall using every millimetre of available space and internally designed around what will be going where.

Pro’s

1. The first and most obvious pro is that every bit of space is used up; there is no dead space.
2. Due to the nature of fitted wardrobes, designed by professionals and built by professional carpenters, the designs will be tailored to you, your lifestyle, and even your clothing preferences in every minute detail. For example, a busy professional may need to see their formalwear first, then a separate space for casual weekend attire. Designs save you time and effort when getting dressed instead of hunting around and picking only what you can find.
3. The external style of the wardrobe will suit every design preference, from any colour match to all material finishes, such as oak wardrobes, Canvas wardrobes, rattan wardrobes, and fabric wardrobes. You name it, and it’s yours and built to a high standard.
4. Your house style will match your wardrobe. Whether you’ve got a Victorian terraced house with huge ceilings and original features or a new build with low ceilings and modern decoration, the designer will make your house proud.
5. You can also match your furniture with the wardrobe due to the extensive availability of materials and designs.
6. Your room will look HUGE! The wardrobe will be designed to tuck away perfectly and draw your eyes to the ceiling, making your space feel airy and perfect.
7. Awkward spaces are the most challenging for a homeowner; pre-built or flatpack furniture could never fit in and utilise an awkward space perfectly. Luckily, fitted wardrobes will take an alcove or a stair bulkhead, for example, and make the space valuable for storage, such as handbags or shoe storage. The finish of the wardrobe will turn the odd-looking space into a smooth and sleek space, too. Quality built-in storage can also improve the value of your house; its sleek design will also improve the property’s ‘feng shui’.

Con’s

1. These specially designed spaces are immovable and permanent and cannot be taken with you if you move home.
2. The specialist designs, consultant customer service, and carpentry fees will significantly raise the price of your wardrobe, but the quality, durability, and design of the wardrobe will be far superior to any freestanding piece of furniture on the market.
3. Once a design has been built, it is difficult to rearrange the space. Luckily, the designers will provide you with a well-researched number of options before you decide on anything. Sliding Robe Direct has a showroom, so you can see a particular style before building anything. Most importantly, nobody will pressure or rush your decision. It has to feel undoubtedly right for you.
4. Due to the significant number of steps needed to make this your reality, from a measurement appointment, the time needed to design, approvals, order of materials, and then the build time on-site, there will be a longer delivery time due to the inability to buy a fitted wardrobe off the shelf for immediate delivery.

Do You Still Have Any Questions? Speak To Our Team Today!

Give our team at Sliding Robes Direct a call or visit us today! Whether you need guidance on measuring, choosing the right sliding doors, or fitting them to your existing wardrobe, our specialists are here to help. We believe no question is too small, and we’re committed to making your wardrobe upgrade as easy as possible.

Let us help you find the perfect sliding doors to transform your space. Get in touch now to start your journey to a stylish, space-saving wardrobe!