Author Chigwell Building & Joinery
Date 07/07/2021
Regardless of the size of your wardrobe, most people find that they end up facing limited storage space.
Let’s face it, most of us end up buying clothes, accessories and shoes, and at some point the wardrobe will end up getting full to the brim.
But at the end of the day it is not an impossible feat.
All you need is to be a little creative and utilise some tips and tricks which can make you achieve the best use of the space available in your wardrobe.
Check out the following ideas you could implement.
Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/tshirt-shirt-clothes-casual-2428521/
Clothing dividers are simple yet very effective organisational helpers.
These divider tags can be easily made on some card stock, and hung in between the clothes in your bespoke wardrobe.
They will make it so much simpler for you to sort your clothes, as you will be able to write on them and classify the clothes by size, season, etc.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-long-sleeves-shirts-on-brown-wooden-clothes-hanger-3735641/
When you hang clothes you will be saving up a considerable amount of space.
However it's important to hang clothes wisely.
Trousers for instance can be hung with belt loops on S-hooks as they will be stored much more compactly like this.
Double hanging clothes will enable you to store more clothes than if you were to use a single rod.
The key is to choose a proper height according to the inside of the customised wardrobe, to leave additional space for some folded clothes to be stored underneath as well.
Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/laundry-basket-wicker-basket-2414021/
Hampers could work wonders in helping you organise your stuff.
Built-in hampers can be easily installed in your made to measure wardrobe, and they will allow you to make the best use of all the space in between one shelf and another.
Consider shopping for hampers that are of the ideal size for the spaces you have.
There are several different sizes as well as materials and colours available in many shops, and they are not expensive either.
Sometimes we tend to forget about the storage space available in the upper part of the wardrobe simply because it's out of reach.
While it may sound a bit unfeasible to climb up on a chair every time, it is important to make use of all the vertical space in your wardrobe.
Here you could store items that are not currently required such as out of season clothes.
You will also need to make sure that you are utilising all the vertical space, including the space against the inner side of the wardrobe doors.
Here you can install a system with hooks, where you can store small items such as jewellery, scarves, hats, purses and belts.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/shallow-focus-photography-of-assorted-color-leather-belts-1023937/
Most accessories stored in your fitted wardrobe tend to be smallish, but since you probably have tons of items, they are taking up quite a lot of space.
You could however reorganise such items a bit more wisely to leave the space on shelves for clothes and bigger stuff.
Scarves, belts and bags can be hung up.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/womens-black-and-brown-peep-toe-pumps-5705482/
Shoes tend to take up a considerable amount of space in your wardrobe.
But chances are that you are not utilising the space available well enough.
For instance, if you install a shoe rack you will be amazed at how many more pairs of shoes you would be able to store.
You could also try to position the shoes in a different way, to fit more pairs of shoes on one shelf.
If you place one shoe facing the other one in the opposite direction, you will be able to save up some space.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/folded-assorted-color-shirts-581087/
Sometimes a lot of space is left unused in your wardrobe simply because there are only doors, and no drawers whatsoever.
Certain clothes and small items are better stored in a drawer rather than on shelves or hung up.
Consider adding drawers to your custom wardrobe to accommodate such items more neatly, while also saving up on space.
A common mistake many tend to do is haphazardly dump items in their drawers, often without bothering to fold, sort or place neatly.
You will be amazed at how much space this takes up.
If only you devote some time to organising your drawers you will notice that there will be much more free space for you to store other items, not to mention how much neater and nicer it will look.
Drawer organisers can help you do this easily.
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/various-tote-bags-hanging-by-entrance-8053928/
Any handbags and bags could be hung to the doors of the bedroom wardrobe rather than left folded on a shelf.
They would also be stored much more neatly in this way too, not to mention that they will be free from creases.
You will also be better able to locate the bag you need more easily and quickly.
As we move from one season to another you will need to shuffle the clothes that are suitable for the current season, and place the unseasonal items away.
Such items could be stored underneath the bed, or at the back of the custom wardrobe where it is harder to reach them.
In such a way you will be able to make room for the current items, and have them in the most accessible sections of your wardrobe.
If the inside of your wardrobe is not well organised, and poorly lit, things are going to be more difficult to find.
Have you ever considered how much easier it could be if there is some light within the wardrobe?
Recessed lights are ideal as they do not take up much space.
There are various kinds of small lights which do not take up space and which can be easily installed inside a custom made wardrobe.
Sliding doors are just great to improve your wardrobe space, as well as to reduce the need for floor space in your bedroom.
You may consider removing the current wardrobe doors and have them replaced with sliding doors.
This is not that difficult to do, and you can do it as a custom DIY wardrobe project too.
It could also be a great way to spruce up your wardrobe!
Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/anonymous-black-girl-lying-on-stack-of-clothes-in-bedroom-4545965/
If you were to spend some time sorting out the clothes and other items in your wardrobe you will most probably realise that there are many which you do not even need anymore.
Clothes which are too big or too small, and others which do not seem that trendy, could be removed and donated to charities or thrift shops.
You will be amazed at how much space you could make in your wardrobe if you do this clean out every once in a while.
Besides, you will also be able to take the opportunity to organise the remaining clothes, as well as feel good about donating to others who can make good use of the items.
If you have plenty of clothes not currently used that you would rather not donate, you should vacuum pack them.
You will be impressed at how much space you will save by doing this.
There are several good quality vacuum bags available in different sizes, and it is quite effortless to tuck away these unused clothes in them and vacuum the air away.
Wall beds, or as they are sometimes referred to, Murphy beds, are great space savers.
When not in use you can simply fold up the bed so that it is vertical against the wall.
In this way you will be able to make use of the floor space beneath it.
Have you ever considered how much space there is underneath your bed?
Chances are that you never thought of storing anything down there, and if only you did this you will be impressed at how much free space you could make in your wardrobe.
Needless to say you will not be storing clothes and items you use regularly under the bed, but you can place vacuum packed clothes, shoes and other items in storage boxes that are of a suitable size to fit under the bed.
As you can see there are several ways and means how you can free up some space in your wardrobe.
You do not have to spend a lot of money, and most ideas can be implemented effortlessly and very simply.
All it takes is some creativity, good will and a keen eye on how to be neater and more organised.
Author Chigwell Building & Joinery
Date 10/05/2021
With limited spaces and smallish rooms, fitted wardrobes are often preferred.
Such wardrobes are ideal for space saving and to allow for better organisation.
However, bespoke solutions tend to be very costly.
If you have a limited budget you can however try to design and create your own fitted wardrobe online.
Here are some ideas you can use to give you that all important inspiration!
Read on to find out more, or use a jump link below to skip to a desired chapter:
One of the most important things about fitted wardrobes is that they can be designed to make the best use of the available space.
When you plan your fitted wardrobe you need to make sure that the total wardrobe space is maximised.
First measure the length of the space available, to plan how many doors to include.
Next, depending on this you can better visualise how you will be planning the compartments of the wardrobe.
Try drawing simple diagrams with measurements to come up with different configurations that will best accommodate what you plan to store in the wardrobe.
And always keeping in mind the available space.
To maximise the space it is best to use the full height all the way up to the ceiling.
This may be a bit tricky as the top shelves should be designed in a way to allow you to store items that you do not use regularly.
So make sure that if you plan to store large items such as blankets, storage boxes etc, the shelves are wide and high enough to accommodate these things.
A wardrobe should incorporate at least a few drawers as certain items are rather small and they are best stored in drawers.
Socks and underwear for instance, are best stored in drawers to allow for better organisation, and to make sure that they are more easily accessible.
Whilst drawers are important, make sure that you do not overdo it.
Plan wisely so that you only include too many drawers, and not end up taking too much space away from the rest of your needs.
Moreover, make sure that the size of the drawers are appropriate for the space available, and for the types of items to be stored.
For instance, a very long drawer might end up not being very well organised.
But, very small drawers might not offer enough space for all the items you want to put away.
It is highly recommended to include a shoe rack inside your wardrobe.
Most people have a considerable number of shoes to store and so a shoe rack comes in very handy.
Shoe racks allow you to avoid having shoes displayed in an unsightly fashion all over the bedroom.
And since it’s basically a pull out shelving system, you will be able to see and choose your shoes easily by simply pulling out the rack.
It's a good idea to calculate the space that a certain number of pairs of shoes will take when placed next to one another.
So make sure you design your shoe rack appropriately and do not waste any space unnecessarily.
It’s a really good idea to illuminate your fitted wardrobe by integrating lighting.
This will help you to find whatever you are looking for inside the wardrobe more easily.
Besides being practical, it also makes the interior of the wardrobe look sleek and modern.
An LED hanging rail that is motion activated is often the best choice and adds tons of practicality.
Making use of shelves in your wardrobe is one of the most important factors.
A column of shelves designed in a certain size can allow you to maximise storage space.
Cubby holes also work really well for small items and folded clothes.
Shelves also allow for better organisation and compartmentalisation.
Just try to be careful and plan the dimensions of the shelves you will be including wisely, depending on what you plan to store on them.
A mirror at the back of one of the wardrobe doors is another great idea.
Besides creating the illusion of a bigger wardrobe, a mirror comes in very handy as you try on clothes and prepare yourself.
And the added bonus is you do not end up wasting bedroom wall space unnecessarily.
It’s highly recommended that you use sliding doors as they are much more practical.
Sliding doors make your wardrobe look sleek and modern.
Moreover you won’t have to worry whether there is enough space to open a door, especially if the room is small and floor space is limited.
Make the best use of ceiling height by having your fitted wardrobe go all the way up to the ceiling.
As mentioned earlier, make sure to design the upper part in such a way that you will be able to store items that you do not use on a regular basis.
Painting your fitted wardrobe is a great way to customise it.
There are certain paints which are ideal for this as they adhere nicely and easily to the surface, regardless of the type of material.
Custom painting your wardrobe is just great as you can choose the colour you like best and this will allow you to complement it with the rest of the room’s furnishings.
You could choose a colour that blends into the background, making your fitted wardrobe look as if it were integrated into the wall.
This makes it look sleeker, discreet and unobtrusive.
Since a fitted wardrobe is customisable, you will be able to be creative and make it as multifunctional as you wish.
The key is to make sure that you plan its design carefully depending on the space available and the items you are planning to store within it.
So, shelves, drawers, shoe racks, or even a slide in and out desk space can really make your wardrobe as multifunctional as can be.
As you can see there’s a myriad of design ideas for fitted wardrobes.
You just need to be creative and to keep in mind the importance of planning the design according to your preferences and in line with your storage requirements.
Author Chigwell Building & Joinery
Date 04/03/2021
Do you want a spacious kitchen with plenty of natural light?
Do you fear that nothing creative can be done with your kitchen if it’s too small?
With the right space-conscious designs, a compact room won’t be a barrier to creating a sleek and creative kitchen.
Read the following 10 small kitchen design ideas to learn clever ways of making the most of the limited space in your kitchen.
When space is limited, utilising all of it is a must.
Any disused space without purpose is a waste.
Properties with a small kitchen often have issues using all space efficiently because of the awkward shape of walls, ceiling heights & odd corners.
Custom fitted cabinets are the perfect answer for this dilemma, by building storage around the nooks and crannies to avoid leaving dead space.
You will be surprised at just how much more room your kitchen has after installing custom kitchen cabinets.
Clever design choices lay right under your nose.
A sure-fire way of flooding a kitchen with warmth is by adding a rug.
A colourful patterned rug will give the room a rich splash of colour.
This is more apparent in narrow kitchens with long aisles which will greatly appreciate the colour and material contrast.
A lack of natural light will make your kitchen appear cramped and smaller than it actually is.
Managing the amount of light that enters your kitchen is a necessity if you want to make it feel more spacious.
Why not make life easier for yourself?
Spray finished cabinetry is a clever trick that is often used.
Lacquered cabinets reflect light and brighten the space, making it feel significantly bigger.
Your kitchen will appear cluttered and claustrophobic when surfaces are covered with cooking utensils or appliances.
Utilise the cabinets around your kitchen to store items that are not for everyday use.
Cabinets with adjustable shelving are excellent when following this design choice, especially when your tall smoothie maker needs just a little more room to fit.
Use these closed storage options to give your space room to breathe.
White is the go-to colour for making kitchens look brighter.
But don’t forget just how stylish you can get by introducing black.
Strategic uses of black and white in the kitchen creates complementary contrast.
But colour is not the only way contrast can be created in your kitchen.
You can finish surfaces with different materials to achieve this.
A white gloss and matt black finish from your cabinets will make a statement in your kitchen.
The stark colour contrast and subtle surface contrast will give it a modern look.
Matt surfaces come with the added benefit of scratch resistance and are easier to clean, making your kitchen look better for longer.
One of the first things you’ll notice when walking into a kitchen is the fridge.
Unless your fridge matches the design of your kitchen they might clash.
You don’t want the draw attention away from the showpieces in the room.
Covering your fridge will avoid this and streamline your kitchen.
A custom built unit can be made to match the cabinets, creating a sleek minimalist finish for your kitchen.
Handles on cabinets and drawers eat into the streamlined look of a kitchen.
To maintain a sleek design, replace them with subtle alternatives.
Gola Profiles fit neatly with drawers to keep a low profile, which are built into the frame.
Another alternative to door handles are push to open drawers.
These are fitted mechanisms which allow you to open and close doors with a gentle push.
Couple these with Gola Profiles for even greater convenience.
The practicality of these design choices is ideal for small kitchens.
Open corner cabinets without the risk of damage from sharp edged handles.
Wall alongside your cabinets without the handles brushing or digging into your sides.
Not ready to say goodbye to all your handles?
You could consider just a partial change instead.
Visually, a cluttered appearance will be removed just by replacing the top cabinet handles.
Going with this kitchen design style will create a dramatic asymmetry.
A small kitchen can appear larger with excellent use of colour coordination.
You can craft this illusion by having the room adopt neutral colours.
Gorgeous colours to have for your walls and kitchen units are whites, greys, beiges, blues and creams.
This works by keeping the room bright and blending the walls and cabinetry together.
To further enhance this design, a stainless-steel splash-back or a white tiled splash-back works wonders to add a contemporary edge to your kitchen.
Strategic use of tiles will improve the look of your kitchen.
Tile lines create a visual effect that draw the eye and have a positive effect on your kitchen’s perceived size.
Laying your tiles vertically will draw the eye lengthways, giving the impression that the space is taller.
For a narrow galley kitchen, horizontal lines are recommended.
This will draw the eye to the width of the kitchen, helping the space appear wider.
The colour of the lines should change depending on the effect you want.
Light shades for an especially small space is ideal.
Darker colours can be used to create thicker lines to make the widening effect more noticeable, though this could overpower the space.
Should you fear the tile patterns will overwhelm your kitchen, don’t be afraid to go small.
An accent wall will accomplish the attention focusing effect with dramatic flair, without overdoing it.
A kitchen island in the centre of the room is a top-notch addition to the space.
This focus on the island as the main workspace in the kitchen can be enhanced by adding an oven or sink.
With an inward facing oven or sink in the kitchen, it establishes it as the area for preparing food.
An island like this should use its space for a miniature fridge or freezer.
This will keep the requirements for cooking close by, making your kitchen seem larger by highlighting the practical floor space that surrounds it.
A small kitchen does not mean you cannot be creative with your designs.
Clever choices to work around its compact size must be taken to achieve a successful finish.
So why not try out some of the ideas listed above, and realise how easy it can be to enhance the space in your kitchen.
Author Chigwell Building & Joinery
Date 07/01/2021
If you have guests coming to stay, it is important that you have a welcoming guest bedroom.
Any guest will appreciate being shown into a bedroom that is nicely decorated, clean and comfortable.
Here’s 10 ideas that will help you to create the perfect guest bedroom:
Even if your guests are not going to stay for a long time, it is important that the bedroom has a suitable amount of storage space to allow them to place personal belongings discreetly.
Your guest bedroom may not be that spacious, and so you need to be practical when it comes to designing the layout.
You need to make the best use of the space available.
So you may wish to invest in beds that have incorporated storage.
Another practical option is to place a window seat which will double up as storage as well as a seating option.
The bed is surely the main attraction of any bedroom.
It is also responsible for taking up a considerable amount of space in a room.
Nowadays there are various beds on the market that help in space saving.
Even a small room can be turned into a spacious one if you choose a practical bedding option.
One of the most popular options is a wall bed.
Whenever the bed is not in use it can be pushed up against the wall so as to make room for other activities.
This will help to make the room multifunctional.
A sofa bed is another great option if you have space limitations in your guest bedroom.
There are sofa beds that can turn into single, twin or even queen-sized beds.
Your guests will appreciate basic pieces of furniture, such as a small desk.
This could be incorporated within the wardrobe, for example.
Try to ensure that each piece of furniture is as adaptable as possible so as to make the best use of the space available.
Your guests will appreciate some quiet, private time.
So it is important that you think of a practical seating option in their bedroom.
This could be an armchair, a small couch, or a window seat.
Alternatively you could invest in a sofa bed.
Investing in a high quality supporting mattress is of the essence.
You do not want your guests to toss and turn in bed because the mattress is not comfortable.
Some guests may need a good mattress to alleviate pain and discomfort due to age or physical disabilities.
So make sure your guests have a fully supporting mattress that will ensure their stay is memorable for all the right reasons.
While you may be placing importance on practical aspects, it is important not to neglect the aesthetics of the guest bedroom.
You should make sure to choose a theme or style, so base the furnishings on that same concept.
It will be nice to add some creature comforts to make your guests feel as if they were staying in the luxury of a hotel room.
For instance, a TV and a phone are great additions as they may wish for some privacy.
Make sure that they have the Wi-Fi password readily available.
You may wish to write it and place it in the room so that they won’t have to ask you for it every time they try to connect to the internet.
You could also place a mini bar and drinks making facilities so that they can feel more comfortable and at ease, instead of having to go to the kitchen every time they feel like having a drink.
Basic amenities are important.
This includes enough towels and clean toiletries, as well as robes for your guests.
You want them to feel at home, so make sure they have a sufficient supply of such items in their drawers or wardrobe.
Sometimes you might be so excited to create the perfect guest bedroom that you could easily end up overdoing it.
Bear in mind that simplicity is better than going overboard.
So, avoid over-cluttering the room as you should aim to make it feel spacious.
This can be done by sticking to certain practical furnishings, as well as by choosing light tones.
You could install a mirror strategically to make the room appear bigger too.
Plan to hang pictures to one or more of the walls in your guest bedroom?
Make sure not to make them too personal, as you want your guests to feel at home.
Avoid pictures of your family, for example.
Some aesthetically pleasing splashes of colour to the walls with beautiful art and photography could work wonders to make the room cozy and welcoming.
Greenery can really help to make a room feel more welcoming.
By adding a couple of house plants in the guest bedroom you could really improve the room’s ambiance and freshness.
Try to allow for plenty of natural light to enter the room.
This will make the room feel brighter, airier and more welcoming.
Avoid installing heavy curtains, or dark blinds.
Always stick to light shades when it comes to the soft furnishings.
In the case of curtains, it’s best to opt for sheer and light coloured curtains which will allow plenty of light to come into the room.
Speaking of light, it is also important to ensure that the lighting fixtures in the room are sufficient to offer your guests enough bright light should they wish to read a book for example.
Lighting considerations are important, be they artificial or natural lights.
As you can see, there are various ways to make your guest bedroom be truly amazing.
Your guests deserve the best, and you want to make sure that you excel as a host.
A guest bedroom can come in useful on various other occasions, so it is a good idea to invest in a nicely designed and practical multifunctional guest bedroom.
Author Chigwell Building & Joinery
Date 04/11/2020
Do you have a small bedroom? Are you always trying to stuff things in the limited space you have in the wardrobe, or rummaging through clutter?
If this is a problem that you cannot stand anymore, you should check out the following 13 storage ideas which are ideal for small bedrooms.
Even if your bedroom is small, there is no need to feel too cramped whenever you enter.
Check out how you can make this happen.
Read on to find out more, or use a jump link below to skip to a desired chapter:
Have you ever considered storing stuff underneath your bed?
That floor space beneath your bed is not to be forgotten as you could actually make good use of it.
You could invest in a storage bed, or else opt to create a DIY under bed storage space.
If you want to do this the cheaply, simply buy a number of containers ideally with wheels, in which you can store stuff.
Make sure they are of a size that they can fit neatly under the bed.
Storing stuff under the bed can help you clear that unsightly visible clutter in no time.
Besides, if you check your wardrobe you are bound to find a considerable amount of items which you seldom use.
These can be tucked away under the bed, and by doing so you could be freeing up space in your wardrobe, which can then be used for other belongings you use more often.
Having a wall bed fitted is perfect for small bedrooms.
These beds which are sometimes also referred to as Murphy beds, will offer you the opportunity of folding up against the wall when not in use.
This effectively frees up precious floor space for the rest of the day when you are not sleeping in the bed.
Many people simply fold clothes and then stuff them inside their wardrobe or closet somewhat haphazardly, or without paying much attention to good organisation.
If on the other hand you make good use of drawer dividers, you would be saving up more space than you ever thought possible.
These dividers are ideal for dressers.
It is also very important to organise your closet or wardrobe carefully.
Some more shelves could work better.
You might also wish to consider adding one or more rods for hanging clothes, or installing over the door hangers.
Out of season clothes should not be allowed to take up the limited space you have in your wardrobe or closet.
It is more sensible to vacuum pack your clothes and store them away for the time being, especially the bulky jackets and coats which take up so much precious space!
Some furniture items could be used for dual purposes.
Nowadays there are many smart ideas when it comes to modern and contemporary furniture.
These work great in small bedrooms.
Some popular examples include a floating drawer instead of a simple shelf, a storage cabinet instead of just a table, and a floating desk.
The wardrobe is the biggest furniture piece in your bedroom.
Ideally, you should have a large wardrobe so as to manage to store as many items inside as possible.
So, you may wish to consider investing in a whole wall wardrobe which will take up as much wall space as possible, especially as high up as you can go.
Bespoke made-to-measure fitted wardrobes will help you maximise storage space.
Chances are that you would still end up using any space above your wardrobe for storage purposes, and this will look rather clumsy.
So it is better to invest in a large and well organised wardrobe which will serve its purpose well.
In order to avoid having it look too bulky, make sure to consider its design, such as by having a mirrored facade, or incorporating some drawers or a desk within it.
Chances are that some items that you are currently storing in your bedroom could be stored away in other rooms in your house.
Some stuff does not necessarily need to be available in your bedroom.
Chances are you will find a good many things that you can do without!
Some items could also be sold, or given away too.
The bed’s headboard can be put to good use for storage purposes.
It is the perfect hideout for small stuff and it will help you reduce clutter from your bedside table.
You can store small clothing items, books and a myriad of items inside your headboard.
Any free space on your wall should be used well.
Wall space can be used for storage purposes if you hang shelves.
Nowadays there are various kinds of decorative wall storage ideas that you could opt for.
Apart from being practical, they are also aesthetically pleasing.
An ottoman serves a dual purpose.
It is a place where you can sit, so you can do away with a chair.
And, you can use it for storage too and it can come in really handy as inside you can tuck away quite a lot of stuff.
In many cases you might have a couple of narrow spaces tucked away between a wall and a piece of furniture.
Such spaces should be utilised to store small items.
For instance, you could utilise the space to hang jackets, or to insert a stand for jewellery or belts, or for a compact shoe rack.
Any unutilised spaces should be used, and ideally you should opt for fitted storage solutions.
Customised storage units can help you make the best use of the space available.
When ordering such units make sure to consider what you will be storing inside them so that you can design the unit accordingly.
For instance, if you intend to hang items you will need to include a space for hooks.
If you are going to have shelves, make sure that the space of the shelves is ideal for what you will be placing on them.
If you plan to place small items, there is no need to have a considerable height between one shelf and another, and this will enable you to have a bigger number of shelves within that space.
As you can see there are various things you can do to increase your bedroom’s storage space, regardless of how small your bedroom might be.
So give some of the above ideas a try and see what difference they make to the available space in your small bedroom.