Currently, there are a large number of wardrobes available in the market. First, to decide which cabinet to choose, you need to familiarize yourself with its varieties. After all, a lot depends on the right furniture in the house: the harmony of the interior, the convenience of storing things and, most importantly, how long this furniture will last. First, let's look at the types of wardrobes for storing clothes.
Purpose of the closet in the living room
The living room is a room for relaxing and receiving guests, so it should not be heavily loaded with furniture and accessories. But if you have to install a wardrobe here, then you need to choose a suitable option. A correctly chosen model will not take up much space.
What should a closet be like?
- Practical and ergonomic. It should have plenty of space for things. Proper distribution of clothes in the closet is also important.
- Size matters. You shouldn’t buy a huge wardrobe for a small living room. If things don’t all fit on the shelves, then you can find other storage places.
- Pay attention to the door opening in the closet. You can choose the option with sliding openings: it’s convenient and doesn’t disturb anyone.
The cabinet model is selected according to the design style of the room. For example, classics do not go well with minimalism. And the closet will spoil the style in the room.
Before purchasing a cabinet, you should choose a place where it will stand. Then it will become clear which type is suitable.
Advantages of fabric wardrobes
The main advantage of fabric wardrobes is the variety of colors and patterns on the fabric. They can attract attention and become a central element when creating the look of a room. Most often, those who have chosen this mobile type of furniture for themselves select the remaining interior details in a suitable style.
If we list the main advantages of this unusual wardrobe, then textile storage facilities are good in the following parameters:
- if necessary, you can replace the cover (in some stores they are sold separately);
- There are models on the market with different numbers of compartments and contents;
- low cost does not impair ergonomics and does not limit the functionality of furniture;
- rubber feet do not leave scratches on any floor covering and do not slip on it;
- easy to assemble and dismantle;
- the cover can be washed at home;
- weight about 5 kilograms;
- can be transported even in a passenger car.
Initially, fabric wardrobes were intended for children and teenagers, but very soon they began to appear in a wide variety of interiors. For example, there are many strict monochromatic options on the market for minimalism or floral textile wardrobes for Provence.
Types of Living Room Cabinets
- Classic wardrobe, doors open outwards;
- Model with a sliding design, can be built into a niche;
- Compact pencil case;
- A secretary where shelves and a writing desk are connected;
- Display cabinet, glass doors, even the walls can be glass;
- The slide is tightly closed with doors from below, and may have glazing on top;
- A sideboard with a bar for alcoholic drinks, usually storing dishes in it;
- Buffet, a universal cabinet for storing various items and things.
Which package is better?
The classic combination is shelves + rod. Variations with lighting, tie hangers, hangers for hangers, shoe compartments, and drawers are also possible. For example, it is better to choose a closet for the bedroom with compartments for underwear, for the hallway - with lighting, and for the living room - with open compartments or glass doors.
Modular wardrobes are also popular - they are equipped with shelving with open and closed storage systems, corner modules, cabinets, side sections, chests of drawers and other elements that can be built into the set. The advantage of a modular design is that it can be moved around the apartment, so this is a good option for those who like constant rearrangement and variety.
Material of manufacture
Buyers always look at the appearance of the cabinet front. If the frame is made with high quality, then the front part should also be beautiful.
There are many materials for making cabinet facades:
- Made of natural wood, the model is expensive and massive;
- A cheap option made of chipboard or MDF, the outside is laminated or veneered;
- Matte or glossy model, made of thick and durable glass;
- Mirror inserts in the doors to create a visually larger space in the room;
- Plastic and metal are rarely used for facades, only some decorative decorations on surfaces.
Good options are obtained by combining materials.
Layout in the living room
After choosing the type of cabinet, you need to decide where it will be located. There are some rules that should be followed so as not to spoil the design of the room:
- A large closet should become the center of the living room, with other items distributed in relation to it. Here you should maintain symmetry to make the room seem spacious.
- If the model is round with original decor, then it can be installed in the center of the living room.
- With a massive version up to the ceiling, the emphasis is on low furniture, but in a beautiful design. This will prevent an overload effect.
- Choose the sofa upholstery or small pillows with a cover to match the color of the cabinet.
Filling
The ideal office wardrobe is equipped with:
- a separate compartment with a bracket (partition) for hangers;
- a compartment for a change of clothes, uniform or other type of clothing;
- top shelf for small items (gloves, hats);
- umbrella holders;
- bottom shelf for shoes;
- drawers or shelves for storing other wardrobe items and personal belongings of employees.
However, the specific content of the cabinet depends on the size of the room and the product itself, the number of employees (visitors), the purpose of the cabinet and some other factors that should be carefully considered in advance.
Rules for placing the cabinet inside
How the shelves and sections in the closet are located is also important. Therefore, it is worth initially considering what things and objects will be stored in it. Manufacturers offer a lot of models with different layouts, so you can choose. Furniture showrooms offer to make models to order.
What could be inside the cabinet:
- Shelves are not the same length and width. Things that are not often worn are usually placed on top. Below on the shelves are placed clothes and bed linen. If the model has great depth, then retractable shelves are made.
- Drawers are suitable for small accessories and clothing items.
- At the bottom there is a niche for shoes.
- Be sure to have a compartment with a barbell and hangers where you can store long and outerwear.
For convenience, you should build lighting above the cabinet or inside it.
Varieties
There are many types of furniture, in particular wardrobes. The division into types occurs according to the type, size of products, material of manufacture and number of doors, design. You need to choose based on the available space and personal preferences.
Classic wardrobe
For a cabinet in a classic style, innovations are unacceptable - this furniture is conservative, without modern decor. It is made of wood, its imitation (for example, MDF). General characteristics:
- There are several sections for clothes.
- The facade is framed with a decorative frame.
- The color range is from light to brown.
- Natural wood texture.
- The wardrobe can be with or without a mirror.
There are 3 options for the classic wardrobe. The toiletry case is small in size and fits well into small bedrooms. Internal content: shelves (usually there are 5 of them), drawers, compartment for hangers. At the top there may be a mezzanine for small accessories. Suitable for placing only necessary items (casual, weekend clothes, underwear, bedding). Can be installed in room niches, usually has 2 doors.
The combined version has 3–5 doors. The internal contents are as follows: a hanger bar, a mezzanine, maybe with drawers. Suitable for storing clothes and shoes. The facade is usually decorated with a large mirror.
Tips for choosing a fabric wardrobe, advantages of furniture
More modern options are cabinets with an end rod for hangers. The device is retractable, which saves space and increases the capacity of the product. The depth of the cabinet is greater than that of previous models, but the width is smaller. The product is narrow, suitable for small rooms.
Modular
Large modular systems are suitable for creating a separate dressing room. They have an undeniable advantage - they are very roomy. Can be installed near every wall of the room. The cabinets are assembled from separate modules that can be easily combined with each other. The set includes furniture islands with drawers and mirrors.
Modular cabinets are rarely equipped with standard shelves. Instead of them, metal meshes are installed. Also inside the systems are baskets, stands for shoes and hats, and rods.
Built-in
Built-in wardrobes fit well into dressing rooms. With their help, you can rationally plan your storage system. Such models are always installed near the walls - they serve as the walls of the product itself. Assembling such furniture can only be entrusted to professionals, since any defect will result in a serious problem.
Placement options for built-in models:
- In the corner of the room (the ceiling and walls serve as cabinet walls).
- In a niche (the only furniture elements are the internal filling and doors).
The advantage of built-in products is that they can be installed in places where standard structures cannot be placed. Most often, such models are made to order.
Filling: blocks for shoes, rods, shelves, stands for hats, mezzanines, baskets, drawers. The customer himself can determine what exactly will be inside the cabinet; this is important when making individual furniture. But even in ready-made versions there is a large selection of fillings to suit any needs.
Hull
Cabinet cabinets can be placed in a spacious room where there is free space. Can be with shelves, rods, drawers. Some models are equipped with hinged doors, others have sliding doors, which are more modern and occupy a minimum of usable space. They are convenient because they can be moved to any place in the apartment. Such cabinets are traditionally popular, although many designers believe that it is much more convenient to use built-in systems.
Choosing a cabinet to match your interior style
When arranging the living room in a certain way, we must not forget about the correct selection of furniture and various decor.
Therefore, when buying a cabinet, you need to know what style it will suit:
- The simple look of the model is suitable for minimalism. These can be modular or coupe options. There should be no decorations on the facade; geometric regular shapes are welcome. The color scheme is consistent throughout the furniture.
- High-tech adheres to modern designs. For example, glass inserts, chrome elements.
- Classic is wooden furniture with carvings and gilding on the doors. Bronze and stained glass are also suitable. Mirrors on the front of the cabinet will create a luxurious look.
- A model with an original pattern in the form of ornate lines, mirror inserts - all this is modern.
- The country style will be complemented by a cabinet made of antique wood.
- Provence provides decoration with floral patterns on the front of the cabinet. Carving on the doors is welcome.
Scenery
Mirror doors are an option for sliding wardrobes. They add beauty to the room, highlight the interior and visually expand the space.
To improve the design of the mirror, several additional improvements are used:
- mirror tinting, a special film is glued to it, which gives the mirror an unusual color. You will look into it like an ordinary mirror, only black, gray, brown or any other color. This design will be an unusual decoration for the bedroom;
- a pattern is a drawing applied using a special technique. Parts of the mirror become transparent or slightly matte. Thanks to this decoration, original patterns, color compositions, designs and much more appear;
- Photo printing has gained popularity quite recently. Using special technology, absolutely any design can be applied to glass or mirror. A child’s favorite character, landscape, animals or family photo.
There are millions of options for decorating a closet; if you have a desire to purchase original, high-quality furniture, put in a little effort. Be sure to inspect the model you like up and down. By following simple rules, you can easily buy something that will please you for many years.
Expert advice on how not to make a mistake with your choice
- The space for furniture must be measured to make it easier to navigate when choosing the appropriate option;
- For reliability and safety, you should buy models from well-known companies;
- In a furniture showroom, carefully check the cabinet for defects and damage;
- The operation of fastening elements and retractable parts that determine the functionality of the cabinet is checked;
- Flat surfaces must have an excellent polish without roughness;
- The legs should have a base, which creates a strong structure and serves as decoration.
It is better to choose a cabinet that is simple and easy to assemble. There will be no problems with it if you have to transport furniture.
Choosing a closet for the living room is not an easy task. Since before going to the salon, you should resolve several issues related to the design, shape, style and size of the model. You should not skimp on the quality of materials and components. After all, a wardrobe is purchased for a long time.
Door opening mechanisms - types and features
According to the method of opening the doors, wardrobes are:
- swing;
- sliding;
- folding.
The swing opening mechanism is a traditional door with hinges. The main advantage of swing-out facades is their long service life; high-quality fittings ensure uninterrupted operation of the mechanism for 50 years.
The design of sliding systems consists of two guides and a roller mechanism that ensures the movement of the sashes. When opened, the front part does not extend beyond the boundaries of the frame; the sashes overlap one after another, opening access to 50% of the internal space.
The folding mechanism is a symbiosis of a swing and sliding system. Folding door leaves consist of several equal-width elements that are connected to each other using special fasteners. The upper part of the doors is equipped with a roller mechanism. The facade moves along the upper guide (in the designs of folding mechanisms there is no lower rail). To open the facade, pull the handles; when swung open, the door leaf folds like a “book.”
