How to Plan a Wardrobe Interior Around Your Storage Needs

Start with what needs to be stored, then divide the available wall space. A fitted wardrobe does not need every possible accessory. It needs the right balance of hanging, folded storage, drawers and less frequently used space for its actual users.

Choose the footprint before dividing the interior

A straight run can work along one wall. An L-shaped arrangement uses two adjoining walls, while a U-shaped layout needs enough space to access storage on three sides. Choose the footprint from measured walls and usable circulation, not from the room label alone. Mark doors, windows and corners on the plan, then check whether every drawer and wardrobe door can open without blocking another unit.

Take stock before drawing the compartments

List the occupants and the types of clothing and other items they need to store. Count long garments separately from shirts or jackets. Note folded knitwear, shoes, bags, luggage and items that belong elsewhere in the home. If several bedrooms share one storage strategy, record the needs of each room rather than copying a single internal layout.

Measure the room and mark doors, windows, skirting, sockets, ceiling changes and circulation space. An approximate wardrobe height from a training example is not a universal maximum; the approved dimensions come from the site and the selected construction.

Measure the wardrobe opening before sizing the interior

Record the room space, the door opening and the usable space inside each cabinet separately. A wall-to-wall measurement does not show whether an internal drawer can pass a wall return or a partially open sliding door.

For the opening, record widths at the top, middle and bottom, and heights at the left, centre and right. Note the finished floor level, any ceiling slope and whether flooring or wall finishes are still to be installed. Keep all readings and mark where they were taken; let the technical reviewer confirm the final cabinet and door dimensions rather than applying a fixed deduction yourself.

Field	What the drawing should distinguish
Available room space	Wall-to-wall width, floor-to-ceiling height, depth and obstructions such as skirting or sockets
Usable door opening	Wall returns, track position and the clear opening available in the door positions needed for daily access
Internal cabinet bay	Clear width and depth between finished components, plus the travel required by the selected drawer or fitting

Stegbar’s sliding-wardrobe measuring guide illustrates multi-point opening measurements, while Bosk’s wardrobe planning guide explains how wall returns and overlapping sliding doors can restrict drawer access. Their system dimensions and allowances are not SNEJ manufacturing rules.

Send a labelled plan, a front elevation and photographs with your wardrobe enquiry. Show the wardrobe doors and internal drawers in their intended open positions, with nearby furniture marked. Pair those access checks with the selected accessory’s dimensions before approving the layout.

Copy this wardrobe opening and accessory record

Keep one opening record per wardrobe and one accessory entry per cabinet bay. W-01 and Bay A below are illustrative labels. Replace the brackets with measured or proposed information; use “to be confirmed” for anything not yet checked.

• Room and reference: [room name] / W-01 / [drawing number, revision and measurement date]
• Measurement units and finishes: [units]; [floor and wall finishes complete / pending]
• Opening width: top [ ], middle [ ], bottom [ ]; mark each location on the elevation
• Opening height and depth: left [ ], centre [ ], right [ ]; available depth [ ]; [floor or ceiling changes]
• Obstructions: [wall returns, skirting, sockets and nearby furniture], with locations on the plan
• Door access: [hinged / sliding / open]; [door position used for access]; [clear opening in that position]
• Accessory entry: Bay A / [fitting code and description] / [quantity] / [include in quotation or reference only]
• Bay and fitting dimensions: clear internal W × D × H [ ]; fitting W × D × H [ ]; [manufacturer’s installation drawing and revision]
• Movement check: full pull-out travel [ ]; required mounting clearances [ ]; available access [ ]; [conflict found / not yet checked / checked by name and date]
• Approval: final cabinet and door dimensions [not agreed / drawing reference]; [who verifies site measurements and approves the layout]

Keep the opening readings, clear internal dimensions and fitting dimensions in their separate fields. Do not mark the movement check complete until the selected fitting’s installation requirements and the door’s open position have been reviewed together. Add the labelled plan, elevation and photographs when you send your wardrobe enquiry; final drawings can follow the initial record.

Allocate zones by use

Zone	Use it for	Check before approval
Long hanging	Coats, dresses and other full-length garments	Garment length, rail position and clear space beneath
Short hanging	Shirts, jackets and folded trousers on hangers	Whether one or two levels are useful for the actual wardrobe height
Shelves and drawers	Folded clothing, small items and everyday accessories	Reach, drawer opening and visibility of contents
High or low storage	Luggage, seasonal items and less frequent use	Safe access and the weight of the intended contents
Display or specialist fittings	Shoes, bags, jewellery or illuminated display	Internal width, depth, power and hardware compatibility

The zones in the diagram are a planning aid, not a fixed module set or scale drawing. A narrow unit may need only hanging and shelves; a walk-in room can distribute the tasks across several cabinets.

Choose doors and fittings with the layout

Hinged, sliding, open and glazed fronts change access to the interior. Check the clear opening and the space needed to use drawers or pull-out fittings. Wardrobe accessories should be selected after the internal dimensions and door movement are known.

Door height, weight and opening method affect hinge and fitting selection. A hinge-count sketch from training material cannot be applied to every door: confirm the actual hardware model and the manufacturer’s fitting requirements for the proposed front.

Wardrobe accessory dimensions

Keep cabinet size and accessory size in separate columns. A fitting listed for a 600 mm cabinet is not necessarily 600 mm wide. In the SNEJ wardrobe catalogue example below, trouser rack 706321 is listed against a 600 mm cabinet, while its stated width is 564 mm.

Trouser rack reference	Catalogue cabinet size	Accessory W × D × H, mm
706321	600 mm	564 × 475 × 50
706322	700 mm	664 × 475 × 50
706323	800 mm	764 × 475 × 50
706324	900 mm	864 × 475 × 50

Source: SNEJ Catalog — Wardrobes, undated edition, page 35. View the original catalogue dimension schedule. These are catalogue references, not an installation clearance schedule or confirmation of current stock. Confirm the selected fitting and current drawing with the quotation.

Before choosing a rack, tray or basket, check:

• Clear internal width: measure the finished opening between cabinet sides; do not substitute the overall cabinet width.
• Depth and travel: confirm the fitting’s depth, mounting space and full pull-out movement against the back, front and nearby furniture.
• Door access: show hinge positions or the clear opening between sliding doors, so the accessory can pass through without obstruction.
• The fitting drawing: confirm whether the stated dimensions include runners and mounting parts. Use the selected manufacturer’s fixing details, tolerances and load rating rather than estimating them from the catalogue image.

The 475 mm accessory depth above does not establish a universal minimum wardrobe depth. Cabinet construction, doors, runners and the installation drawing still need to be checked together. Compare available accessory references after defining the storage task, then record the agreed code and quantity for each cabinet bay.

Catalogue board options and storage-box sizes

Separate the board from its surface

Page 26 of the SNEJ wardrobe catalogue lists board materials and surface treatments separately. Use those fields when requesting a component schedule for the cabinet sides, backs, shelves and fronts.

Specification field	Reference shown in the catalogue
Board material	Particle board, plywood, MDF and OSB board
Surface treatment	Melamine, PVC, PET and baking paint
Panel reference	2400 × 1200 mm, or customised
Thickness options	9, 18, 25, 36 and 50 mm

These are panel references, not finished wardrobe dimensions or a list of approved combinations. Assign the actual material, surface and thickness to each component in the quotation. A selected colour does not identify the board underneath it. See the original material and surface chart and the component selection guide when preparing that schedule.

Compare the height of the selected storage box

The same catalogue’s page 35 lists these additional fittings against a 600 mm cabinet reference. Their stated width and depth match, while their heights differ:

Fitting and reference	Catalogue cabinet size	Fitting W × D × H, mm
Underwear storage box · 706311	600 mm	564 × 475 × 86
Shallow basket · 706331	600 mm	564 × 475 × 156
Deep basket · 706351	600 mm	564 × 475 × 256

Record the selected height when allocating the cabinet bay. Matching the stated width and depth does not confirm that the fittings are interchangeable: the installation drawing must establish the runner arrangement, mounting space and opening movement. Use the original accessory schedule alongside your opening and accessory record.

Source: SNEJ Catalog — Wardrobes, undated edition, pages 26 and 35. Panel options and accessory dimensions describe the illustrated catalogue references; current supply, component specifications and installation clearances require confirmation.

Compare like-for-like quotations

Ask the supplier to identify the cabinet box, back, fronts, shelves, drawers, rails and accessories separately. Record the finish and edge treatment for each visible component. A training example calculated cabinet area, door area and hardware as different items; it was an illustration of quotation structure, not a current price list or a price rule for every project.

For material choices, use the cabinet component guide and wardrobe door and finish references. Send room dimensions, a rough item inventory and any preferred wardrobe designs with your project enquiry. Samples can be supplied free of charge; the buyer pays shipping.

What to confirm before production

The quotation and approved drawings bring these decisions together. A catalogue image begins the discussion; the project documents control what is made.

Cabinet materials

Specify the cabinet sides, backs, shelves and doors separately. Agree the board material, thickness, visible finish and edge treatment for each component.

Exterior design

Door style, finish family, colour, grain direction and opening method are recorded for each wardrobe type.

Internal organization

Hanging, shelves, drawers and shoe storage are balanced around the people and rooms included in the project.

Accessories and hardware

Organizers, rails, handles and fittings are checked against the approved construction, clearances and daily use.

What to send for a wardrobe enquiry

Send the information already available. We can identify what still needs to be resolved before the wardrobe specification is ready. Include any destination standards or inspection requirements in the brief.

• Dimensioned plan and elevations
• Wardrobe quantities, rooms and unit types
• Preferred HKW references
• Door operation and finish direction
• Internal storage priorities
• Accessory and hardware requirements
• Project destination and programme

For each accessory, add the room and cabinet-bay reference, clear internal dimensions in millimetres, proposed fitting code, quantity and door operation. Mark undecided items as “to be confirmed” so a reference image is not mistaken for an agreed inclusion. Keep the accessory schedule alongside the plan and elevations when comparing quotations.

Review the HKW collection references, or browse individual wardrobe designs when choosing your references. For questions about quotations and coordination, see the wardrobe enquiries FAQ.

Review wall-mounted storage and lighting separately

The SNEJ company manual illustrates an open wall-mounted storage system combining shelves, drawers, divided drawers, baskets and trouser racks. This is a different layout from a full cabinet box behind closed doors. Choose components around the items stored and show where supports, openings and adjacent furniture meet.

Decision	Include in the drawing review
Shelves and hanging	Required positions, contents, access and support arrangement
Pull-out accessories	Selected fitting, travel, opening clearance and internal dimensions
Wall-mounted elements	Wall construction, proposed fixings and structural review where required
Lighting	Light position, switching, power supply, cable routes and maintenance access

The same manual lists hand-sweep, presence-sensor, door-contact and remote switching for cabinet lighting. Select the control to match daily use: a door-contact switch, for example, needs to be coordinated with the actual door arrangement. Confirm fittings and electrical requirements for the project destination rather than inferring them from a lit display image.

The manual is undated. These are illustrated configuration and control options to discuss, not standard inclusions, certified electrical packages or stated shelf load capacities. Record the final choices in the quotation and drawings.

Source: SNEJ company manual, undated edition, pages 38 and 50. For coordinated surfaces and edges, see the fitted joinery detail guide.

Common planning questions

Does every wardrobe need five zones?

No. The zones are options. Their number and proportions depend on the users, clothing and room.

Can the outside stay coordinated while the inside changes?

Yes. Different rooms can use different internal layouts while sharing an approved door and finish direction. Record the room-by-room differences in the drawings.

Does a 600 mm cabinet need a 600 mm-wide accessory?

No. Cabinet size and accessory width are different fields. The catalogue example above lists a 564 mm-wide trouser rack for a 600 mm cabinet. Confirm the actual internal opening and the fitting’s installation requirements before ordering; do not apply that relationship to every accessory.

Are the pictured accessories included in every wardrobe quotation?

A catalogue image alone does not define what is included. Ask for an itemized schedule showing the selected racks, trays, baskets, runners and quantities. Confirm any alternative fitting in the quotation and approved drawings before production.