How to Make a Luxury Wardrobe Work for a Child’s Bedroom

If you have a household full of youngsters, you’ll know how important it is to design spaces for them that are safe, functional and aesthetically pleasing. So, if you’re in the process of a home refurbishment, you might be wondering how to make a luxury wardrobe work for a child’s bedroom.

At first glance, this may seem simple, but children’s wardrobes need to be carefully considered in order to accommodate everything that will make their lives easy and carefree. From clothing and shoes to toys, games and blankets, there’s a lot to fit in.

Aside from storage, every aspect of a child’s wardrobe needs to be user-friendly and secure. There can be no sharp edges or corners, and everything should be properly installed to ensure that nothing comes tumbling down on top of them.

You also have to think about how quickly children grow and make sure that their wardrobes will accommodate changes in height, taste and functionality well into the future. There’s no point installing a custom-made masterpiece only to have to rip it out and start again a few years down the line.

To help you tick all the right boxes, the FCI London design team have put together this comprehensive guide on children’s luxury wardrobes and how to get them perfect.

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Tips for designing a luxury wardrobe for a child’s bedroom

All children need a bedroom that will fuel their creativity, fire up their imaginations and give them a space in which to play, rest, unwind and find a sense of security and comfort. And in order to achieve this, a good wardrobe design is key.

Here are some basics that will help you get this spot on:

1. Choose bright, neutral colours

Nothing says "kids' bedroom" like bright colours, but this does not always imply that you have to paint the doors egg-yolk yellow or sunset orange. Think about what shades they’ll outgrow, and which ones might be a hit in the future. These ideas will enable you to create a balance between the two:

• Go for safe bets like white, beige, green, lilac, aqua and lemon yellow. And no, you don’t have to use all of them!
• Start with a neutral base and add accents of colour on some of the panelling to make the wardrobe more vibrant.
• Make sure that whatever you choose blends in with the overall aesthetics of the room.
• Don’t limit yourself to gender stereotypes like pink or blue unless your child absolutely adores them.
• Install a chalkboard on one of the wardrobe doors to give your youngsters an extra surface on which to express their creativity.
• Remember that paint colours can be changed as your child grows, but plan for the future as much as possible.

2. Use up your vertical space

If you’re dealing with a small room, make use of your vertical space by installing floor-to-ceiling wardrobes with loft storage. You can then place all of their most-needed items on the lower shelves and stash seasonal things like throws at the top.

To make the room look larger and brighter and reflect the available light, use paler colours on your wardrobe doors or choose a glossy laminate. A large wall mirror will also help with this.

3. Install easy-to-reach drawers

If you want to add drawers to your luxury wardrobe design, make sure you put them on the lower levels. This will allow your child easy access to the basics without them having to reach up. Bottom drawers also reduce the likelihood of your youngster hitting their head on sharp corners.

This functional storage approach also allows for future expansion, as they could easily be repurposed for shoes, books, games or other non-essentials as they grow taller.

4. Think about the door handles

Choosing monotones for your child’s wardrobe does not preclude you from incorporating other points of interest in your overall design. Door and drawer knobs are widely available in a range of shapes, sizes and vivid colours, allowing you to pick out something that will liven things up and make their dreams come true.

Think stars, butterflies, hearts and happy emoji faces or find a favourite cartoon character and have a handle custom-designed.

Remember to choose ones that have smooth edges and place them at a height that is both accessible and will avoid doing any harm.

5. Optimise your storage in order of importance

Think about the importance of every item and what your child will need close at hand during the planning stages of your luxury wardrobe design so that you end up with something both child-friendly and practical. Use these tips:

• Pull-out storage containers are ideal for stashing away things like puzzles, games, toys and shoes.
• Use top shelves for linen, throws, backpacks and out-of-season clothing or anything that is only used occasionally.
• Install additional door hooks on which to hang bags, caps, scarves and jewellery. This will keep them organised as opposed to being strewn all over the bedroom floor.

6. Extra storage ideas

Whether you’re a toddler or a grown-up, you can never have enough storage space! So think about designing some additional custom cabinetry that will help mitigate the mess and enable your youngsters to display their favourite things.

You can do this in the form of funky floating shelves or install pigeonholes on one of your spare walls. If there’s not much room, find a beautiful toy box or get some big sisal baskets instead.

How to ensure the safety of a luxury wardrobe in a child’s bedroom

Let’s face it, children love to climb. And anything you put in front of them that features a couple of make-do footholds is bound to be treated like Mount Everest.

The problem is that around 46% of “tip-over” accidents involve children under the age of 18 and, depending on their severity and what comes down with them, injuries can include anything from mild cuts and scrapes to internal damage, amputations and even death – an outcome that doesn’t bear thinking about.

So the bottom line when designing a child’s wardrobe is to put safety first and stay one step ahead of how these little ninjas operate.

Getting down on their level and looking at the overall layout of their room to make sure that they can’t climb from one furniture piece to another is always a good idea. And, once you know where you’re putting everything, pay attention to the finer details like good anchorage and sturdy manufacturing materials.

Here are some things to think about:

• Make sure that every element, including shelving and hanging rails, is secure.
• Choose materials that are strong and durable. Flimsy doors can be unhinged in a flash if they’re bashed around too much.
• If you’re using LED lighting or any other electronic device in the interior of your luxury wardrobe, hide the wires.
• Put drawers and storage units on the bottom level and shelving out of reach – anything that can be climbed up is a no-no.
• Avoid sharp edges or things that little ones can bump their heads on.
• Don’t place heavy items right at the top of your wardrobe – they could fall out and crush your child.
• Make sure that there are no plug points or mirrors in their line of sight – broken glass and electric shocks are to be avoided at all costs.

How to choose the right dimensions for a luxury wardrobe in a child’s bedroom

Choosing the perfect size for a child’s luxury wardrobe depends on a number of important factors including:

• Room size

Measure your floor space and, if you’re opting for built-in cabinetry, find a wall that will accommodate it properly. Make sure freestanding units will fit comfortably into an allocated space without looking bulky or disproportionate to the other furniture.

• Height

Choose the right height for your youngster – they’re going to need to be able to access the different compartments without assistance.

If you’ve decided to design something that will last for years to come, consider building an adult-sized wardrobe and installing compartments on the bottom level specifically for your little one.

• Storage

Think about your child’s current and future storage requirements and select a wardrobe design that has enough drawers, shelves and hanging space to accommodate them all.

• Budget

Set a budget for your wardrobe, stick to it and always choose quality over quantity.

Materials and finishes that are appropriate for a child’s wardrobe

You may not even have thought of it, but taking extra care regarding your choice of materials and finishes for a child’s wardrobe will impact both their safety and the longevity of your investment. These are things to take into account:

1. Find a solid structure

Whatever material you choose should be able to withstand constant wear and tear and be durable enough to hold the weight of your child without cracking, chipping or toppling over. Hardwood or high-quality particleboard are the best options. If you want to look into other possibilities, read our article on the best materials to use for built-in wardrobes.

2. Choose toxic-free materials

Make sure that the materials you choose for your luxury wardrobe are free of harmful chemicals and don’t emit toxic fumes. Not only will this keep everyone safe, but it will also help save the environment.

3. Invest in easy-to-clean finishes

Stains and spills are unavoidable in a kiddie's room because my gosh, do they play hard! And when a bunch of them get together for a sleepover, pandemonium can ensue!

For this reason, it’s wise to consider easy-to-maintain finishes that can simply be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Lacquer, which comes in a range of glossy colours, and laminate, which is water-resistant and easy to clean, are two excellent choices.

4. Avoid allergens

If your child suffers from allergies, make sure every selection you make is hypoallergenic and does not trap dust easily. In this scenario, metals and plastics are your best options.

5. Make it stylish

Your final decisions should complement the look, feel, colour palette and style of the room. Remember to include a gorgeous rug in front of your wardrobe to help tie everything together.

How to incorporate lighting into a child’s luxury wardrobe

With smart technology, lighting has become a must-have option in any luxury wardrobe design and will help to improve the safety and functionality of your child’s custom cabinetry. These options will make all the difference:

• Install LED strip lights within each shelf, drawer and hanging space. They provide bright, even illumination and will allow easy access to clothes and accessories.
• Add motion-activated lighting that will turn on whenever your wardrobe door is opened.
• Consider adding a dimmer switch so that the brightness can be adjusted to suit every need.
• Don’t forget to include both task and ambient lighting in the rest of the room so that your youngster can dress easily, read a book and feel safe and secure. Fairy lights and wall sconces will add extra ambience and create a cosy aesthetic.

How to declutter and organise a child’s wardrobe

There’s no doubt about it, children’s rooms can be a nightmare to keep neat and tidy and fill most parents with well-founded dread. And yes, the wardrobe situation is usually the most challenging. So how do you keep on top of the mess?

Follow these steps for optimal success:

1. Declutter

Amid the kicking and screaming, the best way to tackle a wardrobe that’s jam-packed with everything under the sun is to empty it out – and remember to include the contents of the laundry basket.

Sort everything into categories comprising current favourites, items they’ll grow into or only use in-season, things you can donate and junk that needs to hit the bin. Do the same with toys, games and books.

2. Organise their hanging space

Once all the excess stuff has been cleared out, it’s time to repack everything in an orderly fashion, starting with the hanging space.

Bearing in mind that children’s clothing is on the small side, installing a double rail system in your wardrobe is an excellent idea. You can then put their most popular items in the lower section so that they can access them unassisted, and the seasonal stuff higher up.

Group the clothes into categories (like party dresses, smart shirts and trousers). This will allow your child to navigate their options more easily. You can even think about providing them with a couple of pre-matched outfits so that they can grab and go.

If you want to include toys in the hanging section, pop them into storage boxes and keep them at ground level.

3. Fill up the drawers

Children’s clothing can be tricky to keep under control in big drawers, but there are some easy tricks that will help make this a little easier.

Drawer dividers are an excellent idea and will help keep haphazard items like socks from rolling around. Once you have sensible compartments in place you can start by separating t-shirts from shorts and so on. Research some clever folding techniques to help you optimise both space and accessibility – there are plenty of YouTube videos out there dedicated to this very topic.

4. Sort out their shoes

How many times are you halfway out the front door and your child can only find one shoe? Why? Because they’re under the bed, hidden on the top of their desk or buried, half-chewed, in the dog basket!

So put a stop to the extra stress and find a fun way to encourage your child to put them away. Cool shoe racks are always a good option or place a basket or colourful crate next to their wardrobe so that they can chuck them in as they charge towards the TV room.

How to future-proof your child’s luxury wardrobe

No kiddie’s wardrobe is going to appeal to them forever unless you take measures to future-proof it. So what are your options?

• Install shelves that can be adjusted as they grow, allowing them to store their stuff at a suitable height, no matter their age.
• Select a modular wardrobe system that can be expanded or modified as storage requirements change over time.
• Opt for a design with drawers or shelves that can be added or removed according to varying needs.
• Install a hanging rod that can be modified or relocated as your child grows taller.
• Clothing and toy preferences are bound to change over time, so make sure that your luxury wardrobe design accommodates multiple storage options from drawers and shelves to rails and baskets. That way, they can use each space differently as they get older.
• With modern technology, convertible furnishings are all the rage, so look into the option of building a wardrobe that can be transformed into something else once your child reaches a certain age.

Get professional advice on your wardrobe designs from FCI London

Designing a luxury wardrobe is an intricate business and requires a great deal of pre-planning, accurate measuring and expert conceptualisation skills.

On top of this, there are bespoke customisation options that can make all the difference in how you store your possessions.

And, if you consider the materials, tools and precision needed, doing it yourself could lead to disaster and will cost you a fortune if you make even the slightest mistake.

For these reasons, we recommend that you enlist the help of a professional to ensure that every element of your wardrobe design is perfect.

FCI London’s expert designers and cabinet makers have over three decades of experience under their belts and will help turn your dreams into a masterpiece. Connect with us and let’s get the ball rolling.

You can also pop into our spectacular showroom for a chat and a glass of bubbly.

View our latest interior design projects for more inspiration

Designing gorgeous spaces for discerning clients is our purpose and passion and we’re always excited to share our creations. So if you need some fresh ideas, check out our latest projects. You’re sure to find something that ignites a flame.