Great wardrobe design by the experts

If you're in the market for a great wardrobe design, getting expert advice from cabinet makers like Jim Wooding, who's been in the wardrobe-making game for many years.

What does it take to be a cabinet-maker specialising in wardrobes?

I did a four-year apprenticeship in cabinet-making but really you just need experience with wardrobes. I've been building them for 15 years, and you get a feel for what people need after working so long in the industry.

What should you look for when choosing a cabinet-maker to build you a wardrobe?

You need good communication skills because people need to understand what you're doing and how you're going to do it. You also need to be able to draw to scale so that the customer can get a picture in their minds of what the finished wardrobe will look like.

What is your starting point for actually building a wardrobe?

A lot of people don't know that the wardrobe should be hanging off the wall. Basically you screw it into the wall so it's suspended above the floor.

What are the new innovations available in built-in wardrobes?

We can build drawers, baskets, shoe racks, belt and tie racks, even jewellery drawers into the wardrobe. Double hanging is another great technique to maximise space. Instead of one rail at six feet high, we have the top rail at seven feet, then another one at the centre to maximise space.

What else can you do to use space most effectively?

Most people don't have a lot of long dresses anymore - they wear skirts, shirts and pants. So you can take a wardrobe with a two-metre-long rail, and put in a bank of drawers and shelves underneath to make better use of the space while still having good hanging area.

What are the newest trends for wardrobe looks?

There's a big move towards coloured or timber-grained boards. We used to use dark colours, but recently we've been installing wardrobes using a golden oak grain board. It's actually melamine with a wood-grain veneer, and 2mm PVC edging so it's much harder wearing, with a nicer look.

A great wardrobe design for your home is only a phone call away - contact a cabinet maker in your area today: