Planning a walk-in wardrobe: layouts, clearances and storage
L-shaped, U-shaped, with or without an island: how to plan a walk-in wardrobe or dressing room, how much walkway to leave, and how to split hanging and folded storage.
A walk-in wardrobe is a small room where the storage lines the walls. Getting the layout right matters more than any finish, because you will walk through it every morning.
Choose a layout
Single wall
The simplest walk-in is one long run of open storage. It suits a narrow room or a wide corridor.
L-shape
Storage on two walls that meet in a corner. Good for a roughly square room, or where the door is on one of the other walls. The Marbury L-shaped walk-in shows this layout.
U-shape
Storage on three walls. It gives the most storage in a small room, as long as there is enough space to stand in the middle. See the Aylesbury U-shaped walk-in.
With an island
In a larger room, a low island unit in the middle adds drawers and a surface for folding. The Berkeley U-shaped walk-in with island is built this way.
Leave enough room to walk
- Allow about 900 mm of clear walkway between facing runs of storage. Less than that and you will bump into open drawers.
- Around an island, leave at least the same on every side you need to walk, and more where drawers open into the walkway.
- Remember the door: it needs to swing clear, or use a sliding door.
Corners
Where two runs meet, a corner can be dead space. A corner unit with shelves or a hanging rail uses that space well. Avoid putting drawers right in the corner, where they would hit each other.
Hanging or folded?
Before planning, look at your own clothes. Count roughly how many metres of hanging you use now, and how much is folded.
- Long hanging for coats and dresses: at least one section with plenty of height.
- Double hanging for shirts and jackets: two rails, one above the other. Each needs at least 940 mm of clear height.
- Shelves for jumpers, bags and boxes.
- Drawers for small things, kept low enough to see into: the top of a bank no higher than about 1300 mm.
- Shoe storage, often on sloping shelves or low racks.
Many couples find an even split works: half hanging, half shelves and drawers.
Doors or open?
Most walk-ins are open, which is cheaper and easier to use. Doors on one section, or glass doors, can keep dust off things you wear less often.
Light
A walk-in rarely has a good window. Overhead light plus LED strips inside the sections makes it far easier to find things.
Next steps
Try the Chiltern walk-in room or the Kensington walk-in in the configurator, set your room size, and see the price as you go. See finished examples on our projects page.
Frequently asked
- How big does a room need to be for a walk-in wardrobe?
- For storage on both sides with a walkway between, roughly 2 m wide. A single wall or an L-shape works in smaller spaces.
- How wide should the walkway be?
- About 900 mm between facing runs, more if drawers open into it.
- Do walk-in wardrobes need doors?
- No. Most are open, but you can add doors to some sections.
- Can you use the corners?
- Yes. A corner unit with shelves or a rail uses space that would otherwise be lost.
- Is an island worth it?
- In a large enough room, yes: extra drawers and a surface for folding. In a small room it blocks the walkway.
