Guide 2 ... bedroom furniture available units & interiors
Wardrobes first!
The height of most fitted wardrobes is between 2200/2300mm, although specialist fitted bedroom suppliers will manufacture to order.
Long
Hanging ...
This is the standard wardrobe
interior, used almost exclusively
by free standing furniture manufacturers
... as you can hang any item
of clothing in it.
However,
to maximise your storage this type of wardrobe
should be used solely for hanging Dresses,
Coats, and other items of clothing that require
a "drop" of over 1000mm.
You are likely
to be surprised by the relatively small amount
of long hanging you actually require ...
on average one double robe is more than enough
for any couple ... check
again the length of hanging space you really need
for long clothes.
Shoe Racks ... Try to position shoe racks in the bottom of long hanging wardrobes. (The top shelf position is usually set at 1700mm from the base, and long clothes will not hang down this far.)
Generally you can use the depth of the wardrobe to stagger the position of the rails and provide storage for up to 12 pairs of shoes in each double wardrobe.
Double Hanging ...
Hanging two sets of short
clothes (trousers, skirts,
shirts, bloused etc.) one
above the other allows you
to hang twice the amount
of clothes in a wardrobe.
However, don't be tempted to place additional shelves into either "drop" zone ... as this will impair the "comfortable"hanging space.
As a rule of thumb you will find that you will need roughly four times the amount of short hanging, as long ... and this type of wardrobe is perfect for achieving this ... use them wherever you can!
Shelving ...
Shelves can either be the
full width of the wardrobe,
or part width "pigeon holes".
Try to utilise at least one set of "pigeon hole" shelves, as these are the perfect way of storing jumpers and sweatshirts - avoid using drawers for storing bulky items like jumpers.
More of men's clothes tend to be folded, so position shelving accordingly.
Large "full width" shelving is particularly useful for storing hats, photo albums, family paperwork etc. - and as these are items that are not normally needed that often, put the shelves in the top of the wardrobe.
Combination
Wardrobes ...
(also known as gentleman's
wardrobes or linen presses)
should be used sparingly.
The lower drawers restrict the length of clothes that may be hung above them ... we believe that wardrobes should be purchased primarily for hanging clothes not as drawer space.
However they can be an attractive way of breaking up a standard run of three or more wardrobes - particularly if the centre section is positioned forward of the other section (known as a "break front").
Although usually supplied with one shelf and hanging rail, the top section of the wardrobe can be fully shelved to accommodate spare linen.
Now on to Lowline units!
There
are three basic height's of
"lowline" bedroom cabinets
as follows:
1. Bedside Cabinets ... up
to 580mm
2. Dressing Table ... up
to 740mm
3. Tallboys ... up to 1140mm
(the height of bridging cupboard
doors are generally 5-600mm)
Bedside
Cabinet ... not
normally used for their storage
capacity (although can be
vital in cramped situations)The work surface is used mainly for placing alarm clocks, spectacles, bedside lamps, morning cuppa etc. within easy reach of the bed.
The preferred option is for a cabinet with internal shelves rather than drawers, that will soon become cluttered with junk mail.
Optimum width = 400mm (300mm better than nothing, but over 400mm is likely to be wasting valuable wardrobe space)
Bedside
Chest ... use
in lieu of bedside cabinet
if it is impossible to position
a reasonable number of drawers
elsewhere in the room ...
and use them for storing
your underwear.
Bedside
Chest & Tea
Tray ... As
above but with handy pullout
tray to position your early
morning cuppa on.
The sort
of thing that sounds good
when you buy them, but
are rarely used ... so why
pay the extra?
Bridging
Cupboards ... Great
for storing bulky items that
are only required occasionally
... can be positioned above
the bed, or over a run of
lowline between wardrobes.
Most companies supply a range
of sizes - but always try to
achieve the largest "uninterrupted" interior
to the bridge possible, and avoid small single
units wherever you can.
Lowline Cabinet ... higher version of bedside cabinet with internal shelves.
Perfect for incorporating into a dressing table situation to store hairdryers, tall tins of hair spray, jewellery boxes ... and other bulky items you don't want rattling around in drawers.
Lowline
Cabinet & Drawer ... As
per lowline cabinet but with
shorter door with drawer
above.
Can complicate the look of a run
of lowline ... as the heights of the drawers
may not line up!
Lowline
Corner Cabinet ...A
cabinet with internal shelving
that allows you to plan a
run of "lowline" around
a corner.
Basically a double carcase
with one door that is supplied
either left or right hand opening.
A corner post will be supplied
to allow adjacent cabinets
to be planned around a corner
Lowline
Chest ... useful
for storing underwear, and
if you must jumpers. Some
suppliers manufacture chests
that have either 3 or 4 drawers
to the same height ... always
pick the deepest drawers
where you can.
Optimum widths = 400mm for underwear &
800mm for jumpers
Try to avoid planning more than one each
- as you will lose possible wardrobe space
Lowline
Laundry Basket ... Looks
like a lowline cabinet, but
contains a wire basket for
you to place dirty laundry
in, instead of internal shelves
... some styles hinge down
- others pull out.
We have yet to find any make that
provides a decent amount of storage ... and
don't recommend that you waste your money
buying them.
(The hinged lift top corner types
that use a void corner are even more useless).
Vanity
Drawer ...Positioned
to create a knee hole dressing
table and are often supplied
with inset jewellery tray.
Optimum width = 800mm which
makes pushing a stool in and
out easy ... although 600mm
is acceptable.
Tip! - if you do not really
use a dressing table - don't
bother introducing a knee hole
space as you will lose valuable
drawer space
Tallboy
Chest ...same
size options as the tallboy
cabinet, but made up entirely
from drawers.
Probably the more popular of the
two items and is a great way of getting all
of your drawers in one area.
NOTE! ...
this unit should always be fitted back to
a wall as it can be easily toppled over
when the top drawers are opened fully.
Tallboy
Cabinet ...Normally
designed to have three drawers
below cupboard space above.
Is generally suggested as a perfect
place to position a TV & Video at
the end of a bed - however don't bother putting
the TV inside the cupboard, as it will be
far to low to view comfortably ... put it
on top instead.
Normally supplied in two widths
(500 & 800mm)