Sliding wardrobes have long won the recognition of customers. It is difficult to overestimate their merits. A properly designed structure will ergonomically and easily accommodate everything you plan to store in it, transform the interior of the apartment, hide the flaws of the room - cover a pipe, a niche, hide the curvature of the wall - and help visually expand the space!
Choosing a wardrobe is a responsible undertaking! The furniture market is impressive with a huge number of offers. How to choose a good, reliable option from this variety? The range of materials, colors, types of finishes and options for internal filling is so large that it can be difficult to decide.
To ensure that you are satisfied with the results of your search and selection of products, do not go beyond the planned budget and do not lose sight of any important detail, we offer you tips on choosing a wardrobe. We hope they help you!
How to choose material?
Material selection is perhaps one of the most important selection issues you will face. As a rule, the body and internal filling of structures are made of chipboard or MDF boards of various thicknesses. The thickness of the slabs, in order to avoid sagging, should be calculated based on the width of each specific span (shelf). This is a fairly important nuance that is best left to professionals who have experience in designing this type of furniture.
Chipboard
Chipboard is a chipboard that is made by pressing wood particles under high temperatures with the addition of a binder. As a rule, formaldehyde resins are used as a binder. The surfaces of the plates are laminated, and an edge is rolled onto the ends. And there are tons of color and finish options! Chipboard is the most popular material used to produce the type of furniture we need. In addition to such advantages as strength, lightness and ease of use, it is also much cheaper than others. When purchasing a product, pay attention to the edge! Chipboard is afraid of moisture, but only if the edge is poorly laminated.
MDF
MDF - the abbreviation is a transliteration of the English name Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). The literal translation is “medium-density fibreboard”. This material is made from fine sawdust. During the production of panels, wood raw materials are ground, then treated with steam under high pressure, thoroughly dried and glued with paraffin and lingin. It is worth noting that MDF is absolutely environmentally friendly and harmless to human health. MDF is very durable, resistant to moisture and hot steam. Accordingly, furniture made from MDF will cost more than similar furniture made from chipboard.
Plywood is the flagship of the master’s flight of fancy
Plywood cabinets are a superior product in many ways. They are strong due to the design of the material and its lack of vulnerabilities typical of particle boards. At the same time, plywood gives the feeling of natural wood. It is less expensive than similar solid wood planks, which makes it attractive. It is a very durable material that provides an excellent base for creating furniture, so it is used in a variety of projects. But, like any other, it has both advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of before use.
The sheet material is made from thin “layers” of wood veneer that are glued together during the manufacturing process, with the wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees from the previous layer. This alternation has several important advantages:
- reduces the tendency of wood to split when driving along the edges;
- Reduces expansion and shrinkage, providing improved dimensional stability.
Usually the number of layers is odd, so the sheet is balanced, which reduces warping. Because plywood is bonded in layers perpendicular to each other, with an odd number of components, it is very difficult to bend perpendicular to the direction of the layer placed on the outside.
This layered nature has many benefits, but it is what actually makes porous wood susceptible to water damage. When exposed to water, plywood becomes heavy and warps if it is not covered with a protective layer of paint or varnish.
There are different types of plywood:
Softwood plywood
These materials are usually made from softwood (cedar, spruce, fir, pine), it is the most common, and can vary in thickness and number of layers in different projects.
Hardwood Plywood
Hardwood is the strongest plywood made from angiosperm trees and is valued for its strength, hardness and wear resistance.
Tropical plywood
Tropical mixed wood is an inexpensive grade of plywood, but it is considered superior to softwood plywood due to its higher quality, density, strength and uniformity of layers.
Decorative plywood
This type is created from quality hardwood such as ash, oak, birch, maple, rosewood or mahogany and is used for expensive cabinets and even light fixtures.
Flexible plywood
Formed from a very thin center layer and two outer pieces, flexible plywood is specifically designed to bend the pieces. This material helps create rounded corners of furniture.
Determining the sizes:
After you have chosen the material for the wardrobe, you should think about the dimensions of the future wardrobe, namely, decide on its height, width and depth, that is, choose the wardrobe according to the dimensions that you need.
How to choose a built-in wardrobe? In this case, the cabinet may lack side walls, floor, ceiling and back wall. This significantly reduces the cost of the cabinet. However, all cabinet elements will be attached directly to the walls that enclose your room. If you value the finishing of walls, floors and ceilings, then you should choose a cabinet wardrobe. It should also be remembered that the built-in wardrobe cannot be moved to another place - it will be created exclusively for a specific niche or corner. While the cabinet wardrobe can be easily moved to any other place if necessary.
The height of the wardrobe is limited only by the height of the ceilings that your apartment has. However, if the ceiling is suspended, then a technological gap to the cabinet is required (at least 50 mm!). This will help avoid damage and unnecessary costs.
We would like to draw your attention to such a thing as the depth of the cabinet. The size of 600 mm was chosen as the golden mean. With such a depth of the closet, the rod for hanging clothes will be placed in the usual way. Clothes will not wrinkle, and the wardrobe will be more than spacious. However, here too you can find a way out. If you are limited in depth by the size of the wall, then end hangers will be used. Moreover, you can use both stationary and retractable cabinets - it’s up to you to decide.
Successful combinations
The arrangement of materials in the manufacture of sliding wardrobes opens up large-scale possibilities.
- Firstly, it is advantageous in terms of implementing design ideas. Since all slabs have different characteristics according to processing technologies.
- Secondly, a combination of several solutions helps to save money. Let's say veneer can be used for facades, external walls, and sashes. And the internal filling and rear walls can be made from more affordable slabs.
Note that chipboard and laminated chipboard, MDF and veneer can be easily combined with other materials and decorative elements. The advantage is that we have different price ranges. That's why we create elegant furniture with a beautiful and presentable appearance, and also help you save money.
Wardrobe doors. Which ones to choose? Selecting a profile for sliding wardrobes:
The main characteristic of a wardrobe is sliding doors. Unlike swing doors, they do not require additional space during use, thus allowing you to free up and rationally use free space, which not every room can boast of. And the variety of materials that are used as inserts for door profiles makes it possible for the future design to fit into any finished interior!
We must not forget about safety. Mirrors and glass must be covered with a high-quality film, the purpose of which is to retain sharp fragments in the event of a strong blow, from which no one is safe. The surface will become covered with cracks, but will not injure anyone who happens to be near the broken glass at that moment.
Production does not stand still, which is why we regularly offer you products with more and more new door sliding systems. In addition to the already familiar floor rolling options, there are mounted systems. They require the presence of a frame, since they are attached to the roof, which in turn must withstand the considerable weight of such doors. Their main advantage is that, unlike free-rolling devices, they do not take up useful space inside the product - they “take away” 100 mm from the depth - and completely hide the body behind them. It seems that such doors are literally floating in the air!
Also, when choosing doors, you should pay attention to the closers - an important detail that ensures comfortable use of the entire structure. Their presence will allow you to not make much effort: you just need to lightly push the door, and the door closer will do the rest.
Regardless of the mechanism, the appearance of the doors deserves special attention. To match the decor to the facades, you need to remember very simple techniques: mirrors in the doors will expand a small space; decorative panels will “weight” the interior and make it more expressive; The gloss finish will highlight the design and style of the entire room. Feel like a real artist, creating a unique design for your closet!
Design
Appearance determines the level of functionality of furniture. Designers have developed several basic concepts that make it possible to create sliding wardrobes that are as convenient to use as possible. The facade will define the unique design features, and choosing a specific type of door will highlight your individual style.
- The built-in structure is installed once and for all, so its appearance must be universal. Cabinet furniture can be moved, changing the boring interior design scheme.
- There are many options for finishing a sliding door, including wood carving, sandblasting, combining materials and using photo printing technology.
- Large cabinets should be ordered with radius doors. This will visually reduce the size of the furniture. The compact design goes well with glass and mirror doors.
- The optimal cabinet depth, according to experts, does not exceed 60 cm. In operating conditions of corner structures, the depth of which exceeds 100 cm, it is possible to equip a full-fledged dressing room.
- The internal space should be divided into several functional zones, allocating space for shelves, drawers, racks and clothes rails.
The quality of the fittings will determine the lifespan of the cabinet, so you should pay attention not only to visually attractive, but also to durable structural components. You should also ask the supplier about quality certificates
Internal filling
So, we choose the “filling” of our design. In order to get a functional wardrobe, you need to do it very carefully. You need to make a detailed list of the things you plan to store in it. Much will depend on how exactly you are used to saving certain things.
High mezzanine shelves will accommodate large items for your household items. Typically, these are things that take up a lot of space but are used occasionally: travel bags, a Christmas tree, sports equipment, maybe even boxes of household appliances.
Wide open shelves are perfect for bed linen, blankets and pillows. While for piles of clothes it is better to use narrower cells (so that things don’t fall over). The optimal shelf height ranges from 280 mm to 320 mm. Drawers should definitely be included in the filling list! Linen, belts and ties will find their home in them. The topmost drawer must be located at a height of 1000-1200 mm from the floor. Also, when designing retractable elements, you should remember that their width should be less than the width of the sliding door behind which they are hidden. Thus, you will not fall into the “dead zone” of the sliding system, which is hidden behind their overlap, and you will fully use the entire internal space of the product.
Clothes hangers should be installed so that you can reach them. The optimal height is 2100 mm from the floor. For long clothes (evening dresses, raincoats and fur coats) leave 1500-1600 mm, for short clothes (shirts, jackets) 1000-1100 mm is enough. There are also so-called “pantographs”, or simply elevators. This item can be installed right up to the ceiling and lowered using a lever to the desired position.
Retractable shoe racks installed inside the structure are suitable for those who do not deny themselves the pleasure of purchasing a large number of shoes and boots.
Trouser. An indispensable piece of internal content for the wardrobe storage system of a business man who values his time and comfort. The trousers will not wrinkle, and you can find the right pair quickly.
Accessories for ties, belts and scarves will complement the interior decoration of future furniture.
Let's sum it up
To sum up which wood material is best for making cabinets, we can say that plywood and MDF come in first place, but if we talk about the price-quality ratio, then MDF wins. At the purchase price, plywood is a more expensive material and requires quite serious processing, especially at the stage of painting and finishing to a high-quality appearance, than MDF.
From MDF you can create large projects at a fairly inexpensive cost of ideal quality. For small projects, I would choose plywood exclusively. And for large projects, I would act according to the priority described below... For “long, high quality and expensive” I would choose plywood. For “fast, very high quality and reasonable price” I would choose MDF.
How to choose a wardrobe for the hallway?
Here it will come in very handy: it will provide easy access to the clothes and shoes that the family wears during the current season, and will serve as storage for a wardrobe for other seasons; several shelves and drawers will allow you to keep shoe polish, bags, sunglasses and other little things we need at hand. Mirrored doors will expand the space, making the hallway visually larger, and allow you to look around yourself from all sides before leaving the house. Thanks to this design, your hallway will always be tidy and spacious.
Stainless steel
Using steel as an alternative to wood can bring a breath of fresh air to any home. Traditionally used in restaurants, laboratories and medical applications, stainless steel cabinets have gone beyond the pale and can now be found in high-end home interiors. Stainless steel is extremely popular these days due to its airy and light appearance. The look and feel it creates in the design is stylish and pleasing to the eye.
But there are problems that arise when working with this material during assembly and painting; in addition, stainless steel acts as a conductor of electricity. The sleek cabinetry with stainless steel finish easily resists fingerprints and scratches. Luckily, fingerprints are erased and steel is a durable and hygienic material that can be cleaned without the use of harsh chemicals.
Stainless steel is more expensive than wood. Cabinets made from it may seem cold. Pairing with warmer materials (such as wood floors, glass inserts) is appealing to the eye and will provide a unique design feel. Therefore, one of the options for the appearance of a sliding wardrobe is to install wooden or wood-shaving frames, coated with metal only in some places.
For the living room
The living room is rightfully considered the face of the house. The main task of a voluminous storage system in the living room is to ensure the safety of the stored property, but to hide it from prying eyes. In addition to the decor of the doors and facade, external design elements will help to emphasize the style of both the product and the interior as a whole - open shelves and racks on which you can place memorable trinkets and accessories. A home library hidden behind inserts made of transparent and translucent glass looks unusual and very impressive. The latest trend in furniture fashion is the TV zone built into the coupe format.
How to complement a wardrobe in the reception area
To make the wardrobes in the reception area even more functional and beautiful, they are supplemented with various elements, for example, a niche for a TV, different shelves and lighting.
A wardrobe with corner shelves looks unusual. As a rule, such shelves have an artistic function. In addition to the fact that they cover the visible side of the cabinet, you can place a variety of decorative elements on them that will highlight the style of the guest room.
An additional component of a modern wardrobe in a living room, such as lighting, plays an important role. It not only has an artistic function, but also serves for the comfort of selecting items in the closet in unfavorable lighting.
The backlight can be LED or halogen. LEDs provide bright lighting with very little power consumption. A tape stretched along the perimeter of the cabinet will serve as a convenient and non-hazardous lighting.
By request, the next note will be on the topic - a built-in wardrobe in the hall. We believe you will like it.
Halogens require careful handling, safety precautions and caution in use.
Very often, the guest room is one of the largest rooms in a house or apartment, and therefore you can install a wardrobe in it with a shelf or niche for appliances and a TV.
For the bedroom
A bedroom closet should be spacious, but at the same time not take up too much space, at least visually. This “furniture paradox” can be realized by paying special attention to the choice of color or combination of colors of the facades. Give preference to light colors and mirrors, and you will get a bedroom that is not cluttered with bulky furniture, in which you will feel light and airy. A simple technique will allow you to create a room interior in which relaxation will be complete and comfortable, and the atmosphere will be filled with home comfort.
Furniture board
Furniture board is the exact opposite of chipboard. This material is created from pieces of natural wood. Craftsmen who work alone like to use it. They love wood, and their style often involves working exclusively with pieces of wood. Although furniture factories in some cases also use this material.
The advantage of furniture board is its naturalness. There is one significant drawback of this material - since it is made from natural pieces of wood, it is simply impossible to achieve the ideal quality of furniture cabinets from it. Kitchen cabinets generally sit in hostile environments where humidity and air temperature are constantly changing, causing the pieces of wood in the panel to expand and contract. This can lead to cracks.
When ordering furniture from this material, you need to be honestly prepared for such shortcomings.
For children's
Involve your child in the design and arrangement process! A wardrobe created with his direct participation will become a source of pride. Believe me, you will give both yourself and him a lot of pleasure! Both the romantic princess and the little robber will definitely be satisfied, having personally gone through the color palette and options for the internal filling of such “serious” furniture. The child will feel responsible for the result and will use the product with pleasure and accuracy. The modern design will easily complement the interior of a first-grader’s playroom and the personal space of an older teenager. Reliable mechanisms will withstand noisy games with friends.
Additional options and non-standard solutions
Creative design, for example, a perfectly white wardrobe with an unusual decor, falls into the category of non-standard solutions. But most often the uniqueness of customers is expressed in other designs and solutions. For example, installing a folding ironing board, a shelf for drying things, or even a bed that hides in an inconspicuous niche with a few simple movements. If the closet is installed in a small apartment, then the additional space in it can be equipped for a personal mini-office.
You can diversify the interior of a room with a simple wardrobe, but with beautiful drawings or photo wallpaper. They create the feeling of a whole picture, but at the same time, behind the door of the furniture there is a convenient space for storing things. Another useful element of the compartment is a small hiding place that will protect personal funds, jewelry and things dear to the heart. But such products must be made only to order, especially if sandblasting is planned.
Folding ironing board
Bed
Mini office
Cache
Drawings and photo wallpapers
Choosing a model for the office
A wardrobe for an office?
Why not? Ease of use, hidden from prying eyes clutter - of course, creative! – and maximum useful organization of space. An excellent choice for those who work from home! Whatever style you choose for your home office, a carefully designed structure will be your best friend. The only question is which option to choose. If you are in doubt about how to correctly determine all the necessary parameters of your future purchase, we remind you that you have the opportunity to consult with our experienced designers and, with the help of professionals, develop a project for your Ideal Sliding Wardrobe in any of the Mr.Doors branded showrooms. There you will find a cup of aromatic coffee and several hours of pleasant pastime, which will turn into the process of creating a design project. Experience in designing this type of furniture allows us to say that we can cope with any, even the most difficult task; We will take into account all your wishes and provide you with first-class service.
MDF in furniture production
We also readily use this material for wardrobes. It is liked by both furniture manufacturers and customers. Its production is based on modernized technologies, although MDF is also a particle board.
- Wood fibers are pre-prepared for further processing.
- They are dried and impregnated with adhesive compounds.
- Then they are pressed at high temperature.
In terms of quality and environmental friendliness, MDF is one step higher than chipboard. Therefore, the prices for such slabs are higher. Laminated film is not used in their production. The surfaces are close to natural wood, perfectly processed and smooth. In addition, MDF is painted, which makes the color range varied.
As for physical characteristics, MDF:
- lasting,
- withstands fastenings and loads,
- protected from the harmful effects of moisture and mold.
Designers love to interact with it because there are no restrictions on working with forms. You can safely use rounded, smooth, broken and curved lines!
Veneer
This is a thin layer of wood that has been processed. There are completely natural varieties or those created with the addition of artificial components. Veneer is excellent for cladding MDF or chipboard.
With its use, furniture components acquire additional strength, which means they will last longer. Its aesthetics are also important: the design looks more presentable and expensive.
