A Walk-in Wardrobe Made Possible

For those who have watched the movie "The Bling Ring", you might remember catching a glimpse of Paris Hilton's expansive walk-in wardrobe filled with clothes, jewellery, shoes and even a crystal chandelier. Indeed, walk-in wardrobes are the epitome of personal storage, a dream to have in a newly refurbished property. In Singapore, it does not necessarily mean that those living in HDB BTOs and newly launched private properties should shelve the idea altogether given their small property size. Organisation is the secret ingredient; so long as there is proper planning, there are possibilities to pull off the perfect walk-in wardrobe on any budget. Here are some tips you need to consider during the conceptualising phase:

1. The more detailed you are, the easier it is

First and foremost, find out the feasibility of installing a walk-in wardrobe in your home. It is more than just selecting which room(s) should be converted to serve the purpose - having a walk-in wardrobe would only make sense if there is enough space to cater for it. Ideally, the wardrobe should at least occupy an area of 4 - 5.5 sq metres to allow for movement within it. Of course, if you've envisioned to include other features within the wardrobe such as a full length mirror or a centre island, more allowance needs to be given. Try to gauge as closely as possible the amount of storage space you and your spouse will need to store clothing and accessories. When deciding on how the wardrobe will look like, come up with an initial sketch of the layout and the number of compartments, shelves, racks, and drawers that will be eventually installed.

Image credit to The Interior Lab

Homeowners should also bear in mind the respective display measurements of these fixtures in terms of vertical height (if the majority of the contents in the wardrobe are to be hung) and width (if most of the items are to be folded or stored in smaller cabinets/drawers).

Image credit to Space Define Interior

2. Take caution before hacking down walls

It is a common practice for homeowners to call for one or several walls to be hacked in order to achieve the desired space or aesthetic for their walk-in wardrobes. However, to do so would mean that more thought must be put into how it will affect the overall budget and scope of the renovations. Regardless of whether it is a partial alteration or a complete removal of a wall, hacking may affect the orientation of neighbouring rooms as well as the flooring, especially for BTOs that already come with HDB flooring. Homeowners have to be aware that hacking walls could potentially incur additional costs of $2,000 and above, depending on the extent of work required. Moreover, it is essential to obtain a permit and approval from HDB or from the condo management before such work can commence.

Image credit to Inspire ID Group

Image credit to Urban Habitat Design

3. Weighing between customisation or being cost-effective

The luxury of building from scratch adds personalisation to a walk-in wardrobe. After all, it is about transforming your vision into reality — custom designs for the lighting, cabinetry, and interior décor can all be made to reflect the personality of the homeowners. The downside is that doing so is not cheap most of the time. Fortunately, there are wallet-friendly options in the market that are both appealing and functional. For example, IKEA's PAX wardrobe series and the STOLMEN system provide a comprehensive range of items which gives the flexibility to choose how the walk-in wardrobe can look like based on the needs of the homeowner. Easily get these nice design quotations from RenoNation. Click here.