Prefabricated vs. Custom-built Wardrobes

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There are many DIY fitted wardrobe kits out there, with almost every second hardware and home improvement store offering a selection of standard prefabricated sizes. But when it comes to choosing between having your wardrobe custom made or prefabricated ones, one often has to look further than just the price. Here we look at both the benefits and down sides of the prefabricated and custom-built wardrobes.

Check out this vid on prefab and custom made wardrobes…

Prefabricated fitted wardrobes -

The Benefits

  • They are cost effective
  • Easy to install
  • Are readily available from larger hardware or DIY stores
  • There are a variety of ready-made doors in various designs and colours
  • The selection of pre-fabricated doors also allows for cost effective re-décor options with one only needing to change the door rather than purchase a new dresser.
  • You can select or change the handles on the doors as your style requirements change
  • Most fitted wardrobes are manufactured using melamine, that is simple and easy to wipe clean, using only a mild detergent and water.

The Downfalls

  • They do not make provision for any non-standard size requirements
  • Most times you may still be left with a gap between the top of the wardrobe and your sealing.
  • The carcasses are prefabricated and do not allow for any architectural nuisances like uneven walls or floors.
  • Carcasses can be slightly altered but may then have an adverse effect on the overall strength of the carcass
  • Carcasses are mostly made up using white melamine

Custom built fitted wardrobes -

The Benefits

  • A custom fitted wardrobe is not affected by architectural nuances like skew-built or uneven walls and floors.
  • Can be made up to any size
  • Can fit in any space utilizing it’s full potential
  • Can be made from any colour melamine or true wood grain available on the market today
  • You will have the option of swinging or sliding doors
  • Can help increase the appearance of space in a room
  • Will not look out of place in living areas of a small flat or cottage

The Downfalls

  • Custom built wardrobes tend to be expensive
  • They take longer to build an install, as each needs to be individually calculated, drafted and manufactured in accordance to the specifications and requirements
  • Depending on the materials used may be more difficult to clean
  • Are not as easy to change with ones’ décor, as the doors will need to be custom made and fitted again

Fitted Wardrobes – What is The Big Deal?

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Many people today are still using dressers to store their clothing and belongings. Beautiful and valuable as these dressers are, they have come from an era of class and fortune. Where the rich had the most elaborate and awe inspiring dressers, filled with the most exotic clothes. They have however become dated, and are often viewed as space consuming and bulky furniture. These stylish and often valuable pieces of furniture are now replaced by the more practical and space efficient fitted wardrobe.

What is a fitted wardrobe?

The best way in which to describe a fitted wardrobe is that it is a custom built cupboard that is fastened to the wall. Used to store ones’ clothing and accessories.  A fitted wardrobe becomes a permanent fixture to a room.

Why have a fitted wardrobe?

If you have ever had to clean behind a dresser or under it, if so you will be the first to praise the comforts of a fitted wardrobe. If there is one big advantage to a fitted wardrobe it is that it is a fixed, you do not need an army of helpers to move it, only to enable you to clean under or behind it. A fitted wardrobe also appears to be part of the room fittings so there is no need the next time you move furniture about to move the dresser with the corresponding furniture. Wardrobes that are fitted also save space, as they allow for one to make the best use of unused or awkward spaces. This because fitted wardrobes can be built around architectural nuances. Not only giving one a sleek finish but also an overall impression an organised and spacious feel. So why have wardrobes? Because they are economical and practical.

What are the benefits of a fitted wardrobe?

There are numerous benefits to having one or multiple installed. Not only are they easy to clean and offer a uniform and sleek appearance to a room or living area. Fitted wardrobes in our consumer driven world of bigger better and more, provide us with storage space for our much sought after purchases. They help to de-clutter our living space. They have become the organizers dream and the perfectionists perfect tool. They allow us to exert some level of control over our lives be helping us decide what we are willing to put on display, and what we are going to hide away. Correctly installed, fitted wardrobes can give the appearance of belonging or being one with the building allowing you to create storage space throughout your home without it seeming cluttered.


Fitted Wardrobes: Five Good Uses Outside of the Bedroom

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Most people consider fitted wardrobes to be limited to the bedroom. A fitted wardrobe not only provides storage space, they are also useful in instances where a room has to fore fill the task of many. This results in their becoming known as a versatile and useful tool throughout the home. Wardrobes are often included in interior décor plans for this very reason. Capable of not only de-cluttering your home, but of creating the impression of a stylishly and spacious living area.

In the Bathroom

Adding these wardrobes in the bathroom will allow for ease of access to your daily required medication and toiletries, stored in a discrete manner allowing you the ease of mind should you have visitors. It also increases one’s bathroom convenience allowing for bathroom accessories and necessities to be stored within the bathroom and therefore available whenever needed.

Under your Stairs

A versatile and often underutilized space in a home is often found under ones staircase. By the inclusion of some shelves and a coat rack it can be turned into a well-organized coat and boot storage area.

Unsightly Areas

Do you have one of those dark corners in the house that you don’t know what to do with? You know that one that is too awkward in size or design that nothing fits or looks good there. Come now we all have at least one such corner in our homes.

Think fitted wardrobe. Instead of glairing at that corner with utter dislike change it into a nifty storage area, with some nice doors that go with the theme of the room.

Your Passage

This is a great way of providing storage space in your home in an area that serves only to carry traffic. However note do not attempt to place fitted wardrobes in the passage if it is only as wide as a standard door, you will cause yourself some traffic congestion problems especially if you have a medium to large family having to get ready in the morning.

Organize Your Home Office

Need more space in the lounge and living areas, have an office at home. Why not have a wall-sized wardrobe designed to house your office and files on one side, the entertainment system in another. A carefully designed and planned wall fitted wardrobe could allow for the inclusion of desk space with pull out computer shelving. You no longer need that bulky desk or table to do it.

Fitted wardrobes no matter what design problem, space problem or décor problem you may experience, they are useful versatile and the answer to creating and organizing storage and living space.