I recently purchased a home and my search was quite extensive. To be exact, I looked at 74 options!
When I walked through the rooms of all these households, I came across something that I didn’t really like - my own reflection in the mirrored doors of the closets. Framing the mirrors in gilded frames only increased my distaste.
I’m not against mirrors, in many cases they are a great opportunity to visually expand the space and add variety to the interior, but mirrored cabinet doors are not for me. So I contacted several designers and asked for suggestions on cabinet door designs for the walk-in closet and more.
I present to the visitors of the Design Museum website the projects that these talented specialists offered me for various interior styles.
Leave your mark
A great way to add contrast to a neutral closet palette is to use dark wood on the cabinet doors, creating a sort of crosshair pattern across multiple cells. For those who like the “X” pattern, such door decor will help, among other things, to ventilate items of clothing in closets - a thin fabric matching the color is simply attached to the wooden frames on the inside.
The cabinets pictured here use silk fabric in a neutral shade, but you can use brighter colors to lift the mood and give a more positive vibe to your closet.
Forms
Cabinets are made in the shape of a rectangle, semi-oval or semicircle.
Straight cabinets
A straight cabinet is the classic and most popular design in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.
It comes in different widths and heights. The straight façade is suitable for almost any interior style; you can choose the optimal size for any room size.
Radial
The cabinet itself and its facade are made in the shape of a semicircle or semi-oval. It comes with an inner radius (concave) or an outer radius (convex). In complex structures, the outer and inner radii are combined. The result is elongated furniture with smooth shapes.
Corner wardrobe with concave facade
Corner wardrobe with a convex facade
Radius facades look original and are irreplaceable in rooms with a non-standard layout; if you want to place furniture in a corner or niche.
Use oriental motifs
Instead of traditional wardrobe doors, try adding a little oriental beauty to the style of your space. Use Feng Shui practice to create a harmonious and balanced environment.
By using soft-colored screen doors, you will not only bring a touch of Asia to your bedroom decor, but you will also be able to diversify the color scheme of the room.
Basic design and typical dimensions
The basic design of sliding wardrobe doors is a panel made of chipboard, glass or mirror, mounted on a metal (aluminum) profile, equipped with a sliding mechanism and closers that ensure easy closing with a minimum of effort. To ensure that the sash moves smoothly along the cabinet, special wheels are installed. At the top and (or) bottom, the rollers roll along guides or monorails when opening and closing the door.
To ensure smooth closing, a seal called a Schlegel is installed on the vertical edge of the sliding wardrobe door leaf. This detail ensures that the doors fit tightly to each other and to the side wall. The door leaf is fixed in a position convenient for use using a stopper or positioner. This is a small part that is installed in the lower groove of the guide.
The sliding wardrobe is made to individual measurements, but may have standard sizes. The following parameters are considered standard product dimensions:
- number of wings (doors) - 2 pieces;
- the width of each door is up to 90 cm;
- door height - 275 cm.
The height of the door for sliding wardrobes is determined by the wishes of the owners. However, in most cases, when installing furniture, sliding doors cover the space from floor to ceiling, so for a standard apartment this parameter is 2.75 m.
The maximum height of built-in furniture is comfortable from any point of view. The design is very spacious, allowing you to conveniently store a huge amount of things. In addition, installing tall built-in cabinets is an excellent opportunity to save on building materials, since there is no need to make back and (or) side walls.
Stay within your budget
If you have to arrange a really large dressing room with several closets, then it is important not to go beyond the amount that you initially planned. As an option, you can use ready-made solutions for dressing room furniture from Ikea.
This is a visually attractive and practical option for decorating the fronts of your cabinets, which will not ruin the family budget.
Options for combining facades
Facades are combined to save money or create a special design. The cheapest option is to combine chipboard and glass. Wood-based material will increase the service life of the structure, and glass will make the design more sophisticated and stylish. Other options:
- wood + leather;
- bamboo + varnish;
- plastic + varnish.
Different combinations of insert materials allow you to create a unique façade
Doors are combined according to the way the leaves are arranged. Classically, a sheet of one material is used, however, there are:
Make sure it matches the style
To decorate the facades of wardrobes, use the same models as when decorating interior doorways. Thus, you can not only achieve a stylistic match of all elements of the bedroom interior, but also create a more harmonious atmosphere.
The photo shows a non-trivial version of doors that are used as interior doors in all rooms of the house and as facades of built-in wardrobes. These are four-panel doors made of white painted MDF and bronze fittings. Such doors will look harmonious both in a traditional interior and in a modern room design.
Basic materials for facades
Cabinet doors are made from different materials. The environmental friendliness, reliability, durability and price of furniture depend on their quality.
Tree
Wood is the most expensive material used to make luxury furniture.
Wood is valued for its naturalness, safety for health, durability and the special appearance of its natural texture. Wooden facades can be decorated with beautiful carvings, reconstructed if necessary and matched to any interior style.
Disadvantages of wooden doors: high price, low resistance to moisture, need to be treated with anti-fungus and mold products.
MDF
This is a wood-fiber board, which is characterized by high density and ductility. MDF is almost as strong, environmentally friendly and durable as wood. It can also be milled and carved; bent facades can be made from the material. Unlike wood, MDF is not afraid of moisture, does not require regular maintenance, and is cheaper.
The color of the MDF wardrobe is usually monochromatic, neutral shades predominate
Disadvantage of MDF: sensitivity to high temperatures.
Chipboard
Chipboard is the most common type of facade due to its low cost.
A budget option for wood board, which is significantly inferior in characteristics to MDF. Chipboard is a less durable material, but is resistant to moisture and high temperatures. Not suitable for making shaped furniture and due to the content of formaldehyde resins it is considered harmful to health.
Glass and mirror
Such cabinets are mainly installed in corridors and small rooms.
Tempered glass or mirror are used to make cabinet doors. Glass material is practical, durable, easy to maintain, and resistant to mechanical stress. But it has a strength threshold - it can break if hit hard by a hard object.
Cladding and decoration
In addition to the beautiful texture of wood, the main materials of the facades are lined and decorated with various materials. This helps achieve visual appeal and improves the performance characteristics of the basic materials.
PVC film
Facades made of MDF and chipboard are covered with PVC film.
After lining with PVC film, the base material becomes moisture-resistant, durable, and resistant to high temperatures. The PVC surface does not fade or wear out. The downside of PVC is its low resistance to mechanical stress and the impossibility of restoration. If you are not careful, scratches and chips will appear on the surface.
The material comes in different colors and can imitate the texture of wood, stone, leather and other natural materials. You can purchase a cabinet with an original facade for a relatively low price.
Plastic (acrylic)
Plastic facade is an alternative to expensive types.
MDF and chipboard are covered with plastic. The material has the same properties as PVC film, but is more resistant to mechanical damage and is more expensive. It comes in different colors and textures, matte or glossy. Plastic is applied only to flat surfaces; carved facades are not finished with it.
Lakobil, lakomat, sandblasting pattern
These are three ways to decorate durable glass. Lakobil is glass with the back side painted in different colors. Lakomat - frosted glass, to obtain such a surface, the material is coated with a special varnish.
Lacobel glass cabinet front
Sliding wardrobe with frosted glass Lakomat
Sandblasting pattern allows you to refine the facade
Sandblasting technology - spraying and fixing sand or powder on the surface of glass. The result is a pattern on the glass with a rough and matte surface.
Mirrors
A sliding wardrobe with mirror doors fits perfectly into the interior of the hallway and other rooms.
The facade of the wardrobe can be made entirely of tempered mirror. Such furniture visually expands the space and is recommended for cramped rooms. Mirrors are also used as a decorative and functional element. Usually they are attached to one of the doors.
Veneer
Veneer helps to achieve an unusual and unique external design of a sliding wardrobe.
This is a thin layer of natural wood that completely replicates its texture. Veneer is used for cladding chipboard, MDF or cheap types of wood, the surface is varnished. In appearance, veneered furniture is no different from wooden furniture, and will cost much less.
Rattan and bamboo
Bamboo is glued onto strips of fabric, which are attached to MDF or chipboard panels.
An original solution is to decorate it with rattan or bamboo. This option is ideal for interior styles in the following styles: eco, country, Scandinavian, Provence. Both materials are moisture resistant, retain their shape well, are easy to clean and have good strength. The materials are often used in combination with wood and glass.
Leather
Cabinets trimmed with leather look expensive, extraordinary, and are pleasant to the touch.
Artificial or natural leather is used to cover the main material. This is a practical material that does not fade in the sun, does not crack or deform, but scratches quickly appear on it.
The cabinet facade can be solid - made entirely of wooden materials, glass or mirror. The design of some models combines these materials.
Accentuate your cabinets
You can make your closet an accent element of your interior. Use the well-known method of artificially aging wooden furniture - walnut wood looks antique if it is partially treated with light plaster.
In the bedroom image shown in the photo, the closet doors do not reach the floor, touching the snow-white panel, placed specifically to give the closet a more built-in look. Such a cabinet looks great against the background of walls decorated with decorative plaster, especially if the bedroom is designed in one of the country, Provence or shabby chic styles.
Combined sliding wardrobes
Such sliding wardrobes consist of several sections in which various materials are used. The contrast between the elements allows you to visually divide the space of the door, making the design more interesting and brighter. When is this solution applied?
- It is necessary that the furniture design be combined with other interior items, for example, in two predominant colors. The contrasting façade ensures this combination.
- You need to visually “unload” the space. For large furniture options, inserting into compartment doors is the only option for visual division, creating several levels in the interior. Relevant for living rooms and bedrooms, where it is important that the closet does not hang over the rest of the interior.
- I would like to add my own “zest” to the design, to make the furniture different from others.
- It is necessary to differentiate functional elements. In this case, the facade design is selected in accordance with the contents of the cabinet.
Sliding wardrobes with inserts are well-deservedly popular and look great in any room. The most popular materials for inserts:
- Eco leather;
- Glass;
- Mirror;
- MDF;
- laminated chipboard;
- Bamboo;
- Rattan.
Designers from the New Look furniture factory will select the current design of your cabinet, presenting a design project and 3D visualization even before cutting the material. The appearance of the wardrobe will fully meet your expectations.
Use the garage door principle
If you have a narrow closet or little space in the bedroom to accommodate swing doors (they require at least a meter of free space to open them), try large “garage” doors on slides.
A large door like in a garage or shed can open only a closet or the entire room, depending on the position. In a snow-white design, such a door will not look heavy and can bring a touch of rural life to the decor of your room.
Peculiarities
In the furniture industry, sliding systems are used for the manufacture of sliding wardrobes, mini-wardrobes, bedside tables, chests of drawers, and wall-mounted structures. Facades can be made from a variety of materials: solid wood, panels, chipboard, MDF, plastic, glass framed in an aluminum profile. The peculiarity of the sliding mechanism is that the doors open in one plane, which is convenient in small spaces. There is no need to leave additional space for this, as is the case with swing options.
The sliding mechanism has become particularly widespread in the production of sliding wardrobes, which are in great demand among consumers today. They are installed in apartments, private houses, and office premises. Sliding doors move easily and silently, which allows the design to be used in a bedroom or nursery. In addition, the advantage of this mechanism is the locking system, which prevents the door from hitting the cabinet wall. Parents don't have to worry about their child accidentally getting hurt when closing doors.
Sliding systems are often used when it is necessary to divide a room into zones. To do this, you will need a shallow cabinet or a special partition. The second option is most often used to separate a balcony area or bay window. A partition door may have a blank facade, but frosted or tinted glass looks more interesting. To divide a room into two zones, for example, a play area and a study area, you can install a closet, which will serve as additional storage space.
When using high-quality sliding systems, sliding wardrobes open without unnecessary noise, and also delight their owners with a long service life.
Add ventilation to cabinets
If you use a wood louvre design at the top of cabinet doors, you allow air to circulate in the space around the cabinets. This is very convenient and practical, especially for the southern regions of the country.
The photo shows a design project for a bedroom in a Mexican house. The doors were made from local wood sourced from the forests of Cancun. In the design of this built-in wardrobe, the designers decided to use a mirror insert in the arched part to create the illusion of refraction of the space of the room.
Decor options - how they can get off
The design of the furniture is determined by the finishing of the doors. Lots of possibilities:
- overlay elements and fittings - wooden doors are often decorated with moldings - metal, plastic, overlay carved elements. Beautiful sculptural handles, glass and metal knobs also serve as decoration;
- inserts - most often this is how the door leaf for a coupe is “assembled”. The insert material, dimensions, and configuration are determined by the style of the room. Thus, mirror and glass inserts visually “lighten” the tall, massive cabinet fronts up to the ceiling. Plastic and wood create an interesting design;
- canvas decor - glass and mirror can be decorated with a matte pattern or laser engraving. Painting is suitable for any material. An expensive and interesting option is stained glass or fusing. Another universal option is photo printing. Thus, a colorful unique image is obtained on chipboard, MDF, wood, glass;
- cladding - for example, finishing with acrylic panels. The material is extremely durable, resistant to water, steam, and grease. Additionally, acrylic panels provide incredibly vibrant color and a high-gloss shine. No less decorative cladding with glass or mirror panels;
There is also a “technical” way - lighting. An LED strip or a row of spotlights emphasize the design of the furniture and create a feeling of lightness and airiness.
The design and construction of cabinet doors are very diverse.
Different opening systems, types of facades, a variety of materials - everything is at the service of users. © 2021 — 2021 Furniture-one.ru — Copying materials is strictly prohibited.
Use contrasting combinations
An option to dilute standard sliding doors on an aluminum frame is to use contrasting inserts. If the main door leaf is white, then you can insert stripes in the color of walnut and the now popular wenge.
The play of contrasts will not only add style to your doors, but will also transform the entire room. Any catchy, bright decorative elements can change the character of the interior without any special financial costs. In addition, sliding doors are an excellent option for rooms where it is not possible to install swing doors.
Photos of cabinet door opening systems
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Which doors to choose for the closet depends on the design features of the storage system itself and the general style of the room. A well-chosen door opening mechanism and facade decor will not only ensure ease of use of the cabinet, but will also make this piece of furniture the highlight of the interior!
Avoid "conflicts"
It happens that the possibility of installing hinged cabinet fronts is limited by the movement of interior doors. If a “conflict” between the doors is possible, then it is better to avoid it by any means, so that later you do not suffer during the operation of the cabinets.
In the project presented in the photo, the designers had to deal with an architecturally complex building - a new structure erected on an existing foundation. As a result, the ceilings of the rooms were low, the doors leading from the room to the stairs were located exactly where the closet should open. Therefore, it was decided to install built-in wardrobe doors sliding on skids.
Tips for choosing a quality cabinet
- The more natural and durable materials there are, the more likely it is that the product will last longer. A sliding wardrobe can serve for decades.
- If you want to decorate a room and draw attention to the built-in furniture, purchase a model with a bright, eye-catching front.
- To hide built-in wardrobes in the interior, choose ones with mirrored doors or wood decor to match the decor.
- The internal content of the built-in model depends on in which room the “compartments” will be located and who will use them: - in the women’s bedroom, the wardrobe fills the dressing room, where there should be plenty of space for hanging dresses and jackets; - the children's room should have plenty of space for linen and toys; — in the hallway there should be a place for shoes and seasonal clothes.
- For a children's room, they choose roomy furniture with a bright facade, but the main requirement is safety. Parents should be distrusted by breakable mirrors and materials with a chemical odor, which can dissipate over the years and negatively affect health.
Custom-made sliding wardrobes are the most functional, since all the customer’s wishes are taken into account. To reduce the cost of work, you can order the base and lintels from a carpentry shop and assemble them yourself. For facade installation services, it is better to contact specialists.
Black wardrobe in the interior of the room
Use original ideas - trendy mirror facades in black, copper or golden shades, equip the internal compartments with LED lighting. You can place a plasma television panel on the façade, but it is important to think through the connection of the wires so that they touch nothing and the door moves easily along the guide. More unique ideas are in our photo gallery.
See also: DIY dressing room in a small room photo
