A sliding wardrobe is a real find for modern apartments that do not have a lot of free space. Such furniture helps to save space, organize storage of things, and the abundance of models makes it possible to improve the interior. For example, a mirrored wardrobe will visually expand the space of the room and eliminate the need to install an additional mirror. This piece of furniture has its own advantages and disadvantages, which should be studied before purchasing it.
Advantages and disadvantages
The modern version of the compartment design has a number of advantages:
- The main feature is significant space savings. Since swing doors require a certain amount of space to open freely, precious centimeters turn into an unusable area;
- large capacity due to maximum use of volume: the use of an internal cabinet for linen or jewelry, as well as additional hangers and shelves. A retractable mirror in a wardrobe is an interesting way to install the necessary accessory;
- versatility - a model of this configuration is appropriate in any interior. The most popular classic option is a double-leaf wardrobe;
- possibility of individual filling. If desired, you can place the required number of shelves, drawers and additional niches inside;
- functionality - even a small cabinet can solve several problems at once. You can store everything you need in it: from clothes, cosmetics to books and household appliances;
- a wide variety of designs: texture, color design, use of decorative details (engraving, various contrasting combinations). The most spectacular option are sliding wardrobes with photo printing;
- reliability of the design - if you follow the basic rules of care, even a four-door coupe will last as long as possible.
Along with the advantages, such models have disadvantages. These include:
- the likelihood of structural deformations due to the use of aluminum profiles;
- rapid wear of the sliding system;
- poor lighting - even bright spotlights cannot illuminate the entire space of the mirror version if it is located in the hallway or in a darkened corner;
- the need for periodic maintenance. Without proper care of the guides, the sliding system may fail.
Decorating mirrors
A variety of modern decorating techniques are used to decorate a mirror in a closet. A door made in the form of a reflective panel will look original when a sandblasting pattern is applied to it. The mirror at the treatment site takes on a matte tint. Expensive but exquisite decoration - inserts in the form of colored stained glass. The image is created from bright pieces of glass and looks very unusual.
A matte effect can also be achieved using a special composition (matting paste or spray). The pattern is created to suit every taste; you can decorate the closet at home with your own hands. Engraving on a mirror surface allows you to decorate the facade with patterns, stripes and figures with a matte tint, resulting in a product of amazing beauty. The image is durable and lasts for a long time.
Types of modern cabinets, placement tips from designers
A great and inexpensive way to change the look of a room and update the interior is to use vinyl stickers. Various thematic images are applied to a special adhesive base, which is easily and firmly glued to glass or mirror. A boring drawing can just as easily be removed and replaced with a new one. After vinyl stickers, no trace remains on the surface of the facade.
When choosing the color of furniture for a particular room, it is worth taking into account the overall tone of the existing furnishings. It is also a good idea to take into account the dimensions of the room. For example, by placing a black mirrored cabinet in a cramped hallway (with insufficient daylight), you can further narrow the space, especially if the product is large.
White furniture visually makes a small room more spacious, adds light to it, and the reflective panel creates the illusion of sliding walls.
Engraving
Sandblasting drawing
Stained Glass Decorative Sticker
Facade decoration
When choosing a facade design for a sliding wardrobe with mirrored doors, two main parameters must be taken into account:
- specifics of the purpose of the room;
- dimensions of the product plus its design.
For their manufacture, various materials are used in combination with a mirror:
- chipboard;
- MDF;
- bamboo;
- colored glass;
- eco leather;
- photo printing.
All types of mirror doors can be equipped with inserts of other materials:
- colored glass for facades is a transparent surface, on the back side of which a film is glued, acting as anti-fragmentation protection;
- bamboo is varnished sections of the plant, painted in pastel colors. There are also rattan inserts;
- eco-leather is created by embossing on a film with a fabric base. Sliding wardrobes with leather are not so common, but they always look original and stylish;
- Photo printing is created by printing on transparent glass. A white film is glued onto the resulting surface, filling the gaps in the design.
The color schemes of the facades are selected depending on the purpose of the room:
- for a children's room, a bright façade with photo printing will be organic;
- in the living room, the selection of door material for cabinets depends entirely on the overall interior: bamboo is appropriate in an ethnic style. It goes well with frosted glass;
- sliding wardrobes with leather are perfect for modern classic design and rooms in the Art Nouveau style;
- photo printing - for romantic;
- light shades and decorative patterns - for coupes in Provence style.
Mirror facades for sliding wardrobes can be made in various versions.
Depending on the size of the model, they may differ in the number of doors and the location of mirrors or glass:
- A two-door coupe is usually chosen for a small room or with limited free space;
- The spacious room includes a 4-door coupe with a mirror. The closet here will look organic;
- In the middle between two mirrors you can place 2 smooth panels. Or make similar doors with a personalized engraving on them.
Varieties
A wardrobe with mirror panels is a product in demand in the modern furniture market. Manufacturers are trying to satisfy all the needs of potential consumers, which explains the abundance of different options for such storage systems. The following models are available on the market:
- Cabinet cabinet. This is a free-standing, independent structure with a frame, facade, full side and rear walls. The product can be moved at your discretion. Usually this is a factory-made version, often rectangular in shape, which is purchased ready-made with a mirror finish. The furniture is durable, the quality of materials and workmanship include a heavy reflective panel, so in such a cabinet everything is thought out to the smallest detail, including fastenings and fittings. The cabinet product is quite expensive.
- Built-in option (cheaper). A convenient and profitable purchase, because it makes maximum use of the space of the room, filling empty corners or niches. Such a cabinet, in fact, consists of practically one facade, which extends from the floor to the ceiling. All other elements (sides, back and top) are replaced by walls and ceiling surfaces. Such products are made to order and installed in a strictly designated place; they cannot be rearranged or transported. One of the front panels (or, if desired, the entire facade) is replaced with a mirror (partially or completely).
What to store in the closet under the stairs, the advantages of such furniture
Built-
in Depending on the method of opening the doors, cabinets are divided into the following types:
- Closet. Mirror doors are often used in such products. This may be due to the fact that the sliding panels do not touch each other tightly when moving (there is sufficient clearance between them). However, you should pay special attention to the fittings and fastening system (hinged and suspended doors are not suitable) so that the heavy mirror sheet does not jump off the rails and break during careless use.
- Model with hinged doors. Classic wardrobe with hinged doors. The mirror can be placed both on the front side and inside (the more common option). We need especially strong fasteners to be able to withstand the weight of the reflective sheet. The obvious disadvantage is that opening the doors requires a certain amount of free space, which is not very convenient for small rooms.
- With swing doors. A very original modern design in which the doors can turn around their axis. A closet is usually equipped with a mirror, shelves or rods for clothes, drawers for shoes, hooks and hangers. An interesting option is a rotating unit with shelves in the central part of a static cabinet. The downside of this model is that it requires additional space to open the doors.
Japan is considered the birthplace of furniture with a rotating mechanism. Such products are usually not installed in small rooms.
Coupe Swing
Where is the best location?
When selecting a door for a sliding wardrobe with a mirror, it is necessary to take into account its compatibility with other interior elements in color and texture. If the cabinet does not match the texture too well, you can apply a design on the mirror; engraving would also be appropriate. Taking into account the location of the product, there are some nuances of its choice that you should familiarize yourself with in advance.
In the living room
In the living room, a wardrobe with a mirror will serve as a wall, making it seem more spacious. At the same time, behind the improvised panel you can place not only a wardrobe, but also a TV area or a compact office. In terms of design, you can use a beveled mirror, bronze decoration, black frames, or combined decors.
If the closet isn't built-in, it can feel like a bulky mess. However, if you place it according to the geometry of the room, it will become an organic element of the interior. The most optimal shape is considered to be a trapezoid.
Double-door coupes usually take up little space, but their location should also be thoughtful. If you want to visually hide the cabinet, it can be made without decorative elements. Making a coupe without mirrors is considered cheaper. But if you wish, you can decorate the facade yourself.
In the bedroom
For the bedroom, sliding wardrobes with mirror + bronze and sliding wardrobes with photo printing are most often used. Typically, full-wall cabinets allow you to place everything you need, while creating a cozy effect due to a unique façade. The following options are considered optimal:
- coupe with frosted glass;
- photo cabinet.
The cabinet mirror can also be engraved upon request.
In the hall
In the hallway they look most organic:
- wenge wardrobe with mirror;
- sliding wardrobes with mirror panels;
- graphite coating on facades;
- patterns with rhombuses and floral patterns.
If the space allows you to place a large cabinet, standard engraving or photo printing is suitable as a finish.
Tips for selection and placement
You need to approach the search for a mirrored cabinet correctly so that the product does not stand out from the rest of the decor, but, on the contrary, emphasizes and harmoniously complements the individual style of the room. Tips from designers:
- If the room has a low ceiling, it is better to choose a product that is not too large. In this case, lighting will serve well.
- A plastic cabinet with white mirrors will look good in a cramped room, even if it is not modest in size. Mirror surfaces will help complete what you started: the room will visually appear wider.
- In a narrow hallway it is worth installing a compact corner structure. Such a cabinet, especially with mirror panels, will save space and “expand” the space.
- When choosing furniture for storing things, you must pay attention to the opening mechanisms. They should be easy to use, ensure smooth and easy movement of doors, drawers and sections. For small rooms, it is advisable to purchase a wardrobe; hinged doors will reduce the area of an already cramped room.
- Built-in models are spacious and ergonomic. By placing them in a niche or corner area, you can save useful space.
- You need to pay attention to both the internal equipment of the cabinet (the presence of all kinds of shelves, drawers, baskets, drawers, rods and hooks) and the external decoration (it must match the style of the room).
- The mirror of new furniture must be protected with a special film. Reflected objects that appear distorted indicate poor quality of the product.
- It is better to place light sources to the side. Light falling directly on the mirror will create blinding glare.
To prevent the effect created by the reflective surface from causing psychological discomfort, you should not place a cabinet with a mirror in a narrow and long corridor: you will get the unpleasant illusion of a dark tunnel or a strange, tangled labyrinth. A radius model with mirror panels installed in the central part of the room will split it into many small rooms. In this case, a pressing effect on the mental state will be ensured.
Variety of shapes
Regardless of whether you need a 2-door sliding wardrobe with a mirror or a sliding wardrobe without mirrors, you should consider the basic forms of the design. At the moment, the production of both case structures and built-in options is developed:
- the first group is considered a classic. These cabinets can be moved, transported to another room;
- The second option is good because it does not take up much space and allows you to make the most efficient use of the space in the room.
Models may vary in body shape:
- straight lines are classic samples for which you can choose any shade: black, white, walnut and other natural combinations;
- corner - their main feature is minimizing the use of space;
- radius - they are distinguished by a more complex type of door. In turn, radius models can be convex, concave or wavy. They look very attractive and original. There are also combined models that combine several facade shapes at once. Typically, such products are very bulky and are suitable only for spacious rooms;
- The trapezoidal version is a variation of the angular one. It has a convenient location and holds a lot of things. You can also choose a five-wall model.
Straight
Radial
Angular
Kinds
There are several types of wardrobes:
- The built-in wardrobe is mounted between the walls or placed in a niche. This structure has no floor and roof.
- The case version may have different dimensions, the number of doors also varies. Such models are placed near the wall.
How to properly assemble a wardrobe with your own hands, step-by-step tips.
The shape of the wardrobe can be angular or linear. The first option is placed exclusively in the corner, which allows for more efficient use of the room area. Such structures are made in the form of a triangle with two doors; L-shaped models are popular (often with a large number of doors). There is also a trapezoidal cabinet, which is more spacious.
The linear model is located in a straight line along the wall. Such furniture can be equipped with a different number of doors. Designers still advise placing a moderate number of mirrors. It is better to combine such surfaces with inserts made of leather, bamboo, frosted glass, and photo printing. Otherwise, the room may create an uncomfortable atmosphere.
Hull
Built-in
Straight
Angular
Selection rules
When choosing, the following dimensions are important:
- height - it depends on the height of the ceiling. On average, it varies from 2.6 m to 3.1 m;
- product width - the minimum size is considered to be 1.20 meters. Exactly as much is needed to equip a sliding door system;
- depth, which is selected taking into account the wishes of the owners;
- the thickness of the mirror - the reliability and safety of the non-standard facade will depend on it.
Features of care
When purchasing a compartment with a pattern or wardrobes with a mirror panel, you need to understand that such samples require painstaking care. It is important to ensure regular care of various elements of the product:
- maintaining the mobility and performance of the sliding system directly depends on the timely cleaning of the rollers and guides from dust. At the same time, it is important not to make sudden movements when opening doors;
- a product with drawers requires special operation: the lifting mechanism does not tolerate exceeding the intended load;
- The lighting system requires additional attention. The best option for providing lighting is LEDs. To maintain their functionality, it is enough to prevent exposure of electrical elements to moisture and turn off the electricity before carrying out preventive manipulations (replacing light bulbs, wiping off dust);
- cleaning facade surfaces. When caring for furniture, the question often arises of how to clean a mirror so that it retains its shine. You can use ready-made household products. If they cause allergic reactions, it is worth using effective folk methods: wiping the surface with half an onion (potatoes can be used for the same purpose);
- It is recommended to wipe wardrobes with photo printing with a vinegar solution;
- citric acid solution.
Sliding wardrobes with leather are cleaned with a damp cloth and then wiped with a dry one. Cleaning a mirror without streaks is easy: just take a little ammonia, wipe the facade, and then rinse with water. The result will exceed all expectations. With timely care, furniture will last up to 50 years. If you are not ready to spend a lot of time on caring for mirror surfaces, then it is better to refuse such models in the interior.