Buying a Wardrobe – What Types Are There and How Do You Choose the Right Model?

A wardrobe is more than just a piece of furniture. It’s the silent witness in the mornings, when you groggily decide what to wear for the day, and in the evenings, when you take everything off again. Perhaps you remember your grandparents’ enormous oak wardrobe, which creaked slightly when opened and smelled of both mothballs and lavender. Perhaps you think of the makeshift clothes rack in your first student flat, with concert tickets pinned to it like little trophies. A wardrobe stores stories – the good, the quiet, the unique ones.

Today, anyone looking to buy a wardrobe is looking for something that functions very similarly: a place for the life currently being lived. In this guide, we’ll show you what types are available, what to consider when buying, and how to find the right model for your daily life.

Buying a Wardrobe – What Are the Most Popular Varieties and How Do They Differ?

Before you buy a wardrobe, it's worth getting an overview of the main types. Just as living situations differ, so do wardrobes – each with its own character.

The most important wardrobe varieties:

• Hinged door wardrobe – the classic with folding doors, usually with push-to-open or a handle

• Sliding door wardrobe – doors glide sideways, require no opening space

• Corner wardrobe – efficiently uses corners, ideal for awkward layouts

• Walk-in wardrobe – luxurious, offers the charm of a private dressing room

• Modular wardrobe – grows with your needs

• Highboard or narrow model – for small rooms and alcoves

Anyone looking for a bedroom wardrobe should honestly assess their room situation. In a classic German old building with high ceilings, large hinged door wardrobes work wonderfully – the proportions are right here. In modern new builds with less height, a lower model with clean lines often looks more convincing.

A look at our category Wardrobes & Dressing Rooms shows the current range – from minimalist models to spacious family wardrobes. If you're also looking for sideboards or chests of drawers as an addition, you'll find suitable pieces in the category Cabinets and Chests of Drawers to complete your bedroom storage.

Sliding Door or Hinged Door Wardrobe – What's the Difference and Which is Better?

This is one of the most common questions when buying a wardrobe. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages – and the right choice depends on the room.

Sliding door wardrobe (buying a sliding door wardrobe):

• No space needed in front of the wardrobe, ideal for small rooms

• Modern, minimalist look

• Doors act as a generous surface for mirrors

• Only one side accessible at a time

• Guide rails can wear out over time

• Usually slightly more expensive than comparable hinged door models

Hinged door wardrobe:

• Entire interior immediately visible

• Less wear and tear, robust mechanism

• Variety of handles and opening systems (classic or push-to-open)

• Needs space to open, at least 60 cm clear

• Can look bulky in very wide models

A good compromise is modern hinged door models with push-to-open systems – these combine classic accessibility with a minimalist look. An example of this is the Armelia 220×202 wardrobe with four doors, mirrored fronts, soft-close hinges and optional LED lighting. It shows how to combine modern function with everyday elegance – without losing the charm of classic furniture.

A practical tip: If you can't decide between the two systems, check whether the door will hit the bed or window when opened. It sounds trivial, but it's the most common mistake when buying furniture.

Bedroom Wardrobe – How to Choose the Right Width, Height, and Depth?

Wardrobe sizes are not a detail – they determine the living quality of the entire room. A wardrobe that's too big overwhelms the room, one that's too small leads to eternal chaos.

Standard dimensions as a guide:

• Width: 120 cm (compact), 180–220 cm (standard), 240–300 cm (spacious)

• Height: 195–210 cm (standard), up to 240 cm (modern look)

• Depth: 54–60 cm (standard with clothes rail), 40 cm (narrow version without rail)

The depth of 54 cm has become a standard because it allows clothes to be hung sideways. The Armelia wardrobe, with its 54 cm depth, fits ideally into a bedroom without becoming a bulky item.

How to plan correctly – a short checklist:

• Accurately measure the room and mark sockets, windows, radiators

• Check ceiling height – too little clearance can feel oppressive

• Plan walkways (at least 70 cm in front of the wardrobe)

• For hinged doors: account for opening space

• For sliding doors: plan flush wall installation

A frequently underestimated point: the number of users. For one person, 180 cm width is sufficient; a couple should expect at least 240 cm. Children grow faster than parents think – a family wardrobe should grow with them.

Anyone with a small room can alternatively opt for narrow models and distribute the rest of the storage across chests of drawers and nightstands. This arrangement often appears lighter than a single large wardrobe.

Wardrobe Interior – How to Optimally Plan the Inside for Everyday Life?

A wardrobe is only as good as its interior. The perfect interior fitting is guided by your daily life – not by a catalog image.

Basic equipment for everyday life:

• Clothes rail – for shirts, blouses, dresses, and jackets

• Shelves – for folded textiles, sweaters, towels

• Drawers – for underwear, socks, and small items

• Pull-out shoe racks – practical for deep wardrobes

• LED lighting – a small luxury with a big everyday impact

Smart planning by clothing type:

• Shirts and dresses: at least 100 cm height per rail

• Trousers: 80 cm height for folded storage, 120 cm for hanging

• Shoes: 15–20 cm height per shelf

• Books and memorabilia: plan a separate open niche

A practical tip from our experience: Think about what is truly important to you. Perhaps the small collection of concert shirts you haven't thrown away in years. Perhaps the heirloom from your mother's closet that you only wear once a year. A wardrobe is not just a storage place – it is also a personal archive.

Models with optional LED lighting, like the aforementioned Armelia, make dressing in the morning easier and highlight the wardrobe's contents – especially in north-facing rooms or at later hours.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Wardrobe

What are the most important tips for buying a wardrobe?

First, measure the room, then clarify users and usage duration, then choose the door system, and finally plan the interior fittings. Following this order will minimize mistakes.

Is a sliding door wardrobe suitable for small rooms? 

Yes, because it doesn't require space in front of it to open. In very small rooms, it's often the only sensible solution.

How much should a good wardrobe cost? 

A solid wardrobe for standard everyday use starts at around €500–€800. If you value details like push-to-open, LED lighting, and soft-close, you should budget €800–€1300.

How do I recognise quality when buying a wardrobe, what should I look for? 

Look for robust panels (at least 18 mm), ABS edges instead of adhesive foils, soft-close hinges, and smooth-running drawers. These details determine whether the wardrobe will still look good in 10 years.

Can you buy a wardrobe cheaply and still get quality? 

Yes, if you pay attention to clean craftsmanship and durable materials and don't just look at the price. A model with a muted, timeless design often remains beautiful longer than a current trend.

How do I optimally plan the interior of a wardrobe? 

Start with your actual daily life – what do you wear daily, once a month, once a year? Everything you need often should be at arm's reach. Only then will the wardrobe become not just beautiful, but useful.

A good wardrobe is not an acquisition, but an investment in the rhythm of everyday life. It accompanies morning rituals, guards precious belongings, and becomes a piece of furniture that gains character over the years. At Pillovely, you'll find models that do just that – functional, minimalist, yet with the charm that a personal home needs. Because living is more than just furnishing. It's the art of creating spaces where your story continues.

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