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Original poster

Fitted wardrobes: naice or naff?

16 replies

CatBlaster · 25/08/2015 22:30

Our two DCs (under 9) share a room which has bunk beds and loads of fitted wardrobes. Unfortunately the wardrobes were designed for one teenage boy and the configuration really doesn't work for us (and is also dated, 90s looking 'beech' laminate).

We need to reconfigure for a combination of hanging space and drawer space that will work for us. Currently it's full of hanging space our kids can't reach, and shelves (I mean, who actually folds clothes on shelves like they live in Benetton??)

So, I'm looking at Ikea Pax or freestanding if I can figure out the goddam planner. Or should I be looking at other fitted wardrobes?

I'm assuming the price on fitted wardrobes would be prohibitive...

OP posts:
Original poster
CatBlaster · 25/08/2015 22:32

Gah, long story short - fitted or freestanding for kids??

OP posts:
seastargirl · 25/08/2015 22:36

We're looking at houses at the moment and the first thing I would do in any house is take out fitted wardrobes, I groan whenever i see them.

We've currently got Ikea wardrobes which have been redesigned inside twice.

BikeRunSki · 25/08/2015 22:38

We looked into fitted wardrobes, and saved up a bit, even made an appt for a man to come round and measure. would have been upwards of £1.5k for a 2.7 m stretch.

Then I realised that the stuff he did was all laminate and looked like s fitted kitchen. The rest of our bedroom furniture is chunky pine, and just would not have worked. Asked a local cabinet maker about doing solid wood built in wardrobes (£2500 ish) which does was not affordable. I'm in the naff camp for laminate fitted wardrobes.

In the end we got another wardrobe to match the wardrobe, drawers and bed we already had, at a fraction of the cost of fitted wardrobes.

mandy214 · 25/08/2015 22:48

Can I go against the grain? I think fitted wardrobes, provided they are good quality and modern / in keeping with the rest of the room can look lovely. I think free standing wardrobes can make a room look smaller. They are much more effective use of space too, especially when it comes to all the crap stuff 2 girls can collect. We have built in wardrobes in the alcoves of the room shared by my 2 daughters (good quality but very old) but they are soooo useful.

woodhill · 25/08/2015 22:48

I like fitted wardrobes and have put some from Ikea in dds room. I think built in ones make better use of space.

WhispersOfWickedness · 25/08/2015 22:50

We've got an ikea pax, it's amazing. We re-did the interior this summer after 7 years, so it feels like a brand new wardrobe Smile

BlueBananas · 25/08/2015 22:50

Hate hate hate forte wardrobes
First thing I did when we bought this house was take a sledgehammer to them

BlueBananas · 25/08/2015 22:51

Forte? Hmm fitted!

mandy214 · 25/08/2015 22:51

Think this type of thing is lovely

Fitted wardrobes: naice or naff?
DoloresLandingham · 25/08/2015 23:51

Ikea PAX really are fantastic. You have to spend thousands elsewhere to get anything better, IMHO.

car0line123 · 26/08/2015 08:17

I love the Ikea Pax. I have a wall of them in my kids bedroom, so the whole bedroom looks bigger, and so tidy.

The shelves in their wardrobes are purposely too high for them to reach (so clothes stay folded tee hee)

If you don't need much storage at all, a nice wardrobe is great, but in our case, we would have rooms crowded with wardrobe/ chest of draws/ under the bed drawers... the Pax replaces all that.

For me, fitted wardrobes really work if they are nearly invisible (Mandy's photo is great). I don't like the ones above and around your bed, but that's just me.

NotCitrus · 26/08/2015 08:41

Painted fitted wardrobes - lovely. Laminate/melamine - look OK if fitted well and are actually the right size for the space.
We got the local alcoholic carpenter to build lots of cupboards (good, cheap, reliable - pick any two... at least doing one cupboard at a time doesn't affect the rest of my life much. And he's very good and very cheap!) I now have one alcove filled in my bedroom with floor-to-ceiling cupboards, looks really unobtrusive, and holds more than two freestanding wardrobes.

woodhill · 26/08/2015 08:46

Think mine are pax, fitted with drawers etc within and only about £500 for 4 cupboards

I think it depends on space in your house.

I have old 70/80s ones from previous owner in my bedroom but would cost too much to replace and they work giving me a cupboard over chimney breast for toiletries

katienana · 26/08/2015 08:50

I like fitted wardrobes but agree ikea pax are excellent. We have a double and single in ds bedroom. He has a rail, 2 shelves and 3 drawers in there. Just don't get the basket drawers they are shit.

Original poster
CatBlaster · 26/08/2015 09:42

OK, glad to see there's a lotta love for Pax. I think that's where we'll go with this, despite the Ikea room planner making me lose the will...

OP posts:
yomellamoHelly · 28/08/2015 21:58

Ripped out four bedrooms worth of fitted wardrobes here. The internal layouts were all wrong (for us) and every room was completely dominated by them (on wall opposite doors) and they all overhung the windows. We have Pax in more sensible locations in a couple of rooms. Love how you can keep adjusting the layout of the interior as your needs change.

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