If your wish for a walk-in wardrobe has finally come true but you are still undecided on the type of design you are after, you’re at the right place to find out which design would best work for you. First and foremost, declutter your wardrobe. Then, define the space and pick a design from the gallery below to suit your lifestyle best.
From creating a cosy area for you to steal some me time, to having a minimalist area to store and display your precious clothes, bags, jewellery and shoes, we’ve got some smart solutions for you. With a bit of imagination and practicality, you can have your cake and eat it too!
Take design cues from these creative homes that prove it’s possible to get your dream walk-in wardrobe, even in a small home.
One easy way to have a walk-in wardrobe is by installing a built-in into one of the bedrooms. Think of it as a store room for your clothes, bags, and accessories! (Psst.. you can even include a working desk if space allows.) Without bulky cabinets in the master bedroom, enjoy more breathing room in your main sanctuary for resting.
Where: Ping Yi Greens (HDB)
If you prefer more spatial flow, take your cue from this Sky Terrace @ Dawson flat. To create a more fluid flow of space between the master bedroom and the room that has been transformed into a walk-in wardrobe, the wall that separates them is partially hacked (significantly cheaper than hacking the entire wall).
What was originally a children’s room that connected to the master bedroom was transformed into a walk-in wardrobe in this five-room HDB flat in Jurong West.
While glass doors or open concept wardrobes are popular option, closed cabinet doors here keep the space looking minimalist and organised.
Make space for that dream wardrobe and double the size of the master bedroom by merging it with the adjacent bedroom. Like in this Chai Chee HDB, it involves hacking down the entire separating wall, and with twice the floor area to play around with, fitting a walk-in wardrobe becomes a breeze.
But if you don’t want to sacrifice the option of having two separate bedrooms, having accordion doors installed where the wall once was enables you to have the best of both worlds.
With more space freed up, an accessories island can also be added to create an authentic boutique-like feel to the wardrobe area. This concept in a Serangoon North flat creates an immersive experience, where you can truly be surrounded by your collection of clothes and accessories.
Things are much less complicated for homeowners blessed with master bedrooms large enough to fit a sizeable wardrobe, like in this SkyTerrace @ Dawson DBSS. The wardrobe space simply needs to be carved out of the existing room, and this can be done with the help of classy glass panels such as in this monochromatic room. Having sliding glass doors rather than a solid partition is a clever way to subtly divide both areas without visually cutting up the room.
Make your walk-in wardrobe a design feature in your bedroom, like this dark space that contrasts yet complements the pressed sawdust walls in this bedroom for a gritty, industrial feel.
For true minimalists who’d rather devote precious bedroom floor space to storage than decorative elements, this utilitarian bedroom design will make perfect sense. A simple built-in wardrobe is enhanced by the half-solid wall that partitions it off from the rest of the room, which helps mimic a walk-in wardrobe and creates an added cosiness to the dressing area.
With the rest of the room free of visuals, this white and neutral-coloured space also evokes a serenity that lulls one easily into a restful sleep.
It is possible to create your own little slice of wardrobe heaven, even in a tiny bedroom. The trick is to create a little alcove within the room that allows you to fit in open shelves. It may not be a boutique-sized wardrobe, but you can still be surrounded by your precious collection of clothes and bags!
However, while walk-in wardrobes are all the rage and may sound like a dream come true, these open-concept cabinets are in fact more suited for those who have the natural ability to keep things neat and tidy. The last thing you want for a small bedroom is to add visual clutter to it!
This HDB flat is home to a three-generation family, which means the homeowners didn’t have an extra room for a wardrobe. Instead, they carved out a nook in their bedroom, with a dark colour scheme and glass doors that lend sophistication and an intimate feel to the space.
Read more about this home.
Got a master bedroom with an awkward layout or a dead corner within the bedroom? While they may seem like a flaw at first, you can turn them to your advantage by fitting your wardrobe into them. All you need is a little creativity to make your apartment fit your lifestyle like a glove.
When creating your perfect walk-in wardrobe, don’t forget colour. It is a good way to shape a personal space and create a specific atmosphere, whether it is energising, chic, feminine or masculine. You can add colour in the form of a chair or by painting a wall, and change the former from time to time to make it feel like a new space. All colours work when it comes to a wardrobe.
The young couple who live in this 76 sqm apartment asked Ganna Design to help create a home that would feel like a boutique hotel. So, for the walk-in closet, the interior designers installed several functional clothes rails with pure lines and dark tones, creating an elegant atmosphere where every garment becomes part of the decor.
If you’re going for open clothing rails, an all-black concept makes for a cool, stylish statement. You can also style it with personal paraphernalia to give it extra character.
Though we are used to living in small spaces, it doesn’t mean you need to give up all your belongings; rather, it encourages making the most of every centimetre. A good example is what the duo behind Humbert & Poyet did for the rooms of boutique hotel The Hoxton, Paris. Every corner is a possible storage area and can be transformed into a customised drawer, shelf or box. Folding your clothes properly will also help to maximise any available space.
Dreaming of a walk-in wardrobe, and a home office? There’s no reason you can’t even if you have a small home.
If you have a large enough bedroom and you wish to have a clear dividing space in your bedroom, try adding a sliding door design to separate the bedroom from the walk in wardrobe like this 165 sqm apartment in Pingtung City, Taiwan.
Hao Design placed the walk-in wardrobe behind sliding doors, allowing the owners to separate or connect the space to the bedroom, according to their preferences. “Usually, walk-in wardrobes are not big, so we decided to use materials that make people feel less oppressed in a small space,” explains the team. The colour of the walls is in a darker tone than the rest of the bedroom, in order to create visual contrast between the areas.
According to interior designer Jesse Turek of Homepolish, the ideal walk-in wardrobe includes “a large, full-length mirror, installed flat on the wall, and placed properly within the space so that you can see your full look, head to toe”.
If you don’t have enough space for a large mirror, a smaller one works, too. It will reflect light and give a sense of depth, as seen in this New York project designed by Louisa Guy Roeder of Homepolish, and adorned with a Cedar and Moss light fixture.
Add beautiful lighting to your walk-in wardrobe to make a statement. In their Hong Kong apartment that doubles as a showroom, the founders of Lim + Lu created a flexible space with a stylish chandelier.
“We decided to use retail elements in a home setting, as shops have always been inspired by homes,” says Elaine Lu. “So we thought, ‘Why can’t we flip it the other way around?’” Fresh and sophisticated, this walk-in closet features rich pastels and dark jewel tones combined with patterned ceramic tiles.
In this Montreal home, the spacious walk-in closet – separated from the bedroom by an oak sliding door – includes made-to-measure furniture from floor to ceiling, with storage units of different sizes and shapes. Clothes, shoes, bags and accessories all occupy specific areas according to their volume. Jesse Turek of Homepolish recommends taking inventory of what you have, to determine the number.
In Galicia, Spain, stylist and interior designer Gaila Gonzales from Egue y Seta shaped her 85 sqm urban refuge. According to Gonzales, this home, “far from looking like a museum, is rather the result of a constant but playful ‘beauty hunting’ through bazaars, antique markets and vintage shops around the world”. However, for her walk-in closet, Gaila chose a minimalist look with soft colours and a few items, in order to provide a feeling of peace and relaxation.
Text: Qanvast and Home & Decor / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew, Seah Pei Jun and Michelle Lee
This article first appeared on Qanvast. Qanvast connects homeowners and home professionals via a trusted mobile platform, and can help match you with up to five designers that suit your style preferences and budget. Download the free app (available on the App Store and Google Play) for more details.
This post was first published on August 10, 2016, and updated on Aug 17, 2021.