Walk in Wandrobes Fitted Storage Specification Guide

This guide sets out how we specify and manufacture walk-in wardrobes and fitted storage for residential and hospitality projects: the dimensions that actually work, the internal layout rules, carcass and door material choices, and what genuinely drives cost.

The short answer on dimensions

A workable walk-in wardrobe needs a minimum clear width of 1600-1700 mm for a single run of units plus circulation, and 2400 mm for two facing runs. Standard carcass depth is 600 mm; below 550 mm a hanging rail no longer clears a shoulder width. An island layout needs at least 3000 mm of clear room width.

Internal layout: the numbers we design to

Three rules we apply on every project:

1. Rail height follows the user, not the catalogue. A rail set at 2000 mm is dead space for a 165 cm user.
2. Never exceed 600 mm depth. At 700 mm the rear 100 mm is never used.
3. Leave a 20 mm ventilation gap between the back panel and any external wall. Most reported mould and damp problems in fitted wardrobes originate here.

Door type changes the room

• Hinged doors need 600 mm of swing clearance in front — a problem in narrow dressing rooms.
• Sliding doors need no swing space but the track costs you 80-100 mm of internal depth, and only half the unit is ever open.
• Open (doorless) systems are the most efficient use of a dedicated dressing room and reduce cost, but shift all responsibility for tidiness to the user. Integrated lighting becomes essential rather than optional.

Carcass and door: specify them separately

There is no requirement for the carcass and the fronts to be the same material — and in most projects they should not be. The carcass needs dimensional stability and moisture resistance; the front needs surface quality.

A detailed comparison of these finishes is in our guide on choosing between lacquer, veneer and melamine.

Emission class matters more than the door style

A wardrobe is the longest-sealed volume in a bedroom. Specify the board emission class explicitly: E1 to EN 13986 is the minimum for residential work; hotels, hospitals and schools increasingly require E0 or CARB Phase 2 / TSCA Title VI compliance for the US market. Ask for the board certificate at tender stage, not on delivery.

Hardware: 15-25% of the price

Soft-close hinges and full-extension runners are typically 15-25% of the unit cost. Any quotation that does not name the hardware brand and series cannot be compared with one that does. Specify at minimum:

• Hinge type, opening angle and soft-close mechanism
• Runner type (side-mounted, undermount), extension class and load rating
• Rail type and load rating for hanging sections
• LED profile, driver location and switching (door sensor or motion)

Assembled or flat-pack delivery?

For melamine-faced systems we normally supply flat-pack: components are cut to size, numbered, sorted in assembly sequence, palletised and shipped with an assembly manual and installation video. Compared with assembled delivery this cuts freight volume substantially and reduces transit damage — which matters most on export orders where cabinet air is the most expensive thing in the container.

Lacquer and veneer fronts are handled differently: because surface damage cannot be repaired without a full refinish, these are protected-packed and shipped assembled or semi-assembled.

Lead times

• Survey and shop drawing approval: 3-5 days
• Melamine / membrane wardrobes: 12-18 working days
• Lacquer wardrobes: 20-30 working days — the interval between primer coats, sanding and topcoat cannot be compressed
• Installation: 1-2 days for a single dressing room

Programme note: wardrobe installation must follow floor finishes and painting, but should be scheduled in the same week as door and skirting installation. Break that sequence and the setting out no longer matches.

Three mistakes we see repeatedly

Measuring off the shell. Plaster, screed and wall finishes move the clear opening by 30-60 mm. Final dimensions are laser-surveyed on site after wet trades are complete.

Comparing a single rate per square metre. A low rate that excludes hardware and internal fittings usually ends up as the most expensive option once the scope is equalised.

Leaving lighting until the joinery stage. If the LED supply is not pulled behind the wardrobe during first fix, the only remaining solution is surface trunking.

Manufactured in Turkey, shipped worldwide

We manufacture made-to-measure wardrobes, dressing rooms, kitchens, bathroom vanities and architectural joinery for residential and hospitality projects, and export with full documentation. Our project record includes a 500-unit development in Erbil, a 100-room building in Manama, apartment projects in London and Kosovo, and hotel work across the Gulf and North Africa — see References for the full list, and Services for scope.

Send us your drawings for a takeoff and quotation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much space does a walk-in wardrobe need?

4-5 m² for a single run of units and 6-8 m² for two facing runs. The governing figure is clear width, not area: 1600-1700 mm for a single run and 2400 mm for two facing runs.

What is the standard depth for a fitted wardrobe?

600 mm. The minimum for a hanging rail to clear shoulder width is 550 mm. With sliding doors the carcass is built at 650-680 mm because the track consumes 80-100 mm of internal depth.

Can you supply wardrobes flat-packed for export?

Yes. Melamine-faced systems are supplied cut to size, numbered, palletised and shipped with an assembly manual and installation video. Lacquer and veneer fronts are protected-packed and shipped assembled or semi-assembled.

What is your lead time?

12-18 working days for melamine and membrane systems, 20-30 working days for lacquer, measured from shop drawing approval.

Which emission class board do you use?

E1 to EN 13986 as standard, with E0 and CARB Phase 2 / TSCA Title VI compliant boards available where the destination market requires it. The class should be stated in the specification at tender stage.