Create your dream wardrobe - 5 smart ways to organise

Five ways to create your dream wardrobe

Which wardrobe suits you and your lifestyle? Are you dreaming of a functional wardrobe where everything has its place, or do you want to display your favourite items and create space for your own time and precious belongings? Below, we explain five different ways to create a cosy and practical wardrobe.

Walk-in closet

A walk-in wardrobe can be designed in many ways - perhaps a room is freed up when the children move out, or there is a good space in a furnished basement. Even a classic wardrobe can be transformed into a luxurious and functional wardrobe.

Combine open spaces with sliding doors to display favourites while protecting more delicate garments from dust and sun fading.
Use shelves, hooks and drawers to give everything its place. When storage is well thought out, the wardrobe becomes both practical and inspiring.
Good lighting makes a huge difference in a walk-in. Go for a combination of mood lighting that creates a soft feel, and spotlights that help you choose your clothes. Integrated lighting in the shelves or along the edges gives an exclusive look and makes it easier to see the contents. Décor+ offers dimmable and seamlessly integrated lighting that makes your wardrobe feel both luxurious and functional.
Solid drawer boxes give your wardrobe a harmonious look. In shallower drawer boxes, you can complement with inserts for jewellery and accessories for a more exclusive feel.
A soft rug, a pouffe in the middle or a small make-up corner makes the walk-in wardrobe more personal and inviting.

A bedroom where a woman reaches for a sweater in a white Décor+ by Elfa wardrobe with glass-filled sliding doors.

Step-in closet

A step-in closet is for those who don't have space for a walk-in, but still want a luxurious wardrobe. By adding a little extra depth behind the sliding doors, you can add both a stool and a make-up corner.

The principles for a step-in closet are exactly the same as for a walk-in closet. Work with different types of storage and plan the lighting. Decorate it in a cosy way and highlight your favourites, as an extension of your home.

The advantage of a step-in is that it fits in both the house and the apartment. It’s a traditional wardrobe that takes up a little more space and emphasises style and personality.

Bedroom with wardrobe from Elfa that has wire shelves, pull-out mesh baskets and Vista sliding doors.

Reach-in closet

The reach-in closet is the definition of the classic wardrobe. It is simple, functional and easy to place in most homes. It can be built directly onto a straight wall with frame sides or placed in an existing niche common in many modern homes.

In a reach-in, function is what matters. Combine shoe storage, different types of shelves, drawers and hangers to create an optimised wardrobe space where everything has its place. Wire shelves can be cut to size, allowing the solution to be adapted to the centimetre.

If you have a small room, it is ideal to have a mirror in the sliding door section instead of having to hang it on the wall. Both interior fittings and sliding doors can also be adapted to sloping ceilings.

This type of wardrobe is perfect when you want to keep track of a small wall space.

In a longer corridor, both clothes, linen and cleaning storage can be combined.

Wardrobe with Classic by Elfa storage in white.

Wardrobes

One of the perhaps most common areas for clothing storage is the traditional wardrobe. Here it’s all about smart thinking to get the most out of the storage space.

Don't just make use of the deep walls, but furnish the door and shallow walls. On-door storage is a smart way to create extra storage space.

In apartments and houses with high ceilings, make sure to use the full height with shelves. It’s a good idea to store seasonal clothes and boxes of nicer shoes here that shouldn't stand out.

Take advantage of the corners and build in an L or U.

Open wardrobe

Can be both a statement and a way to optimise a small home.

In a small home, you can build over a bed and sofa to create seamless storage that holds both clothes, interior decor and books. Garments that you want to hide can either be placed in solid drawer boxes or in a freestanding chest.

Another solution for an open wall wardrobe is the bedroom wardrobe with that little extra. This is where the wardrobe becomes part of the interior design. By planning in a seating area and display shelves, you can easily make the solution feel like a bookshelf filled with clothes. With solid drawer boxes, you can hide a lot of what you don't want to hang out.

Tips for planning your wardrobe

Here are some clever tips to take with you when planning a practical wardrobe that will make the most of your space, yet still provide airy storage with a full overview of your clothes.

Measurement and planning guides

Décor+ wire shelves from Elfa in white and birch with folded tops.

Maintain adequate distance between the shelves

We recommend a distance of 20-40 cm between the shelves if you are storing folded clothes. This provides space for suitably sized piles, which are easy to hold in place.

Pull-out mesh baskets from Classic by Elfa in grey.

Storage of knitwear

Knitted sweaters can lose the shape of hangers, so use mesh baskets with dividers to keep them neat and well-organised.

Hanging clothes in an open wardrobe from Classic by Elfa.

Hang right for a better overview

Plan so that you have space to hang both long and short clothes. A 60 cm closet rod can hold up to 40 shirts and blouses. A men’s shirt needs up to 90cm to hang freely.

Gliding pant rack from Classic by Elfa in grey with trousers in neutral colours.

How to keep your trousers tidy

Use pant hangers for convenient storage of trousers and skirts. You can have up to two trousers on each hanger. Jeans can be stored folded in a wire drawer or on a shelf as they don't wrinkle so easily.

Bracket hook rack from Décor+ by Elfa with a shoe horn, shoe brush and scarf.

Hidden areas become storage

Create additional hanging area with a hook rack on the side of the bracket. Perfect for storing belts, scarves, jackets and other small items neatly and easily accessible.