All black and white style Raumplus Uno walk in wardrobe system, from The Ewins Home.

Congratulations, you’ve made space for a walk-in wardrobe. Now what? Designing a walk-in wardrobe is more than ensuring all your clothes and accessories have a place to call home.

3 Common Types of Wardrobes in Singapore

Wardrobes of today are supposed to be an organised, pleasing design feature of our bedrooms. Here are 3 of the most common types of wardrobes in Singapore that are often opted for HDB flat, apartment or landed houses.

Black and white pillows on sofa in modern living room interior with wooden wardrobe

Freestanding Wardrobe

Perhaps the most common wardrobe in Singapore is the freestanding wardrobe. It can be moved around, making it especially suitable for people who are renting, as you can take it with you instead of leaving it behind.

There are lots of stylish, even modular, designs to choose from online and in stores, which means a hassle-free process as you don’t need to engage someone to design it from scratch and construct it for you. Most often, you can buy it, carry it home, and assemble it all in a day.

However, freestanding wardrobes come in fixed sizes, which means that you will need to ensure all measurements are done proper before purchase.

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A timber headboard is flanked by two black wardrobes positioned at odd angles for a unique look. Design: Ju Design Studio
A timber headboard is flanked by two black wardrobes positioned at odd angles for a unique look in this HDB bedroom. Design by Ju Design Studio

Built-In Wardrobe Carpentry

Most homeowners in Singapore prefer to custom build their wardrobe to perfectly fit and utilise their small house spaces. Built-in carpentry wardrobes can be installed even in the smallest spaces, as size is made to measure.

Of course, the design is completely up to you to suit individual storage needs with different combinations of shelves, racks, rails and fittings.

The best part? You can even integrate other components, such as a desk, dressing table, seat, or bed headboard (pictured above) to your built-in wardrobe.

However, built-in wardrobes are going to cost more than regular freestanding wardrobes as it’s custom-made and you need a professional to construct it. Also, once installed it becomes a permanent fixture of your home.

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Walk-In Wardrobe

Finally, a walk-in wardrobe keeps clutter out of sight from the bedroom and yet have a large space with lots of shelves to store clothes, bags and accessories. With it you can have a luxurious hotel-like feel — like stepping into a store where everything is visible.

It may increase the value of your home, as this is a highly-desired feature to some homeowners.

However, you need to have the luxury of space, just for a devoted room for your clothes. Getting a walk-in wardrobe also requires extensive planning with your interior designer or contractor, and possibly structural alterations to your house.

Therefore, it’s best done only during major renovation works. Finally, this is going to be the most expensive, as it requires lots of storage system planning, mock ups, and professional carpenters to execute it.

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14 Walk In Wardrobe Ideas and Tips

Small details add a sense of raw energy to the home and complement its overall quirky appeal. The dressing room’s tinted glass wardrobe has internal lighting for good visibility, even at night. Accessories and small items find a handy home in the transparent island dresser.

Backless Walk-In Wardrobe

Ask for a backless setup. The carpenter only needs to build the sides, and doors. This will give you more depth space, and cost savings.

Cubbyholes

Perfect for storing jewelry, belts, and small accessories

Close up of a walk in wardrobe's cubbyholes - perfect for storing jewelry, belts and other small accessories. (Interior design by Prozfile)
A chair in a walk-in wardrobe. For those times where you need a spot to think about what you'd like to wear to that dinner party. (Interior design by Mu Dian)

Chair

For those times where you need a spot to put on your shoes or trousers

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Lights

Consider adding lights within your closet especially if it is away from natural light or if your place has a high ceiling.

Lighting within the walk in wardrobe. Consider adding lights within your closet especially if it is away from natural light or if your place has a high ceiling.
Coat hanger outside the walk-in wardrobe. No more forgotten pieces of clothing behind the chair. A coat rack lets you have a good look at what pieces you'd like to re-wear. It's unlikely that'll you'll crumple them, too. (Interior design by Space Sense)

Coat Hanger

No more forgotten pieces of clothing behind the chair. A coat rack lets you have a good look at what pieces you’d like to re-wear.

Drawer & Hanging Rails

While hanging your clothes will look better, folding your clothes is surely more space-saving Be sure to have both drawer and railing systems.

Drawer and rail systems for walk in wardrobe. While hanging your clothes on the rail will make your closet look like a clothing store, folding your clothes is surely a more efficient way to store them. Be sure to have both drawer and railing systems.

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Soft furnishings in your walk in wardrobe. Personalise every part of your home. Cosy up your walk-in wardrobe with a statement-making rug. (Interior design by Architology)

Soft Rugs

Cosy up your walk-in wardrobe with a statement rug

Full-length mirror

No need to run out to the door or the next room to check out how you look

Have a full-length mirror in your walk in wardrobe. No need to run out to the door or the next room to check out how you look. (Interior design by Linear Space Concepts)
A shoe-rack in your walk in wardrobe. While some prefer to have the shoe rack by the front door, one within the walk-in wardrobe gives you the ease of trying both your shoes and clothes in one place. (Interior design by Project File)

Shoe Rack

One within the walk-in wardrobe gives you the ease of trying both your shoes and clothes in one place

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Bag Shelves

Open-shelving ensures your bags won’t be crushed and allows you to reach for them easily.

Storage for bags in your walk-in wardrobe. Open-shelving ensures your bags won't be crushed and allows you to reach for them easily. (Interior design by Space Sense)
Vanity table in your walk in wardrobe. If space permits, add a dressing table so you can conveniently do your make up after you're dressed up. (Interior design by Soho Design Partnership)

Vanity Table

Add a dressing table so you can conveniently do your make up after you’re dressed up.

Blinds

Add some roller blinds, so you can choose between an open or closed concept walk-in wardrobe.

With these roller blinds, the homeowners can choose between an open or close-concept wardrobe. Design: 19sixtyseven

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A mirrored wall saves the hassle of buying a mirror that matches the space! Design: Dan's Workshop

Mirror Wall

A mirrored wall expands the grandeur of your walk-in wardrobe – and is functional!

Glass Doors

Glass panel doors keep the dust out while maintaining the “open” display look of your walk-in wardrobe.

The designers installed black-framed swivel glass panels to keep the dust out while maintaining the "open" and industrial look. Design: Design Channel

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