When do boys need a wardrobe?

[BoysRule]

I got my 5 year old son a wardrobe when he started school last year as he wears shirts and jumpers and they need hanging up. However, apart from his school shirts and jumpers it is empty which seems a real shame when storage space is always needed. I have a couple of IKEA baskets at the bottom which hold stuff but it still annoys me that there is this big empty void.

I am thinking of selling the wardrobe and buying more drawer space. Is this a mistake? Is there another way to store his shirts - can I just fold them up? Will he need a wardrobe soon? Any advice appreciated.

One of my DSes has a wardrobes where only one side is a hanging bit, the other side is shelving. It's great. Mine are teens and even now theyre older they still don't need a huge amount of hanging space.

I've put some hanging shelves in my dc wardrobes. they attach by Velcro around the hanging rail. got them from ebay but can't think what they're called. so still have some hanging space and extra pocket shelves

My two have both had wardrobes from very early. T shirts, jumpers, fleeces, dressing up costumes etc etc are all hung up. Much easier to find stuff and keep it nice if its hanging rather than rifling through drawers IMO.

You want to get him used to hanging things up. Shirts are less trouble on wire hangers than folded. I'd suggest adding shelves rather than drawers. Quite close together or they will get heaps on them.

Our almost 3yo DS has a wardrobe, which is fully used - the hanging space has shirts and cardigans, also out-of-season jackets which may well last another year (e.g. he's currently wearing an age 3-4 coat which I hope fits next winter! His lightweight autumn jacket age 3 should still fit in spring...). I filled the bottom half with wire shelving cubes: www.wayfair.co.uk/Safco-Wire-5-Shelf-Shelving-Unit-5279BL-L3925-K~SAF1061.html?refid=GX51210266543-SAF1061&ef_id=ULpuCAAAQf807Yd1:20150124193842:s

which we use to store jumpers, random stuff like swimming kit, clothes he's still to grow into, etc.

We also have this system in DD's wardrobe - shallow shelves/drawers.
www.theholdingcompany.co.uk/elfa-drawer-system-deptshe_elfabasket/

same time as girls need a wardrobe . ie; as soon as you have space for it.

I guess the OP is thinking that baby/toddler girls often have dresses which need to be hung up rather than folded, whereas baby/toddler boys have very few items which need to be hung - not worth going and buying a wardrobe for one birthday party/special occasions shirt! I read it as the OP asking when boys have enough hanger-type clothes to make hanging space rather than drawer space important... Don't think the OP was making gender-related comments on the age at which they are worthy of furniture!

The reason we have the Elfa shelving system in DD's wardrobe is because it's narrower, leaving a good section of the wardrobe to be tall hanging space, now that her dresses and coats are longer. DS's hanging requirements, OTOH, won't be floor-length for a while if ever... so it's good to get shelving space across the whole width of the wardrobe. DH has shirt-length hanging space in the wardrobe only, he has a couple of longer items which go in 'my' dress wardrobe section rather than giving him dedicated space for a length he doesn't need. Same with boys, I guess.

Can't you just hang tshirts up in it too? To use up a bit more space?

we just have these in the wardrobe (fitted) to give extra space for folded things and underwear

www.amazon.co.uk/Russel-Pocket-Sweater-Organiser-Marine/dp/B009LKFE24/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1422140900&sr=8-4&keywords=wardrobe+sweater

not specifically this brand - i think ours were from Ikea :)

ds is 12 and doesn't have a wardrobe
he has hooks on back of door and a set of hooks on the wall..enough to hang his 5 school shirts for the week and other stuff like dressing gown etc

The rest of his stuff is folded in drawers

meglet - why the confused face? Boys don't necessarily need a wardrobe as early as girls, as polo shirts and trousers can be folded in a drawer more easily than dresses.
Having said that, my 12 year old girl hasn't got a wardrobe yet to hang her one and only dress in, she keeps her school shirts folded in a drawer under her bed. Her little sister prefers girlier clothes, and has a hanging rail for her many dresses.

my 2 (1 boy, 1 girl) have always had a wardrobe as that is where you hang t-shirts, tops, shirts, dresses, etc. We only keep pj's, trousers, underwear in drawers and anything for the top half gets hung on a hanger. I have never put polo shirts or shirts in a drawer.