How to use this space above wardrobes? (With pic)

[Cramlington567]

See picture. They are fitted IKEA wardrobes. Really feels a bit wasteful all the potential storage space above but looks messy with boxes. Don't want any dust magnet wicker baskets really. It's 25 cms. There's a bit of a chimney breast in one bit as you can see.

Any basic DIY solutions that would be easy for a novice, look good and function well. Or any suitable containers. Could even pay a joiner if it was really going to be a great idea.

Thanks

How high is the gap? Something like a 1*4 kallax unit might work? Or the "Besta" units from IKEA?

Honestly though, I think I would buy a set of matching opaque white or similar boxes, print a set of labels so they look reasonably smart and forget about it.

Will kallax from IKEA fit? We've got them on top of our wardrobes. I think one of the boxes is even empty but it just looks neater.

Kallax is too big. Actually those on the left of the wardrobe are kallax. It's actually 23 cm void way too small for Kallax sadly

I know you said no boxes, but
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/kuggis-box-with-lid-white-10280203/

Or, get a joiner to put in framework to support doors that will either slide left/right or hinge from the top.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/kuggis-box-with-lid-white-10280203/

We have these above some Pax wardrobes. They look smart, easy to wipe clean - as opposed to wicker dust magnets. They are very sturdy which is great but also means they can get pretty heavy when full. I can't just hoick them down from the floor, I have to stand on a stool!

Great minds @CatsOnTheChair !

Billy bookcase top extenders? Then doors

I would get a couple of these
https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/skubb-storage-case-white-70290360/

These will stack and actually look nice. We have quite a lot of them. Won't fit a duvet though.
www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/blaeddrare-box-with-lid-grey-patterned-90474396/

Put your suitcases there. Tack a piece of fabric to a baton on the ceiling like a mini curtain that will hide them and keep the dust off. You can lift the fabric when you want to get the suitcases.

Thanks and also to @CatsOnTheChair . The measurements are very good. Seems I could get 7 of the largest ones which would be very useful space. About £150 then, It's probably my best bet without employing a joiner to do something bespoke which would cost quite a lot more.

I would make a frame, and use plywood or something like that to make sides and doors. Paint it the same colour (or contrast) of the wardrobe. Even boxes get dusty, and it will always draw your eye.

We used metod narrow kitchen units to fill in a small gap alongside DS's bookshelves - they're 20cm wide. You could always turn them on their side and fit the doors with one of the push up mechanisms....

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/metod-wall-cabinet-with-shelves-white-ringhult-light-grey-s79464898/

Just to add that the Kuggis boxes are really quite heavy even before they have stuff in so might be quite tough to get down from the wardrobe when full...

I've got these, recommend! (They come in a variety of sizes and are light but sturdy and dustproof.
https://www.ikea.com/sg/en/p/skubb-storage-case-white-50290361/

@Cramlington567 They are pricey. Would you definitely fill that many? If not, maybe space them out more or place them longways, IYSWIM. Also, with the chimney breast area you could play around with some of the smaller boxes - they stack really well and x 2 smaller ones stacked would still fit heightwise (8cm plus 15cm) I'd recommend having a look in store first if you can, so you can get a better feel for them and see how heavy they are too.

Yeah, hard to visualise it until it is done and would worry it would turn out naff. You're dead right though whatever goes there always draws the eye.

I have no solution, but they reminded me back in the 90’s and living in Pretoria South Africa I used to have similar wardrobes. I used to live in a flat and in the summer I would leave the windows open when I went to work. On a number of occasions I returned to pigeons roosting in that space you want to utilise.
just an idea. 🤣

I have the Kuggis from IKEA too.

@Cramlington567 I woke up this morning thinking of your wardrobe storage - which possibly means that I spend too much time on MN! Anyway, I had another look at your pic and it occurred to me that if you want to store soft bulky stuff, like the duvet (or similar) that you have there now, the Kuggis might not be the way to go. The way that they are tapered means you might not have enough volume and also the lids kind of just lay on the top, they don't seal, so it's not possibly to clip the lid on tightly in order to keep items contained and in place. I hope that makes sense!

Thanks @CushionsandThrows nice of you to give it so much thought🙂 I know it is not the biggest deal in the world but strangely sucks you in when you lie in bed looking at the messy void and think of all the space you could free up elsewhere in the house.

it's a good point. Some boxes would be used for stuff like that. I saw some clips advertised as Kuggis clips on ebay but they looked a bit untidy but may not be that visible as long as they weren't at the front of the box. Never fails to amaze me how much of a side economy there is for IKEA stuff.

Yeah, they are not cheap, been looking for them on eBay but not that much cheaper. Will go to store to view them first and get a feel for them. My daughter's room has the same wardrobe but less deep too.

Stuk clothes storage cases from IKEA are really good too, I have the greenish ones for blankets and bulky things. They do a couple of sizes.

Yes, my DD has the half-depth Pax wardrobes and the Kuggis look pretty sleek on there, maybe because they have to be placed longways due to lack of depth. Somehow makes them blend in with the white doors and look less obvious. But I feel your pain. I'm about to change my own wardrobes and will be in a similar predicament. In an ideal world I'd have a built-in bespoke solution but unless you have £££ to throw at it (and I don't) there's a real danger of it screaming "I'm just trying my best to utilise this space"! 😂

Just had a look at the clips on ebay. I'm impressed when people think of clever solutions...but those are kinda ugly!