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Original poster

To keep these built in wardrobes or not?

80 replies

Loveflatwhite · 08/07/2023 23:29

Hello,

We recently purchased a very dated house and are in process of decorating the whole house and need to be sensible about how we spend our money. My husband wants to keep these ugly wardrobes as there is nothing wrong with them apart from I think they are ugly! and just paint them and replace the door knobs on them but I still think they will look ugly when painted . What would you do? Get rid or try and revamp them ? We would probably paint them in same colour as the walls so that they blend in. Colour will be in green.

To keep these built in wardrobes or not?
OP posts:
Kingsparkle · 08/07/2023 23:34

I’d keep them and paint them. Paint and different handles will really change the look. Fitted wardrobes are £££ and you can always change them later down the line.

MajorDanger · 08/07/2023 23:36

I’d paint & put new knobs on.
If you are on a budget, what would the plan be if you ripped them out?
At the very least you would have to buy wardrobes but, if there was any damage to the walls, you would also have the cost of making good too.

TillieAnn1945 · 08/07/2023 23:36

Keep and paint for now so you have storage space while you redecorate the other rooms.

TheUsualChaos · 08/07/2023 23:38

Paint them, they will look great! Would be such a waste to get rid. Fitted wardrobes are expensive!

ballsdeep · 08/07/2023 23:38

Definitely keep and out new doors on

Nanalisa60 · 08/07/2023 23:38

Keep, paint and change handles

Twillow · 08/07/2023 23:40

They'll look much better when painted. If you still don't like them (the top panel is a wee bit dated) you could change the doors.

LadyHester · 08/07/2023 23:40

Are they IKEA? If so you can change the doors really easily.

Original poster
Loveflatwhite · 08/07/2023 23:45

@MajorDanger I was planning on putting new modern door on instead so the internal bit would be left as is but paint and new handle is still cheaper than new doors I guess .

OP posts:
CutesyUserName · 08/07/2023 23:45

Built in wardrobes often suffer from dampness, especially if built on an outside wall. I'd keep them and paint them, but only if there is definitely no damp associated with them.

Bullshot · 08/07/2023 23:45

If you remove them then you may end up having to repair the plaster work also - I ripped fitted wardrobes out of three bedrooms . Was a costly job .

I left them in the spareroom though and
painted them - put some nice glass door knobs on and they look fine.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 08/07/2023 23:46

Keep. I had ugly ones when I bought my first house and kept them for years. I then splashed out later on some lovely ones from an expensive retailer. It was just dead money that I kicked myself for spending.

Do you already have wardrobes to put into the space? It's surprising how much the cost of furniture has risen by in the last couple of years.

Original poster
Loveflatwhite · 08/07/2023 23:50

CutesyUserName · 08/07/2023 23:45

Built in wardrobes often suffer from dampness, especially if built on an outside wall. I'd keep them and paint them, but only if there is definitely no damp associated with them.

They are in great condition and good quality wood hence why hubby wants to keep them .

OP posts:
thebloodycatwontstopmeowing · 08/07/2023 23:51

Keep and paint

Original poster
Loveflatwhite · 08/07/2023 23:55

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 08/07/2023 23:46

Keep. I had ugly ones when I bought my first house and kept them for years. I then splashed out later on some lovely ones from an expensive retailer. It was just dead money that I kicked myself for spending.

Do you already have wardrobes to put into the space? It's surprising how much the cost of furniture has risen by in the last couple of years.

Yeah I’ve heard fitted wardrobes are ££££ . But if I were do only change the doors and leave the main wardrobe as is do you know how much that would cost?

OP posts:
calmcoco · 08/07/2023 23:56

They'll be fine painted in a modern colour and with nice handles. Seems mad to remove as you're watching the cash.

Kingsparkle · 09/07/2023 00:05

If you want more of a flat look, could you put thin plyboard over the fronts and paint that, like they used to do in the 60s with panelled doors? To have doors bespoke made to fit won’t be cheap, even in MDF.

rigamortiz · 09/07/2023 00:09

Well, we're ripping out some smaller inbuilts so I can feel your pain.. ours are more awkward and space consuming. I think those could be fixed with paint but if you're planning a separate dressing area, rip them out.

Original poster
Loveflatwhite · 09/07/2023 00:12

calmcoco · 08/07/2023 23:56

They'll be fine painted in a modern colour and with nice handles. Seems mad to remove as you're watching the cash.

Although we do want to be sensible with money I always think it’s best to get it right the first time so you don’t waste money doing it again. The bedroom paint we are looking at is little Greene so it’s not super cheap and then it’s all the effort sanding and priming .

My worry is I’ll spend money and time on it and still hate it and will need to spend more money getting new ones ! First world problems 😂

But it seems that everyone on here think it’ll look nice so I’m going to give it a whirl and hope for the best . Mumsnetters has never failed me yet 😬

will keep you all updated xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Loveflatwhite · 09/07/2023 00:13

Kingsparkle · 09/07/2023 00:05

If you want more of a flat look, could you put thin plyboard over the fronts and paint that, like they used to do in the 60s with panelled doors? To have doors bespoke made to fit won’t be cheap, even in MDF.

Ohh this is a good idea, never thought of this

OP posts:
JeandeServiette · 09/07/2023 00:21

Easy Surface Preparation (ESP) cuts the faff of sanding etc considerably. Paint them. They'll look lovely in a green colour.

caringcarer · 09/07/2023 00:21

I'd keep and paint.

OhcantthInkofaname · 09/07/2023 00:25

Loveflatwhite · 08/07/2023 23:29

Hello,

We recently purchased a very dated house and are in process of decorating the whole house and need to be sensible about how we spend our money. My husband wants to keep these ugly wardrobes as there is nothing wrong with them apart from I think they are ugly! and just paint them and replace the door knobs on them but I still think they will look ugly when painted . What would you do? Get rid or try and revamp them ? We would probably paint them in same colour as the walls so that they blend in. Colour will be in green.

I love them. I would keep them and paint them. I know you're tending towards green but I'm one of those people who hates green. I do not look good surrounded by green.

TomorrowToday · 09/07/2023 00:28

LadyHester · 08/07/2023 23:40

Are they IKEA? If so you can change the doors really easily.

No they are fitted wardrobes

TomorrowToday · 09/07/2023 00:29

Look at all that storage!

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