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.

Choosing Wardrobes to Match Your Bedroom

Wardrobe type - Fitted sliding door wardrobes are by far the most popular currently available and it’s easy to see why. They can be tailor made to fit your bedroom and they make the best use of any available space, which also makes them ideal for all of your bedroom storage. If you prefer not to go down the fitted wardrobe route, there are still plenty of free standing units on the market that are stylish and classy.

Perhaps you have already revamped the rest of your bedroom and your wardrobes are the last piece of the jigsaw, allowing you to draw all the elements together. If the plan is to blend them in with existing furniture, your decision making needs to be spot on. Selecting a whole range of bedroom furniture of the same design, should obviously not a problem but if you are looking to incorporate sliding door wardrobes into an existing scheme, your planning will need to be more considered.

Measurements - It doesn't matter what sort of wardrobes you have decided upon, you will still need to get all your measurements just right. Measuring up should be your very first task before you head out wardrobe shopping. In the case of fitted wardrobes, you will be asked by the supplier to provide precise measurements anyway. However, if you fall in love with a free standing unit in a shop and impulse tells you it’s exactly what you have been looking for, you need to ensure that when it’s delivered to your home that it’s not too small or even worse - it’s far too big for your bedroom!

Style - The style of your room will be important. If you crave a modern looking bedroom but are also fond of antique furniture, then you have a crucial decision to make because it’s unlikely the two styles will work together, in fact they are more likely to clash.

Colours – Colour selection is another thing to plan carefully. Choosing darker wardrobe colours is likely to make your room feel smaller and of course darker. Lighter coloured wardrobes can help to create a larger, warmer feel, whilst wardrobes with a mirrored finish will help create an illusion of space as it reflects light around the room. What colour are you walls? If you do have very light coloured walls, then this might be the only occasion when darker wardrobes could work by adding some depth and warmth to the room.

Choosing wardrobes for children - If you are preparing a room for a child, then fitted wardrobes could be the best option. Themed, free standing furniture for children may look very cute initially but the child will quickly grow up and the furniture will date, so some fitted wardrobes along one wall, will not only give the room design longevity but will also be great for hiding all those toys!

For a full range of sliding wardrobes for the bedroom, please feel free to visit us at our main website - 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.

The Best Colours to Use When Decorating Your Bedroom

Your bedroom is very often your personal palace and sometimes the only place where you can retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life and relax. For that reason it’s important to decorate and dress your bedroom in a manner that will promote a sense of tranquillity and comfort.

To understand why some colours work, it’s perhaps easier to first look at why some simply don’t.

Colours to avoid

Extremely bright or dark colours are probably best avoided, with the latter making the room feel smaller and darker, while the former tend to be dominant and whilst stimulating are not particularly relaxing.

Blue – Regardless of whether the shade of blue is light or dark, the overall feeling is perhaps a bit chilly, which is not really what you want for an environment intended to be restful. If you simply must go blue, then try adding a splash of yellow to it for a touch of warmth.

White – White can be tricky, because although it can brighten and help create the illusion of space and size, it also tends to be a little bare and clinical. You may be able to get away with it if you cleverly accessorise with lots of primary colours.

Red – This may be seen as the colour of romance but instead tends to make rooms look rather dark and gloomy. Perhaps the most suitable way to use red is to paint just one wall and use it as an accent colour.

Yellow/Orange – Although primarily cheerful colours they are not really tranquil enough for a bedroom setting. As with reds, using them as an accent could work in some circumstances.

Maroon/Pink/Purple – Currently popular colours, they are indeed pretty and vibrant, but once again, they are probably best used as accent colours or drawn out through use of accessories.

Colours that work

Neutral colours naturally provide balance and most importantly are easy to work with. Pastels and warm, earthy colours are not only stylish but relaxing on the eye too.

Green – Green is for go! This really is a great colour to use in your bedroom, although perhaps a little unorthodox. As long as you don’t go for some of the brighter shades, green is natural, peaceful and promotes a slower pace, perfect for when you simply want to unwind.

Cream – Cream may be a little clichéd these days, but there is no denying how well it works as a base bedroom colour. It’s neutral so it’s also versatile, meaning when it comes to accessorising; the world is your oyster! Warmth is also found in cream colours and for an extra sophisticated touch you can add some light browns and beiges.

Light Taupe/Beige – Either on their own or together, these are earthy, warm colours and promote easy accessorising in a restful environment.

Peach/Apricot – These are naturally warm tones and they also blend really well with green, so you could actually mix all three to stunning effect.

If you are looking for sliding wardrobe doors to blend in with your colour scheme, please visit the 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.