Built-in swing wardrobe - types of models and device

Buying a cabinet forces you to think about its colors and internal contents, because new furniture must fit into the design of the room and be functionally comfortable. It is equally important to choose a module with a comfortable type of opening. Although sliding facades are considered more stylish, many prefer hinged facades - a classic option that has earned its recognition.

Built-in wardrobe - features and benefits

The main feature of this model is the principle of movement of the valves. Using a handle on the front, they open forward and to the sides. There must be space in front of the cabinet so that the doors can open freely; this is the only disadvantage of swing doors. Free access for the owner is very important for comfortable use of the contents of the built-in structure. The facades are fastened using hinges and self-tapping screws.

Advantages of this mechanism:

affordable price;
high-quality parts last a long time;
ease of opening the cabinet and changing accessories;
reliable fixation of doors in a vertical position.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's start with what can largely determine your desire to continue reading the material.

After all, first we want to point out the strengths and weaknesses that a built-in wardrobe with hinged doors has.

Let's start with the benefits. These include:

[adv1]

Attractive price. To create the structure, you need a minimum of materials, since the internal filling is attached directly to the walls of the room. All that remains is to make the doors, sometimes the top cover, the bottom;
Long service life. If you use quality materials, of course;
The ability to install various shelves and racks to suit your needs;
Ease of use. Opening such doors is easy and simple;
The doors are securely fixed in a vertical position;
Variety of design solutions;
The ability to create a built-in storage system with your own hands.

These are strong arguments for installing a cabinet in a niche.

Yes, it’s inexpensive, it looks beautiful not only in the photo, but also in real life.

But price is not the only advantage. Nowadays you can buy a wardrobe relatively inexpensively. But there is a question of quality.

If we talk about objective disadvantages, then built-in hinged cabinets also have enough of them:

[adv2]

They should not be installed if the room is too narrow. Otherwise, when opening, the canvas may block the passage;
If the walls and floors are crooked, serious problems may arise with the installation and adjustment of fittings. Either level the surfaces or abandon this idea;
Frame doors cannot be made of multiple materials.

How critical certain shortcomings are for you depends on the specific situation.

Therefore, we move on to the next point of our discussion.

Built-in wardrobe design

A built-in wardrobe is a structure that is installed in a niche, under steps or in the attic part of the room. In such complex areas it is difficult to choose a ready-made module, so they often order it according to their own measurements or make it themselves. Depending on the elements that make up the built-in swing wardrobe, it can be framed or with a false frame. The difference between these types of structures is the presence of side walls, rear panel, and bottom. Their complete absence is possible when installing the internal filling on smooth walls in a niche. Then it will be a cabinet with a false frame. The advantage of built-in models is the functional organization of empty space for storage. The disadvantage is the inability to move it or rearrange it.

The most popular materials used to make cabinets are wood and MDF boards. They are durable and can withstand significant weight. They tolerate wet cleaning and do not absorb odors. They make their own shelves in niches from natural wood. It is recommended not to paint it, but to varnish it to protect it from damage. Finished furniture made from this material may seem too expensive. A more affordable option would be models made from MDF or chipboard.

Design options

If you decide to build a built-in hinged wardrobe in the hallway, living room or other room, you need to decide on the configuration itself.

Built-in wardrobes are adapted to a specific room, corner or niche. This will not allow the same structure to be moved if necessary.

The same cannot be said about the coupe. But a compartment will require much more space, since such a cabinet has a back wall and side walls that steal a lot of space.

There are 3 varieties.

Features of the swing door opening system

The hinged system of the cabinet is due to the fastening of the doors using hinges to the side walls of the cabinet. The fittings must be of high quality for long-term operation and easy movement of the sashes. It is recommended to select the necessary parts based on general information: dimensions, materials and weight of the facades. Hinges differ in the way the sash is placed on the side panel and come in the following types:

overhead - the door is tightly adjacent to the body, covering its side wall. It is considered the most common option, easy to install;
semi-overhead - used in cases where it is necessary to fasten two sashes to one side of the body at once;
corner – a suitable option for corner cabinets. Used for fastening facades at an angle of 30, 45, 90, 145, 175 degrees;
internal (inlay) - similar to half-invoice, but has a different purpose. Used for fastening doors inside the body of a swing cabinet;
piano is an outdated model found in retro furniture. Such hinges are now practically not used, except in book tables and pianos for attaching the lid above the keypad;
inverse - necessary when the sash needs to be opened not 90, but 180 degrees;
adit - also called blind, because they are used when hanging doors on a cabinet standing in a niche or simply with side panels tightly adjacent to the walls. The facades can be attached to the false frame using adit hinges;
card - similar to a piano, as they represent a connection of two plates. They come with wavy edges instead of rectangular, which makes their shape look like a butterfly;
bar - provide opening of the doors by 180 degrees. The name comes from the doorways in American bars;
heel - fastened in the corners at the bottom and top of the facade. The sash must be light in weight, so hinges of this type are rarely used.

There are also secretory, card, and mezzanine hinges, which are used for folding facades.

Swing system

The swing opening system is considered the simplest and most reliable. It consists of door leaves, furniture hinges, and is complemented by handles. The sashes are mounted to internal partitions, side walls or false panels.

Typically, four-hinged furniture hinges with a built-in closer are used. The fittings are designed for repeated opening and closing cycles and include three main elements: an elbow, a cup, and a mounting strip. It is equipped with adjusting screws that allow you to leave a uniform gap along the contour of the door.

According to the method of fastening, there are the following types of loops:

invoices;
semi-overhead;
loose-leaf;
corner;
gallery;
inverse.

It is also possible to use other fittings.

Piano hinges are of an outdated type. They are two metal strips connected to each other. They are mounted using a large number of self-tapping screws and swing open 180°.
The bar type ensures that the doors open in both directions.
Heel products are installed on the upper and lower end parts of the door panels. They are only suitable for lightweight structures.

Facades of hinged built-in wardrobes - materials, shapes, coatings

The front part of the cabinet performs not only a protective function (from dust and prying eyes), but also a decorative one. Wood, glass, and mirror are mainly used for their production. High-quality materials have good characteristics: they do not absorb moisture and odors, and are resistant to mechanical damage. Natural wood is more often used for luxury furniture due to its cost. A good analogue to it are chipboard and MDF boards. Using tempered glass and mirrors, different types of facades are made: with inserts, with cutouts, solid ones. Manufacturers claim that these fragile materials are covered with a special film that prevents fragments from scattering after hitting the surface.

According to the shape of the facades, built-in hinged cabinets can be:

with straight doors - they are a classic design. Suitable for any interior with clear lines and shapes;
with corner facades - a compact model, designed for installation in the corner of a room;
with radius ones - performed in a semicircle or semi-oval. It can be convex or convex, that is, with an outer and inner radius, respectively.

The most common are double-leaf cabinet models. Even with mezzanines they will fit into a small room. Four and five door wardrobes will look harmonious in spacious rooms.

Materials for facade cladding:

plastic – light, glossy or matte in appearance. Bright colors will refresh the room, while the doors themselves will be reliable and practical;
PVC film - adhesive base allows you to decorate any cabinet, even on your own. Various colors, patterns, laconic glossy surface, plus resistance to wet cleaning are the undoubted advantages of the material;
MDF is decorated with acrylic paint, followed by varnish or polishing. Thanks to modern coating techniques, you can choose built-in wardrobes with hinged doors with a starry sky or mother-of-pearl effect;
glass and mirror are a bold solution, suitable for lovers of space and light. They can be the door itself or placed on a wood (chipboard, MDF) base;
leather – creates an atmosphere of prosperity in the home. Models with inserts of natural material will be expensive. But they have good performance characteristics: the doors can be wiped with a damp cloth, do not crack, and do not fade. The wardrobe will go well with leather sofas and armchairs.

Facades

The facade of any cabinet is responsible for the external characteristics of the product. It consists mainly of door panels, but there may also be open sections. Traditional materials are used for production.

The tree demonstrates high performance and aesthetic characteristics. The built-in hinged wardrobe looks solid and reliable. Natural wood is durable and environmentally friendly. However, wooden doors have significant weight, which increases the load on the fastenings. It is also worth mentioning the considerable cost.
MDF is a high-density fiberboard. It exhibits similar properties to the first sample, but is more accessible in material terms.
Chipboard is a budget option. Particle board is characterized by a loose structure, which can manifest itself in the reliability of fasteners. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the environmental safety class. It is allowed to use chipboard of category E0 or E
Glass and mirror doors enhance the decorative effect of the product. They visually lighten the structure, expand the boundaries of the room, and add light.

Built-in hinged cabinets are equipped with doors of the following designs:

solid;
framed or paneled.

The first type is made of one material and is a continuous surface. It is distinguished by good reliability, but carries significant weight.

The second modification consists of a frame and an insert. The frame is made of wood, MDF, aluminum. The inner part is filled with a panel, for which a variety of materials are used.

Decorative finishing of the facade is presented in the following options:

sheet plastic with a glossy or matte surface will delight you with a variety of color palettes;
PVC film imitates natural materials in color and texture;
veneer allows you to achieve maximum resemblance to natural wood, and is additionally covered with a layer of varnish;
glass and mirrors in their pure form, tinted, matted, decorated with patterns will enliven and unload the interior;
genuine leather or its artificial analogues will provide a luxurious and extraordinary façade design.

Products whose surface is decorated with images made using photo printing techniques look interesting.

Internal filling of the built-in wardrobe

Thanks to the functional organization of the contents of the wardrobe, it becomes more spacious. The internal contents for swing cabinets with different purposes are divided into:

shelves are a universal option needed in every room. Knitted items, blankets, pillows, replacement bed linen and much more are stored here. Even in the living room and on the balcony they can be used;
rods - a place in the closet for hanging clothes on hangers. They are necessary for the optimal arrangement of dresses, trouser suits and outerwear;
retractable systems include pull-out shelves, drawers, tie holders;
baskets - wicker, plastic, cardboard containers for storing small items. Such sections are placed on the lower and upper shelves;
hooks - located inside the cabinet on the side wall or on the facade itself. Used to place peignoirs, bathrobes, towels or as a cheap option for a tie.

Installation locations for built-in wardrobes

A place to install a built-in wardrobe with hinged doors can be found in every home. In the hallway, bathroom, adult and children's bedrooms, a module for storing a variety of things will be useful. Installation options for the built-in model:

in a niche. Modules with false frames or free-standing wardrobes are placed. This results in a spacious dressing room that saves a lot of space. In the living room, outerwear is hung here and umbrellas are stored. In the bedroom or bathroom, this is a place to place personal belongings;
in the corner. As much space is allocated for the closet as the size of the room and the location of other furniture allow. On the balcony you will get a small, but, thanks to the corner design, a spacious module;
all over the wall. Installing this type of hinged cabinets requires a lot of free space. Suitable for bedroom, long corridor. Thanks to its impressive size, the module can become the only storage place for the whole family.

A hinged wardrobe can also be built under the stairs going to the second floor. The result will be a real dressing room, and with functional content it will replace several free-standing modules.

Photos of built-in wardrobes with hinged fronts

The classic model of a wardrobe is a module with hinged doors. Often it is installed in a niche or corner to save space in the room. The internal filling can be different, it is this that makes the cabinet practical. Facades are responsible for the attractive appearance. Their design is made using different materials, including budget ones.