Fitted wardrobes provide a stylish and practical storage solution for your home. However, we understand that it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out where to start with your search. With so much information at your disposal, it can be hard to guess how much you'll need to budget for a quality fitted wardrobe.
At FCI London we will help you create stylish and functional interiors at the best value for money and guide you every step of the way. To this end, we've created an efficient wardrobe cost calculator along with a guide detailing the best tips to consider when choosing a wardrobe. It will help you establish which design is best suited to your storage needs and assist you in planning your budget.
As its name suggests, fitted wardrobes or built-in wardrobes as they are often referred to, are essentially made-to-order wardrobes that are specifically designed to fit a particular space. Awkward corner, we see you…
The difference between fitted wardrobes and free-standing wardrobes is that with fitted wardrobes you can maximise your storage space, eliminate any gaps or unused space and cover all your awkward nooks and corners.
Here are some reasons to consider a fitted wardrobe:
1. These wardrobes are custom built to adapt to the shape of your room. As a result, your room feels more open than it would with a freestanding wardrobe.
2. You can customise these wardrobes to meet your storage needs. You could choose to have separate “his and hers” sections or you could add an accessories compartment. If you feel that some features of a wardrobe, like drawers or shelves, are not useful for you, simply leave them out.
3. You can choose any type of door for your fitted wardrobes including sliding doors. With a range of finishes and styles of doors available, it’s easy for you to design a fitted wardrobe that perfectly complements your interior.
4. While standing wardrobes only offer limited lighting options, you will be spoilt for choice with the custom lighting for fitted wardrobes.
One of the biggest advantages of choosing fitted wardrobes is that you’re making the best use of your space. Freestanding wardrobes will often leave unused space around them as they’re manufactured in fixed sizes.
Another major advantage of fitted wardrobes is that they are custom-made. This means they're purposefully designed to fit your space, no matter how awkward it is.
Fitted wardrobes also make it easier for you to keep to your room’s decor/theme as they can be customised in a range of finishes and materials. This makes them a great choice for all areas, including the living room or bedroom. Freestanding wardrobes are also restricted in the type of storage available, while with fitted wardrobes you can choose any interior design you want. For example, additional space for accessories or extra hanging rails. These customisation requests can easily be accommodated with a bespoke fitted wardrobe.
The type of fitted wardrobe that you choose often depends on your own personal taste and space requirements. Aesthetics also play a big part.
Bespoke fitted wardrobes mean that your imagination is the only limitation. Whatever your accessory storage requirement is – panelling, drawers, racks for scarves and ties or even a shoe carousel – you can achieve this with a fitted wardrobe.
Our fitted wardrobes can generally be classified into three categories based on their price. All three categories have the same superior quality framework - the differences are in the doors, door handles, shelving options and finishes.
Entry-level Wardrobes: These are the most budget-friendly wardrobes that offer you a basic, rectangular frame with different door options.
Mid-range Wardrobes: The mid-range wardrobes have more expensive finishes, such as handcrafted wood, and they go up in price scale with more creative, luxurious-looking door handles.
Luxury Wardrobes: These are the best in German and Italian luxury wardrobe brands, offering a range of premium finishes such as handstitched eco-leather.
Here are a few styles to consider and a fitted wardrobes price list.
The prices for fitted wardrobes are usually by linear meter, which refers to a length of the wardrobe material since most rooms in the UK are a standard height.
Three doors are a popular choice as most interior designers recommended following the rule of three. This is because items are more aesthetically pleasing when grouped in threes, making a three-door fitted wardrobe a particularly stylish and attractive choice.
Optional features can include columns, mouldings and drawers, which may be more expensive, whereas simple designs might cost a little less, so always consider your options.
Entry-level – DIY wardrobes – starting from £400 per linear meter (eg Ikea)
Cut on site MDF wardrobes – starting from £800 per linear meter (eg Sharps)
Luxury Italian wardrobes – starting from £1200 per linear meter (eg Logo)
This design is more contemporary and is great for modern homes or period homes with a minimalist interior. They are also a popular choice amongst clients who are looking for large wardrobes that maximise the storage space.
Sliding doors wardrobes often have mirrored doors, which can make the space feel bigger and this makes them a suitable option for relatively smaller spaces like the bedrooms. Typical designs include a three-section built-in style, and the final cost will depend on the size of the wardrobes that you choose. Here are some more qualities of sliding door wardrobes that make them a good choice for contemporary homes.
Entry-level – DIY wardrobes – starting from £25 for 4 panels of sliding door frame
Cut on site MDF wardrobes – starting at £1480 per meter for a 2 door sliding wardrobe
Luxury Italian sliding wardrobes – £2,800- £3,600
This is a simple design and is ideal for small spaces or awkward spaces such as alcoves. Two sections built-in wardrobes offer a great way to maximise storage space and hide clutter.
Entry-level – DIY wardrobes – starting from around £170
Cut on site MDF wardrobes – starting at £1000 per meter
Luxury two-section wardrobes – From £1200 per linear meter
This style is perfect if you want to transform the whole side of one room into a storage space. Six-door fitted wardrobes are usually made up of three sections, which can have draws and hanging space. If you’re going bespoke, you can pretty much configure the inside layout however it suits you.
Entry-level – DIY wardrobes – start from around £665
Cut on-site MDF wardrobes – starting at £900 per meter
Luxury six-door wardrobes – starting from £1100 per linear meter
There is a general misconception that walk-in wardrobes can only be built in grand spaces but this is far from the truth. When you work with experienced interior designers, they are able to turn even the smallest spaces into a smart walk-in-wardrobe that offers maximum functionality.
A sliding door can be a key feature of your walk-in wardrobe and a fitted wardrobe like this offers you the best of both, closed and open storage for optimal space organisation. Small walk-in wardrobes can often feel cramped which is why we recommend the addition of a full-length mirror that adds to their practicality while making the space feel bright and spacious.
Entry-level – DIY wardrobes – starting from £225 for open storage wardrobes
At FCI London, walk-in wardrobe prices start from £1,200 – £1,400 per meter for open storage wardrobes
Please note that these prices are just an estimate and the final price of the wardrobe depends on many factors, including but not limited to:
Finding a reliable, quality carpenter and fitter is more important than you might think when it comes to built-in wardrobes. This storage solution should be built to last and needs to be versatile, hardwearing and stylish, hence the wardrobe fitment is critical.
If you’re looking for a built-in wardrobe carpenter and fitter, we can help. We work with a quality team of tradesmen and designers to provide you with a complete service. Whether you’re looking for fitted wardrobes for your own home or for a project, our team is on hand to help you establish the perfect design for your space.
Fitted wardrobes can be made with and without backs, side and tops. It all depends on the type of space you have and the design that you have in mind. Our designers can work with you to help you decide if a fitted wardrobe with a back or without would be the right choice for you.
Both the interior and the exterior of fitted wardrobes can be updated if you’re working with an experienced design team. For example, if your old wardrobe has hinged doors, you can choose to replace them with sliding doors or you can have the doors completely removed to create a walk-in wardrobe.
If you’re not too sure about getting a fitted wardrobe because you might want to move it in the future, we offer the perfect solution. A feature that distinguishes our wardrobes from the traditional fitted wardrobes is the level of adaptability offered by our freestanding fitted wardrobes. Made in Italy and built using high-quality German hardware, our wardrobes can give the look of a fitted wardrobe while offering the practicality of a freestanding wardrobe. This means that if you’re moving out or renovating, you can easily take your designer wardrobe wherever you go.
According to Cristina Chirila, Senior Designer at FCI London, some of the things to keep in mind when buying a new fitted wardrobe are: “Decide whether you want to make the wardrobe stand out as a sit alone piece in the room or do you want to make it blend in? In my opinion, matching the wardrobe to other pieces in the room is overrated. I also recommend clients to pay far more importance to the internal layout than to the external look. And while interior details like internal lighting are important, don’t make them a primary thing on your budget because, with wardrobes, storage should always come first.”
At FCI London, an extraordinary level of personalisation awaits with a choice of 200+ envy-inducing lacquers, veneers and wood finishes and 100+ door styles. Starting at £1250 per metre, our wardrobes have an approximate lead time of 10-12 weeks and our expert wardrobe design team will work with you to find the best design to meet your unique space requirements.
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