Simple Home Updates: Open Wardrobe

Since moving in to our home nearly two years ago we’ve made a few home improvements within our budget including painting, buying furniture and decorating. Over those two years I’ve realised that the smaller projects have made most of the difference.

Instead of painting walls, ripping up carpets and starting from scratch, it’s been the small spaces within a room that have really changed a space, and my relationship with it. Basically, if it takes a couple of hours rather than a weekend or more, I’m in. From styling a bedside table, using baskets at the end of the bed for storage, or simply by updating the bedding; by focusing on smaller but well used areas of your room instead of the whole space, DIY becomes less of a chore on your time and wallet.

I have a list of small projects within the house that I’d like to tackle before winter sets in, so I can enjoy our home in the cooler months. One of those is my dressing area. It’s basically a clothing rack – but a nice one I bought from Ikea (this one) when we moved in. Within the space I think it works as it’s a large attic bedroom with lots of nooks and crannies, but it needs something more. As always, I headed to Pinterest for inspiration…and found it! If you’ve thought about updating your bedroom with an open wardrobe, clothes rack or rail, here’s some tips I’ve discovered along the way.

Photos: Alvhemmakleri | New Darlings | In Honour of Design| Uncovet via Pinterest

Cheap| They’re much cheaper leaving you more money to spend on the things in your wardrobe instead.

Curtains| If you’re worried that an open wardrobe would make your bedroom look cluttered, add white or sheer curtains to cover or soften that area of space.

Focal point| I prefer the open look as it creates a focal point to a room; a place to display your favourite outfits which in turn decorates the space with colours, patterns and textures.

Photos:  Daily Dose of Style | Salvage Life | Expensive Life via Pinterest

Small spaces | Do you have sloping ceilings in your bedroom? Adding a rail, like in the top left photo, lets you utilise any awkward spaces that would be normally left unused. I like the addition of a runner rug too.

Tip! Another space-saving idea is to use the walls surrounding the open wardrobe to store and display your shoes. Perfect if you have a shoe-loving-dog in your home.

Shoe storage| If you rent your property look for racks that include a shoe rail too so it’s easier to visualise and put your outfit together.

Photos: Fashion Over Reason |Made From Scratch via Pinterest

Multiply | If you have the space, add more than one rail against a longer wall and organise your clothes by colour.

Shelving| Add shelving above or below your clothes rail to store your winter woolies, bags and accessories. I definitely have space to do this and I love the addition of boxes on the top shelf. Baskets would look good here too. Tip! If you already have shelving up (make sure it’s sturdy!) look at adding a rail to the bottom of your shelves.

Personalise | Accessorise the space surrounding the wardrobe with mirrors, plants, art and books.

For my bedroom, I’ve discovered I simply need shelving and to utilise the walls surrounding the clothes rack to create a practical and pretty dressing area. Simple! Oh, I do like a satisfying home project that takes up just one afternoon of your time (if that). I’ll show you an update when finished.

Tempted by an open wardrobe?