Wardrobe

A corner wardrobe turns the most awkward part of a bedroom into its most useful storage. Most bedrooms have at least one corner that does nothing. It's too tight for a chair, too dark for a dressing table, and exactly where two straight wardrobes would clash. Fill it properly and you gain a surprising amount of hanging space without the room feeling any smaller.

This guide covers the main types, how an L-shaped layout compares with two separate units, practical ideas for tricky rooms and how to measure so everything fits first time.

Why bedroom corners go to waste

Put two standard wardrobes on adjoining walls and they can't meet in the corner, because the doors would hit each other. You end up with a dead gap roughly the depth of one wardrobe, and it slowly fills with boxes and dust. Slide one unit further along the wall instead and you lose space you needed for the bed or the door.

Radiators, windows and chimney breasts make it worse. In older houses especially, the only clear stretch of wall often starts right in the corner. A proper corner design fixes this by treating the angle as storage instead of a problem to work around.

L-shaped, diagonal and other corner layouts

Corner designs come in a few main styles. The right one depends on the shape of your room and how much you need to store.

• L-shaped wardrobes wrap around the corner with two runs of doors meeting at a right angle. They give the most storage and suit bedrooms with two clear walls.

• Corner units with a straight run pair a dedicated corner cabinet with standard sections, so you can extend along one wall and keep the other free.

• Diagonal designs sit across the corner with an angled front. They take less floor space and suit rooms where an L-shape would crowd the door.

• Open-ended shelving finishes a wardrobe run with angled or curved shelves, softening the edge in a tight walkway.

Browse our corner wardrobe range to see how these layouts look built up at full size.

L-shaped wardrobe vs two separate wardrobes

An L-shaped wardrobe uses the corner itself, which two freestanding units never can. The corner section usually holds a long hanging rail or deep shelving that reaches back into the angle, so you gain storage in exactly the space that would otherwise sit empty.

It looks more deliberate too. One continuous piece with matching doors and a shared cornice reads like fitted furniture, while two mismatched units side by side can look like an afterthought.

The one catch is reach. The deepest part of the corner can be hard to get to, so keep it for things you use less often, such as winter coats, suitcases or spare bedding.

Separate wardrobes still have their place. They're easier to rearrange, and they adapt to a new room if you move house. If you rent, or expect to redecorate within a few years, a standard piece from our wider collection of bedroom wardrobes may suit you better.

Corner wardrobe ideas for awkward bedroom storage

A few design choices make a big difference once the wardrobe is in.

Use sliding doors where space is tight. If the bed sits close to the front of the wardrobe, hinged doors can't open fully. Sliding door wardrobes glide sideways, so they work well along the longer wall of an L-shaped room.

Add mirrored doors on the darker side. A mirror facing the window bounces daylight back into the corner, which is usually the gloomiest part of the bedroom.

Plan the inside, not just the outside. A corner section with double hanging rails fits shirts above and trousers below, while a tall single rail suits coats and long dresses. Internal drawers keep jumpers off shelves where they topple over.

Light the inside. Corners get little daylight, so the back of a deep shelf can be hard to see. Battery LED strips or wardrobes with built-in lighting make dark winter mornings far easier.

Match the finish to the room. An L-shaped unit is often the biggest piece of furniture you own, so white, grey or light oak stops it dominating a modest bedroom. Darker finishes anchor a larger space nicely.

How to measure for an L-shaped wardrobe

Measuring a corner takes a little more care than a straight wall, but it's easy if you work methodically.

• Measure both walls out from the corner at floor, middle and ceiling height, as older walls are rarely straight.

• Check the ceiling height at several points and note any coving.

• Mark radiators, sockets, light switches and window frames.

• Measure skirting board depth, because it pushes the wardrobe forward.

• Measure stairs, landings and the bedroom door, since large panels need a clear route in.

Allow an extra 10 to 20cm around the wardrobe for safe assembly. Fitters need room to stand panels up and fix the top in place, so a wardrobe that fits exactly on paper can still prove impossible to build. It also helps to photograph the corner with a tape measure in shot, so you have the details to hand when comparing sizes online or chatting to our team.

Delivery and assembly for made-to-order wardrobes

Most of our wardrobes come from premium German manufacturers such as Rauch and Wiemann, and many are made to order in your chosen size and finish. Production can't change once it starts, so double-check your measurements and configuration before you order. Made-to-order German wardrobes take several weeks to produce and ship to the UK, so plan ahead if you're working to a decorating deadline.

Selected wardrobes include free professional assembly, clearly marked on the product page. Others arrive flat-packed, and if you live within about 40 miles of our Brierfield showroom, we may be able to arrange paid assembly. Delivery is free on orders over £350 in most areas.

Frequently asked questions

How much space do you need for an L-shaped wardrobe?

Check the width of both arms of the L on the product page, then measure each wall from the corner. Leave room in front for doors to open, which means roughly a door's width for hinged doors and very little for sliding ones. Add 10 to 20cm of clearance for assembly.

What is the difference between a corner wardrobe and an L-shaped wardrobe?

An L-shaped wardrobe is one type of corner storage, with two runs meeting at a right angle. The wider corner category also covers diagonal units and single corner cabinets. L-shaped designs give the most storage, while diagonal ones save floor space.

Will a corner unit fit under a sloping ceiling?

Standard designs need full ceiling height across their whole footprint, so they rarely suit eaves or loft rooms. Measure the lowest point of the ceiling where the wardrobe will stand. If the slope cuts in, a lower wardrobe or chest of drawers under the eaves usually works better.

Do corner wardrobes come assembled?

Most arrive flat-packed because the panels are too large to deliver built. Some of our ranges include free assembly by professional fitters, shown clearly on the product page. For others, you can build it yourself or ask us about paid assembly if you live locally.