To hell with space-consuming wardrobes and cupboards. And hello to the dressing room, so much more practical, pleasant and comfortable. And where tidying up becomes a pleasure. Provided that it is well thought out, even if the space is small.

Today, the idea of a dressing room has become (almost) unavoidable. The dressing room is very often present from the very first sketches of a house or flat plan, as it allows to save space and to have a much better organization of the clothes and all those little things that go with them.

But how do you do this in an existing home? First of all, let's get rid of the idea that a dressing room requires a large room. It can be set up almost anywhere, in a dedicated room or not, in a linear, U-shaped or L-shaped arrangement. The number of possibilities is almost unlimited, allowing you to design a dressing room from the largest to the smallest. In the end, there are many ways to design a dressing room. And you should know that 5 to 6 m2 should allow you to have a very complete dressing room with a choice of a wood or steel frame.

Choosing a made-to-measure dressing room

You can of course ask a professional to make your dressing room, but you don't necessarily have to be an expert in DIY to make it yourself. The difficulty is generally described as "average", provided of course that you have the necessary materials! When it comes to materials, always opt for the best quality, even if it means scratching your wallet a little, because your dressing room will have to last you a long, long time.
Whatever your choice, the custom-made solution will be the ideal to match your dream. Especially as it is not easy to find a good quality kit at an affordable price.

Need a professional? Get free quotes from craftsmen 

Matching your needs with your dreams

The first step is to identify your real needs, which will undoubtedly not be those of a Hollywood star, which will enable you to accommodate your dressing room even in a small space, in your bedroom, in an attic or elsewhere.
Also keep in mind that the needs of the lady are not the needs of the gentleman. And with good reason. For her, you should have a high wardrobe, a medium wardrobe, a few shelves and a floor rack for shoes. For men, two small wardrobes - one for shirts on top and one for trousers on the bottom - will suffice, obviously also with shelves and a shoe rack.

The second step will depend on this location and will determine whether you opt for a U-shaped, L-shaped or linear (single or double) layout. A U-shaped wardrobe is ideal for large areas, an L-shaped wardrobe for long lengths but small widths and a parallel linear wardrobe for long lengths and medium widths. In all cases, the ideal height from floor to ceiling should be 2.50 m, while the minimum depth should be 50 cm in order to be able to hang clothes without creasing them.

Plan and front view

After that, give yourself time to make plans for the dressing room that best meets your expectations. Don't hesitate to confront all your desires, to go and see the layouts, to get information before making the final plan. Afterwards, if something has been badly thought out, it will be too late. Also draw a front view which will give you an idea of your dressing room as if you were there. This front view should be as detailed and accurate as the plan, with all the wardrobes, shelves and drawers. In addition to the minimum depth of 50 cm (60 cm is best), consider a minimum height of 110 cm for a shirt and jacket wardrobe, and a shelf height of 25 to 30 cm. Note that, depending on your taste and budget, drawers can be replaced by wicker or other baskets.

The choice of door type is also very important. They can be hinged - but you need to have enough room for the overflow - or, much better, sliding. You should also consider fitting a large mirror on one of them. Sliding doors will cost you more, but the advantages are so obvious that they don't even need to be mentioned here. Another option is to leave the doors off, which will give you a good view of your wardrobe but will not protect against dust.

Don't hesitate to use a corner storage unit, which will save you space.
You should also have a stool or chair to put clothes or folded laundry that you have not yet had time to put away. The high racks are mainly for out-of-season clothes, bags, suitcases, etc.

To your tools! And your imagination!