Creating a Calm Master Bedroom in a Busy Home

If we are working and have a family too, then “calm” isn’t a word most of us would use to describe our homes! Juggling responsibilities is often just part of a hectic and busy lifestyle and escaping from it can be difficult. The master bedroom should offer some brief respite from the hurly burly but too often, this room is overcrowded, with piled clothes either ready for washing or ironing and the kids running in and out at a hundred miles an hour. However, there are things we can do to the decor of this room to at least encourage a little more tranquillity and peace.

With a bit of determination and a little creativity, especially when it comes to the bedroom furniture, there are lots of ways in which you can make positive changes. If you can find the time, the best place to start is by having a thorough “sort out”. If that means ruthlessly throwing away some of the clutter, then so be it.

The walls often dominate a room, so they are a good place to begin your overhaul. Choose a colour – a warm grey tone will work well. At the time of writing, it’s a hugely popular colour, so it will be up to date. It’s also a tone that has a calming effect; it’s interesting without assaulting the senses.

Your flooring should be kept as simple as possible, so if you are fortunate enough to have a room with natural floorboards, these can be painted in soft white tones. This will make it feel clean and fresh as well as contemporary. If you have to go with carpet, keep the colours neutral. To add a little texture if you have gone down the floorboard route, you could try a sheepskin rug.

If you have decided to keep your existing bed, there are still ways you can give it a facelift. You could paint the frame in a deeper shade of grey than the walls or you could make a new headboard using wadding and MDF. Cover it with a fabric – again in that tone of grey. You could also make the headboard extra large which will help to give it an extra luxurious touch.

Bedding itself should be kept simple. White always works, especially if you accessorise cleverly. A stylish tartan blanket as a runner will pull the scheme together if the colours are chosen carefully.

The window areas can also play a part in promoting a peaceful atmosphere. Use some white voile and perhaps some striped curtains – again picking out the main theme colours.

Your furniture might also need an overhaul, especially if one of the main problems is cluttering. Teak coloured furniture will not only provide contrast to the grey walls but also set them off beautifully. Furniture is often big and bulky and takes up most of your space, so why not consider installing sliding wardrobe doors which are excellent for creating effective, streamlined storage. Having them made to measure means they will fit perfectly into any available space. No longer will you need to have all the laundry on display. Choose a wardrobe style that suits your new decor and if you want to create the feeling of a bit more light, then choose something with a mirrored finish.

Hopefully, when you pull all the elements together, the result will be a much nicer, calmer room to be in!

Attic Bedroom Design Ideas Including Sliding Wardrobes

Creating an attic bedroom is becoming more and more popular and not simply because an extra room is needed. Attic rooms are now being converted into master bedrooms with their own en suite facilities and features.

If you are lucky enough to have the available space to do just that, then here are a few ideas to enhance all of the attic’s best features.

It’s quite likely that most of the walls will have been plastered in order to bring out a more homely, warm feel. However, if you are able to leave one wall exposed with its “brick” textures, this is a really easy way of creating a feature wall as well as adding some character and charm. If you can use this particular wall to frame the headboard of your bed, then even better!

Your choice of colours will be important as many attics, by nature, can feel bare and barren. You could use a cream colour for the wall opposite the brick feature and you could perhaps mix it up with plum coloured side walls, blending the warmth with a modern edge.

It’s not always the case, but many attics possess those wonderful ceiling beams and if they have been left exposed, you can really make the most of them. Create a lovely contrast by painting the ceiling white or cream and leaving the beams exposed in their natural “wooden” state.

Although natural wooden floors are really popular in the attic, they do pose a few problems, namely a lack of warmth and the sound of shoes or heels for any rooms or neighbours on the floor below you. Carpets can solve both of these problems and choosing something neutral coloured will give it real lifespan even if you need to redecorate. If you do choose to keep the wooden flooring exposed, then at least soften it up with some thick rugs.

When introducing furniture, try a metal/brass bed frame which will again help with that contrast of beams and bricks. Dress it with a patchwork quilt to add pattern and the introduction of a few plum scatter cushions will lend a modern element to the overall appearance.

When it comes to the bedside cupboards, dressing tables and wardrobe, a natural wood finish with metal handles would certainly complement.

On the subject of wardrobes, it can not only be very difficult to actually get them into the attic room but you then have the additional problem of fitting them into the difficult angles and sloping ceilings. Using made to measure sliding wardrobe doors can certainly help to solve this problem. Not only do they fit into your available space but they can also be assembled on site, so no problems getting them up there.

To round everything off, try using curtains that are light in colour as many attic windows tend to be small and you want as much light coming through as possible. Accessorise with some stylish lamps, vases, mirrors and even some fresh flowers to help create a feeling of airiness. 

Top Tips for Building Your Own Wardrobes

If you are willing to take the job on, then building your own wardrobes could save you some money in the long term, especially if you are thinking about buying new wardrobes. It might seem like a daunting task but taken one step at a time, some basic DIY skills should see you through the job comfortably.

Let’s just take a step by step look at the basics as you consider the pros and cons of building your own wardrobe.

Planning – What sort of wardrobe are you hoping to end up with? Are you looking for something that just has lots of hanging rails or are you hoping to incorporate drawers and shelves too? It’s a good idea to get a pencil and paper and try to sketch out what you are hoping to achieve. Will you be storing lots of hats and shoes in the wardrobe? If so, it’s worth considering a shelf unit above the hanging rails, where all the relevant bits and pieces can be stored.

Measuring – You won’t really get very far without some accurate measurements and every aspect of your wardrobe, from the various interior components (shelves, rails etc.) , the doors and the overall structure itself needs to be carefully measured out and matched up with the measurements you have made in your bedroom.

Materials – Before you spend a fortune at your local DIY superstore, it might be worth looking around the home for materials, to see if you can recycle. If you are replacing your existing wardrobes, before you throw them into the skip, it’s worth checking to see if you can scavenge any of the materials from the carcass. There might be shelving, rails or other bits of wood you can use to get you started, as well as saving you a pretty penny. If you don’t have enough in the budget for sliding doors but still want to save on opening space, you could feasibly just put some curtains on the front!

Construction Ideas – Wardrobes are often large and heavy and even individual components can be awkward to hold in place at the same time as using tools. So, it’s always a good idea to have another person with you, even if it’s just to hold things or to pass you materials. Ensure all of your tools are in good working order and safe to use. Small knocks and bangs are sometimes inevitable during DIY jobs, but serious injuries are avoidable.

For much more information about building wardrobes as well as a great selection of wardrobe sliding doors, please visit our main website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

Top Tips for Installing Sliding Wardrobe Doors

With a good set of instructions to hand, installing your own sliding wardrobe doors doesn't need to be as complicated as you might imagine.

Here are just a few tips and pointers to get you started:

Preparation – As with any DIY job, the better your planning and preparation, the smoother the job is likely to go. Measuring up will be a vital part of this, because millimetres really will make a difference, especially if it’s too wide or too narrow! Your measurements at home will need to be accurately relayed to whoever you are purchasing your sliding door kit from.

Before your kit arrives, you could prepare the site in advance by (if required) cutting sections out of the skirting and cornices which will allow the frame to fit. Some gentle skills with a Stanley knife and a small chisel and hammer will be needed as you tackle these areas.

It’s also a good idea to clear the decks and to allow plenty of room in which to work and manoeuvre.

Assistance – Ideally, installing your new sliding wardrobe doors is a job for two pairs of hands, so make sure you have enlisted the help of a co-worker before you attempt to hang any of the doors.

Instructions – No matter how tempting it might be to disregard the instructions and forge your own independent path to successful wardrobe installation, don’t! More time spent with instructions in hand now (provided they are coherent) is less time spent pulling hair later on.

Tools of the trade – We have already hinted at some of the tools that will come in handy for the job and it is well worth knowing how many tools and which kind you will need before beginning the assembly process. You don’t want to be half way through and realise you can’t continue because you haven’t got the appropriate tool to hand.

Contents Check – Before you begin, it’s worth knowing that all of the pieces that are supposed to be in the pack are in the pack! A missing screw can put the job on hold as quickly as an absent screwdriver. By checking the contents, you will also begin to build up a picture of what needs to go where.

Hanging doors – Once the frame is in place you are ready to hang the door/s. Tilt the door towards the wardrobe and slot it into the top track. Swing the bottom of the door into place and gently lower this into the bottom track. Rinse and repeat with other doors.

Adjustments – If something isn't quite right when the doors are in situ, you can make small adjustments to the height of the doors by moving the screws that are found on the top side of the bottom wheels.

Admiration – Clear up, sit back and admire your handiwork!

For more installation tips and to see a full range of made to measure wardrobes, please visit our main website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

5 Of The Most Original Bedroom Designs

To be completely original is difficult these days, but there is still plenty of scope to draw out unique elements and flavours in design.

Favourite Destination – Start by finding a photograph of your favourite destination and get it enlarged. Apply it to the wall, above and behind the head of your bed, to create a mural. You can then theme the rest of the room around it by drawing out its colours. For example, if your picture is of the Greek Islands, you can paint the walls and floorboards white. Accessorise in “Greek” blue to create that classic blue and white combination and if needed, warm it up with reds and oranges.

Music – If you are a music lover or musician, there are lots of ways you could incorporate music into bedroom design. You could go for a modern, recording studio feel, with wooden floors and a few instruments strategically placed around the room and a microphone and stand in one corner. The walls could be filled with live music history, with prints of your favourite bands and performers. If that sounds too busy, you could tone it all back and just have a vintage gramophone in one corner and a large print of a musical note behind the bed.

Travel – Similar in theme to the “destination” design, but on a much grander scale! How about using map of the world mural wallpaper on one of the feature walls, where you can trace all the places you have been and those still on your “to do” list. Shades of light blue will work well for the rest of the room. Accessorise with globe lighting and other travel related items on some floating shelves, perhaps even things you have picked up on your own adventures. Finish off with some sandy coloured cushions and rugs and your world is ready to explore!

Fashion – A much more feminine feel here and you could go in many different directions. How about sacrificing a few of your favourite fashion items and hanging them on neutral coloured walls? You could even frame some classic fashion magazine issues and put them above the bed. Accessorise with knitted cushion covers and even a scarf over a lamp. Drape some colourful jewellery over mirrors and have some of your expensive pairs of shoes on display!

Pop Art Meets Family – Perhaps an unlikely combination, but one that could be completely unique! Paint all bedroom walls white for a modern, clean look. Dig out your favourite family snaps and get them made into large images in a pop art style (there are specialists that can do this really well). Arrange them over your headboard to create a colourful focal point. You can now have lots of fun accessorising with primary colours, with bright rugs on top of white floorboards. Glass fronted wardrobes will complete a contemporary and stylish theme.

If you are looking to incorporate made to measure wardrobes into your bedroom scheme, please visit our main website at Slide Wardrobes Direct for more information.

The Benefits of Sliding Wardrobes

To fully grasp the benefits of sliding wardrobes, we also have to realise the problems that can arise with some free-standing wardrobes. In comparison, free-standing units are somewhat clunky and cumbersome and unless you have spent the extra money to have them specially made to measure, they often never fit a specific area in your room and actually leave you with space that is wasted, not to mention all the dust that gathers on the top!

There are actually many benefits to sliding wardrobes but for the purpose of this post, we are going to break them down into 3 “S” words.

Storage – Perhaps the most obvious of the 3 “S” words we will look at. An effective storage solution is absolutely crucial in any bedroom and wardrobes often take the brunt of the action. The beauty of made to measure sliding door wardrobes is that they will work with your room perfectly and are able to store and pack away more of your clothes and other bedroom accessories than most free-standing units.

Space – The benefit of space is actually twofold. Firstly, you have all that extra space inside your wardrobe that enables you to store so much more than you could before. Secondly, by using all the available area inside the wardrobe, you have been able to create a lot of extra space on your bedroom floor, perhaps space that you never knew you had before! If all you've known is a free-standing wardrobe, then you will be all too familiar with the opening space required just to get access to your wardrobe contents on a daily basis. This problem is completely eradicated with sliding doors. This can be even more beneficial in smaller rooms or rooms that are peculiar shapes or contain boilers and airing cupboards. Not only can sliding wardrobes be made to measure to overcome these problems but in some cases they can also help to hide them!

Style – If you are passionate about interior design, then this might be your favourite of the “S” words. Floor to ceiling and wall to wall, sliding wardrobes can be a really stylish feature in your bedroom. There are so many ways in which you can tailor and personalise them so that they work perfectly with the rest of your décor  With wooden finishes, metallic finishes and ultra modern glass finishes, you can let the wardrobe take the design lead or choose something that blends beautifully with what you already have.

For lots more information about wardrobe sliding doors, please visit our main website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

How to Design a Modern Looking Bedroom

Keeping up with the latest trends can be difficult and knowing what is “in” right now isn't always clear but there are ways in which you can stay in touch with what the marketplace tells us is modern and happening!

A little bit of research can go a long way to telling you what is hot and what is not. When you are out shopping, take a few minutes to check out the “home” departments in shops and it won’t take long to get a good idea of what is currently being marketed as modern. Some you will like, some, not so much!

You don’t necessarily need a large budget to revamp your bedroom, but obviously the bigger the budget, the further you can go with your project. If your budget is generous, then you might decide to get rid of all the old things and start from scratch, but with a smaller budget you may need to mix and match and be a bit more creative with existing things.

We can look at smaller budgets a bit later, so for now let’s assume you can start with a blank canvas.

Free standing or built in furniture? The size of your room may help to make this decision easier, with smaller rooms perhaps better suited to sliding door wardrobes that are built in etc. However, whichever way you go, try to choose simple lines and designs. Usually, less fussy is more effective, but you need to consider each piece of furniture on its own merits and also whether they work as an ensemble. If the blend isn't right, there is little chance of achieving your goal of a modern looking bedroom.

The decoration process – This is also crucial, and regardless of the furniture you have chosen, if the decoration isn't right then things could go very wrong here! Many modern types of wallpaper can make a big impact, so it’s important to choose one you like. If it’s particularly striking, using it on just one feature wall and using complementary colours on the others is a good idea.

Accessorize - If your budget is limited, then accessorizing is the quickest and most cost effective way to bring your bedroom bang up to date. A new duvet cover, curtains, some scatter cushions and new lampshades can deliver a complete transformation! Avoid choosing items that are an exact match and instead, use complementary colours, tones and patterns. You could finish the job off by choosing some simple yet classy pieces of art for the walls but try not to overdo this and end up with something that looks too busy and cluttered.

For much more information about how sliding wardrobes can help create your modern looking bedroom, please visit our main website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

How to Make the Most of Wardrobe Space

If you are about to purchase new sliding wardrobes, then this task will certainly be easier. If you are trying make the most out of the space in an existing wardrobe, then it’s the perfect time to have a good clear out. All those things that don’t fit any more, you don’t like any more or have been eaten by something lurking in the depths of the wardrobe can all go as you start to create space!

So, are you ready? The wardrobes are empty? Good, we can start! If you have wardrobes with doors that open outwards then you can cleverly place a hook on each door and these hooks can be the new home for all of your belts. You can even get a tie holder to hang on one of the hooks and that’s your ties sorted as well. This makes accessories such as ties and belts, easily accessible in your new sensible storage solution.

Categorise your clothing

How you categorise is entirely up to you, but being organised will certainly help you make the most out of available wardrobe space. For example, sort tops, skirts, trousers and dresses in order of length and if done correctly you should still have plenty of space left at the “shorter” end. Alternatively, you could sort clothes into occasion categories. So, smart, dressy clothes can go at one end of the wardrobe and casuals at the other. Not only does this help to organise the space but it will also make things much quicker when you are looking for clothes in the morning, provided you know what day it is of course!

Jumpers and sweaters are by nature thick, heavy and clumsy to store, so during the summer why not put them into air tight storage bags and put them under your bed, which will free up much more space in the wardrobes for the appropriate items in the current season. For those damp, cold British summers, the jumpers are best folded neatly onto wardrobe shelving.

If you don’t have an alternative cupboard or storage place for your shoes, then shoe racks are absolutely essential and can be placed one on top of another at that “shorter” end of the wardrobe.

Handbags can be particularly tricky to store tidily and if care isn't taken, they can quickly lose their shape. Try placing them in baskets at the top of your wardrobe, they will be out the way and won’t have anything falling down on them and damaging them.

If your wardrobe is big enough (built in wardrobes often provide more storage space), you could put a small chest of drawers in one of the corners. This could be perfect for underwear, socks and other smaller items.

So, as you can see there are lots of ways to optimise your wardrobe space, so good luck!

For more information about sliding wardrobe doors, please visit our main website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

5 Of the Most Creative Bedroom Storage Solutions

It doesn't seem to matter what size your bedroom is, space is always at a premium! Whether it’s a single, a double, a guest room or a room for the children, finding places to store things soon becomes an issue. So, we have put together some creative but simple ways in which you might be able to improve the storage situation in your bedroom. (Don’t panic; hanging clothes from curtain poles didn't make the list!)

Wardrobe Sliding Doors – Built in wardrobes can make such a massive difference to bedroom storage that we simply had to have it as our number one tip! Floor to ceiling hanging space can seem like a revelation if you have been used to cramming clothes into a free standing wardrobe. Shelves and drawers can also be contained within this space, which of course frees up other areas around the room. The addition of sliding doors ensures that you don’t need that vital opening space that so many other wardrobes require.

Built in Bed – This is especially useful for smaller bedrooms or “box rooms”. With a little careful planning, a single or double bed can be built on top of a storage space, which can either have drawers built in or for more permanent storage, a hardboard lid can be placed on top (doubling up as a base for the mattress)  and contents placed inside, effectively turning the bed into a giant storage box.

A Cupboard over the Bed – The space above your bed is often completely wasted, especially if you are in dire need of extra storage. Storage units or cupboards can be purpose built at the sides of the bed and continue over the top, effectively giving you bedside and overhead storage in one package.

Under the Bed – Most of us have probably stuffed things hastily under the bed, when we don’t know where else to put them and often they are simply left to gather dust. However, there are all kinds of storage solutions for under the bed, including drawers, small mobile storage units or even air filled bags. Nobody really gets to see under the bed, so it’s a great chance to utilise some valuable space.

Customising drawers and wardrobes – If you need to get more into your storage spaces without them overflowing, customising them can bring a little order and organisation. Simple drawer dividers can be a great way of fitting in more items and make them easier to find! In wardrobes too, things like specialised hanging shoe storage can make a massive difference and also help you to avoid rummaging around for odd shoes! Perhaps if you have some corner space left inside your wardrobe, you can put in a small chest of drawers that may have been taking up space on the bedroom floor.

To find out more about how made to measure wardrobes can help with your bedroom storage solution, please visit our main website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

Wooden vs. Glass Wardrobes - Made to Measure

Choosing a wardrobe that is finished in either wood or glass is really only a matter of personal preference or perhaps what works better for your interior design. Both are extremely popular choices and you can have a modern and stylish appearance whichever way you go.

Traditionalists may prefer to opt for classic wooden wardrobes and those who prefer something with a more contemporary feel may choose wardrobes that are glass fronted. Let’s take a brief look at the benefits of both options.

Wooden Wardrobes – In general, a wooden finish will help to create a warmer feel in a room, especially if the grain is exposed or enhanced. If you have a loft bedroom with sloping ceilings and chunky beams, then wooden wardrobes will complement this look nicely.

Another advantage for a wooden finish is that it tends to be relatively easy to match it up with existing wooden furniture. For example, a walnut coloured bed frame and dresser will obviously blend really well with wardrobes with a walnut finish. So, if you are intending your room to have a natural feel, with lots of earthy tones, then wooden wardrobes will be absolutely perfect.

From a safety point of view, a child’s room might be more suited to wooden wardrobes rather than glass ones.

Glass Wardrobes – Glass furniture, by its very nature seems to exude that contemporary and stylish theme and it is often thought to have a calming effect, so it certainly helps to promote a feeling of peacefulness, which is ideally what you want in a bedroom.

If your room is small, then furniture with a glass finish can help to create the illusion of space and if you have a mirrored effect you also get the benefit of light being reflected around the room, again enhancing the notion of a larger space.

Frosted glass can also make the room feel mellow and relaxed as well as looking really stylish, perhaps with frosted panels on wardrobe doors creating an interesting feature that you could build the rest of your decor around.

Longevity is also a great benefit of glass wardrobe doors and if looked after properly, they are likely to outlast the rest of your bedroom furniture!

So, wooden vs. Glass, is there a winner? Not really, I think we would call it an entertaining, high quality draw and your choice should be based on the plans you have for each of the rooms in question.

For lots more information about made to measure wardrobes in various stylish finishes, please visit the website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

How to Design a Minimalist Bedroom

It’s amazing how quickly things can become cluttered around the home and our bedrooms, in particular, seem to be a clutter magnet. Clothes, trinkets, precious items and other bits and pieces all seem to congregate and suffocate any ideas we had of an effective design scheme in the room. So in order to design a minimalist bedroom, de-cluttering is the first step.

Strip the room bare – As part of ridding the room of clutter, it is a good idea to start with a blank canvas, so begin by taking down anything adorning the walls, including shelving and any fussy window dressings. Take up the rugs and throws and cast an eye over your furniture. You will need to be ruthless and unsentimental here.

Perhaps, all you should be left with is your bed, bedside stands, a dressing table and if you don’t already have them fitted, this might be a good opportunity to install some wardrobes with sliding doors, which will give you far more space than any old free standing ones. If your room is particularly small, then opting for mirrored wardrobe doors well help to reflect light around the room and make it feel bigger.

Furniture – You don’t want too many items (especially after all that hard work de-cluttering) but essential pieces would be ideal in either clear plastic or glass. Again, this creates an illusion of space whilst remaining modern.

Walls – White is probably the best colour when the aim is “minimalist”. Illusions of space and light are the main benefits. If you have exposed floorboards, then these could be painted white as well to maximise the effect.

Windows – Curtains can be heavy and bulky, so blinds are a good option here, with perhaps a drape either side to soften it up a bit.

Lighting – Keep bedside lamps and ceiling lights as simple and stylish as possible. A chrome effect can look modern and simple.

Bedding – Again, white is a good base to work from, although you can help modernise the look with some primary coloured diagonal stripes. Pick these colours up again with your lampshades, blinds, rugs and a couple of cushions.

Seating – If you want to sit without adding bulky chairs, then bright coloured bean bags can help with the modern, minimalist theme and if you need extra space, you can store them in your wardrobes.

Artwork – Putting up lots of pictures will destroy the feel you have worked so hard to create but a well positioned piece of modern art, will add weight to the project.

To find out how sliding wardrobes can help you in your quest for a minimalist bedroom, please visit the website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

Advantages of Fitted Wardrobes over Free Standing Wardrobes

Regardless of why you are in the market for new wardrobes, there are certain things to consider before you actually make your purchase. Here are just a few ways in which fitted wardrobes hold an advantage over the free standing variety.

Adding value – If you are a home owner then you will know how important it is to make improvements and upgrades to the property, so that if you ever need to sell, the upgrades you have made will actually increase the value of your home. Along with up to date kitchens and modern bathrooms, fitted wardrobes are one of the main attractions for potential buyers.

Size does matter – It cannot be underestimated just how important it is to get the size of the wardrobes just right for each room. Space is already at a premium in a bedroom and wardrobes are required to fit into a certain area, which, unless you plan some restructuring, will be of limited space. Fitted wardrobes do what they say on the tin, they are tailored specifically to “fit” into your available space, so size really does matter.

Saving Space – Fitted wardrobes are suitable for most, if not all bedrooms and regardless of the size of the room, will always help to maximise the available space. Shelves and drawers can be built into the wardrobe, which in turn can free up other areas around the room. Sliding door wardrobes are better still because you can effectively put furniture right next to them and still open them easily (left/right).

Flexibility – No two rooms are exactly the same and have their own quirks and curiosities, such as sloping ceilings or walls that have strange angles. Fitted wardrobes can overcome challenges such as these and can even help to disguise the problem area once installed.

Storage, Storage, Storage – Already hinted at in “saving space”, perhaps the biggest benefit of having fitted wardrobes is the complete storage solution they create. Racks, rails, drawers and shoe holders can all be built in and you could still have left over space for boxes or other items.

Style and Substance – We’ve already seen how practical in design they are but they can also add great elements of style to your bedroom. Just as the size can be specifically tailored, so too, can pretty much every other aspect of the wardrobe such as colours and finishes. You can literally design your wardrobes to complement the rest of your decor.

Spick and Span –Most fitted wardrobes are built from floor to ceiling and often span the length of an entire wall. This means that there are very few nooks and crannies for dust to accumulate. They are very easy to clean so keeping the bedroom constantly fresh is also much easier.

To see our full range of sliding wardrobe doors, please feel free to visit the website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

Customising Your Bedroom Furniture Including Sliding Wardrobes

It’s important to have a sense of what you want to achieve when customising your bedroom furniture. What sort of final look are you going for? What will you need to accomplish the task? It’s also a good idea to research ideas and techniques before you begin.

Whether you have decided on a modern direction or have opted to take a more traditional route, it’s important to ensure that all of your bedroom furniture will be able to blend in with your new scheme. A piece of furniture that doesn't quite match can potentially ruin the whole theme.

There’s also the general kind of furniture to take into consideration. There are pieces of large and small free-standing furniture that are popular.  Alternatively, some prefer the uniform nature of made to measure fitted furniture. How you customise will depend very much on the kind of furniture you are dealing with.

It might be a good idea to consult furniture specialists who are experts in making pieces of furniture that specifically fit into certain locations. They can also advise on colour schemes and styles and let you know the pros and cons of each.

Sliding door wardrobes – Wardrobes with sliding doors are perfect for customisation and can really help with specific storage needs. You can decide how many shelves and drawers you would like and how you would like the interior of the wardrobe to function to suit your requirements in the best way possible.

Beds - Beds too can be custom made and made to measure and once more, you should consult specialists before making decisions regarding sizes and styles.

Above, we have mentioned some of the more expensive items of bedroom furniture that are customisable but if your budget is smaller, there are still things you can do to customise your room

Headboards – The easiest way to customise your existing bed is to either buy a new headboard or even revamp the existing one! Cushioned headboards are really popular at the moment and are sure to look modern. If you want to customise your existing one, you can do so fairly easily with some wadding, buttons and some suede fabric.

Handles – By removing all of the handles from your doors, wardrobes and draws, you can spray them a completely different colour to match your new theme. If your budget is slightly larger, a new set of handles can also help to transform each piece of furniture.

Painting – Sanding down existing pieces of furniture and painting them in a colour to complement your planned décor  is a great way to make big changes for little money. Give each surface a couple of coats of spray varnish (on top of the paint) to help prevent scratches. Once the re-done handles are also attached, you will have furniture that has been really nicely customised and works well with your interior design project.

For more information about the benefits of sliding wardrobe doors in your bedroom, please visit the website at Slide Wardrobes Direct.

How to Customise Your Wardrobe

Has your existing wardrobe been driving you crazy? It’s not big enough! It’s not wide enough! I can’t get enough in it! Sound familiar? Well, regardless of the size of your budget, there are things you can do to both its interior and exterior to make it look better and work better!

If your budget has no boundary, your fist port of call should be to invest in some made to measure sliding door wardrobes. They are versatile and bedroom friendly and can make a massive difference to the whole bedroom. From a storage point of view, there’s so much you can do with them, with personalised drawers, shelving and rails adding a new dimension. The personal touch can be extended to the overall design, so you can choose something that works perfectly for your room.

Your budget may be limited but there are still things you can do to transform your existing wardrobes before giving up on them!

Wardrobe Exterior – If you are sick of how your wardrobes look, then whether you are dealing with free-standing units or something fitted, there are ways to address the problem.

If your wardrobes have a wooden beading on the outside, you can very carefully remove it using a screwdriver and a small hammer.

Sand the doors down to give you a working base.

If handles are in the way, you can usually unscrew these from the inside before sanding.

Painting the doors is straightforward, give them a couple of coats of primer to help the paint stick and then apply a couple of coats of your chosen paint. You can then do the same with varnish to protect the painted surface.

Now you are ready to become really creative! Instead of putting the old handles back on, why not spend a few pounds and put a completely new set back on? They can make a real difference to the overall appearance.

Wardrobe Interior – There are also ways in which you can improve the inside of your wardrobe, making it more stylish and user friendly in the process.

Empty the wardrobe completely – be ruthless and throw things out that you won’t ever wear again!

Work out what you need the most and reshuffle accordingly, more hanging space, more shelving or more drawers?

Drawers – Why not use a small free-standing chest of draws and actually place it inside the wardrobe? If you don’t have one, charity shops and second hand furniture shops are places you can pick one up cheaply.

Shelves – Using the same theory you used for drawers, place a small set of bookshelves inside the wardrobe.

Rails/Hanging Space – If you have created more hanging space from your clear out but don’t have any rails, you can easily pick them up from DIY stores (measure up carefully).

You can apply the same theory for shoe holders and clothes dividers to complete your wardrobe customisation.

For much more information about sliding wardrobe doors, please visit our main site at Slide Wardrobes Direct

Shaker fineline sliding wardrobe doors | Slide Wardrobes Direct

Shaker fineline sliding wardrobe doors | Slide Wardrobes Direct
Due to popular demand, we have just launched our fineline range of Shaker sliding wardrobe doors.
The door itself is a three panel door where the center panel (fineline) is 300mm high, which gives the door a very contemporary look. Perfect to showcase accents of colour, compliment textiles in the room or simply breaking up natural or block colour combinations.
20 safety glass colours to choose from and 4 contemporary woodgrain colours. Only available at Slide Wardrobes Direct
As always, our Made to Measure doors are manufactured in our factory in Newark and all systems come complete with matching track sets, wall and bottom framing and softcloses for every door. You order online, and we deliver to your door FREE!

Shaker Fineline sliding wardrobe doors Walnut frame/ black top & bottom panel and soft white Fineline center panel, Exclusive to Slide Wardrobes Direct

Saving Space with Sliding Wardrobes

If our bedrooms are cluttered with piles of clothes, both clean and dirty and other things we might have acquired over the years, it can be really hard to convince yourself that this room is meant to be the most tranquil and relaxed place in the home! You would love to light a candle and read a good book and spend some time just chilling out on your bed but you can’t find a space for your feet, let alone the candle!

It’s become quite clear that you need to come up with a solution to create more space in your bedroom, so that you can turn it into a sanctuary of calm and rest.

The great news is that an easy solution is at hand in the form of sliding door wardrobes. It really cannot be underestimated what a transformation they can produce in your bedroom. Let’s have a little look at why:

Wider – The majority of sliding wardrobes tend to run from one end of a wall to the other meaning that in general, they are much wider than your average free standing wardrobes. This means you now have enough storage space for all those piles of clothes around the room and the knock on result is more space in your room.

Doors – One of the biggest advantages of sliding door wardrobes is the doors themselves. They are single-handedly responsible for creating much of the extra space in your room. Because they slide from left to right or right to left they don’t use any “room” space when being opened. This means that some of your furniture can be really close to your wardrobes without you having to worry about moving it all when you want to get inside.

Illusions of even more space – Most sliding wardrobes are built from floor to ceiling so they help to create the illusion of space. If you go for doors with a mirrored glass finish, then this illusion will be enhanced even further.

More – These are not just wardrobes with a bit of hanging space; they can actually be a complete bedroom storage solution. You can get them built and made to measure and specify exactly what kind of storage facilities you want to find in them. So, you can decide to have some drawers and shelving to go along with all that great hanging space. You’re really only limited by the dimensions of your room and your imagination.

And less – With pretty much everything now safely tucked away in your purpose built sliding door wardrobes, it stands to reason that there is now considerably less clutter and less furniture in the rest of your bedroom! Perhaps all that extra space has allowed you some room for a comfy chair in one corner, where you can finally sit and relax with your book.

Top 5 Things to Consider When Redesigning your Bedroom

There are probably a lot more than 5 things to consider when redesigning your bedroom, but the 5 listed here are perhaps the most obvious ones.

Budget – This is a really good place to start because everyone will be working under the restraints of their own budget. The size of your budget will inevitably dictate the scale of your redesign. If it’s something you have been planning for a while, then you may have been putting some money aside each month, which will really help when you get started. If you have decided on a whim that you simply must redesign, then your budget may be smaller and the amount you can achieve likewise. It might be worth pricing up all the things you would like to do beforehand and set your targets accordingly.

Time and Preparation – This could be a redesign that has no deadline attached to it and therefore you can take your time and do a little bit whenever you want. However, it might be that your project is in preparation for a special event, in which case you have a definitive completion date to meet. If this is the case, then preparation is crucial! What equipment and materials will you need to get the job done quickly? Knowing exactly what you need, will make the process much smoother, so work out what tools, paints, wallpapers etc, you will need ahead of time. Making last minutes decisions about colours and accessories could lead to disaster, so manage your time carefully.

Design Plans – This should be part and parcel of the preparation phase but it’s an element that needs attention. Will your theme be modern, traditional, minimalist or something completely unique? This will dictate the furniture you use, the lighting, the colours and the accessories. The more prepared you are, the easier the job will seem when you start.

Recycling and Reusing – If you are on a tight budget or you just don’t like throwing old things away, with careful planning, you may well be able to recycle things you have used before into your new scheme. Sometimes a quick paint job and a furniture reshuffle is as good as a complete overhaul! Painting existing furniture is another way to save money and yet still make changes. If you only have a few pounds spare, it’s amazing how a handful of new accessories can transform an old bedroom.

Storage – It’s possible that your bedroom itself doesn’t actually need a major redesign; it might simply be a case of improving your storage solution. Perhaps you have an ancient, bulky, freestanding wardrobe in a corner. The wardrobe itself seems to take up half the room and the space inside it has long since been filled. It could be time to consider installing fitted wardrobes along one wall, with sliding doors to save even more space with all that extra storage room inside.

By Slide Wardrobes Direct

Manufacturer of made to measure 

Sliding Wardrobe Doors and Wardrobe storage