Fitted bedrooms

A bedroom layout, not just a wardrobe run

A fitted wardrobe deals with clothes storage along a wall or inside an alcove. A fitted bedroom looks at the whole room: where the bed sits, how doors open, where you dress and what you need within reach at night. Matching furniture is useful, but the layout matters more than making every wall look the same.

Choose the bed position before settling the furniture dimensions. Allow for the mattress, bed frame and any headboard you are keeping. Check the route from the doorway to each side of the bed. Drawers and wardrobe doors need opening space, and a dressing table needs enough room to sit down without blocking that route.

See also: handmade fitted wardrobes.

Wardrobes and everyday storage

List what the room needs to hold. Long clothes, folded clothing, shoes and spare bedding need different spaces. Hanging rails and shelves can do much of the work; drawers suit smaller items that would be awkward to stack. Put things used every day where they can be reached without moving other belongings first.

Furniture depth affects the space left beside the bed. Deep hanging storage may work along one wall, while a shallower unit is better near a doorway. Check the internal space as well as the outside size. Door thickness, backs and fittings all take up room, so an attractive drawing still needs a workable storage plan.

Bedside units, dressing tables and overbed cupboards

Bedside units should suit the height of the bed and leave sockets usable. Decide whether you need a drawer, an open shelf or both. If the bed might change later, avoid a layout that only works with one exact frame. The space beside each side does not have to be identical to be useful.

A dressing table needs knee space, a place for the chair and lighting that suits its position. Overbed cupboards need careful setting out above the headboard, suitable wall fixings and comfortable clearance below. Think about reaching the handles and opening the doors. Heavy items are better kept lower down rather than directly over the bed.

Measuring and choosing the finish

The survey should check the room at several points, including uneven walls, skirting, ceiling lines and window openings. Radiators, sockets and ventilation must remain usable. Tell us which furniture is staying and whether new flooring or decoration is planned. Those details affect the dimensions and the order of the work.

Choose door fronts, handles and the finish together. Plain or shaker fronts can be carried across wardrobes and smaller units without giving every piece the same width. Look at samples beside the floor and existing woodwork. Agree which surfaces are finished, what decoration is included and how the furniture will be cared for.

Cost, fitting and comparing quotes

Fitted bedroom furniture cost depends on the pieces included, their size, the internal fittings and the finish. A wardrobe with bedside drawers is a different job from storage along several walls with a dressing table and bridging cupboards. Compare the same list of furniture rather than treating every fitted bedroom quote as equivalent.

Ask for the layout and included work in writing. Separate making and fitting from electrical changes, room decoration or removing existing furniture where those are needed. Timing depends on the agreed design and preparation, so discuss the sequence before making arrangements for the room. Rough measurements and a photograph are useful starting points for an enquiry.

See also: fitted bedroom cost guide.