What to Consider When Planning
Your Custom Wardrobe Closet
At Plain English, a bespoke dressing room or custom wardrobe closet is more than just a place to store your clothes; it’s a space that supports how you move through the world each day. How we dress is a reflection of how we feel and how we wish to be seen. A well-designed dressing area plays a quiet but essential role in that experience. The details of your wardrobe design should reflect the rhythm of your life. They influence how we store the items that accompany our daily routines—whether it’s preparing for work, weekend travel, or special occasions. We understand that great design is personal and must support both beauty and functionality in equal measure. Here, we share the essential elements to consider when planning a walk-in closet, bedroom cupboard, or dressing room. From internal compartments and layout flow to materials and lighting, thoughtful planning ensures you make the most of every inch.
Designing for Interior Function and External Flow
We take care to review the internal layout, finishes, and timber options, along with the hardware and accessories available for your design. Our solid wood cupboards can be divided into tailored compartments for improved wardrobe organization. Hanging spaces, pull-outs, and drawers are configured to make clothing and accessories easily accessible while protecting items from damage, creasing, or becoming lost or overlooked. Pull-out drawers, divided compartments, and accessible shelves help streamline everyday routines, giving each item a clear and considered place within your custom design.
Start With How You Live
Before reviewing layout ideas, your designer will take time to understand your needs and how you intend to use the space. Is this area for seasonal storage, daily dressing, or both? We recommend starting with a wardrobe inventory. This allows us to allocate the right amount of space for knitwear, long-hanging items, everyday wear, accessories, and jewelry. If the dressing room will be shared, it’s helpful to inventory both wardrobes so the space can be proportioned accordingly. When square footage allows, a central ottoman or freestanding table can offer additional storage while serving as a surface for outfit planning. The benefit of bespoke design is the freedom to tailor every detail to how you live and dress, ensuring a result that feels personal and intuitive. Asking the right questions early will help you and your designer align on function, layout, and vision.
Layout and Configuration
With floor plans in hand, we look at the spatial opportunities in the room. A long wall, the sides of a chimney breast, or vertical space in a tall-ceilinged room can all lend themselves to custom storage solutions. Higher ceilings may allow for an upper row of cupboards, ideal for off-season clothing or less frequently used items. Freestanding wardrobes can create a bespoke dressing area within a bedroom. Where natural light, ceiling height, or architectural features limit layout options, we plan around those fixed elements to ensure a result that feels balanced and intentional.
Interior Details That Improve Everyday Use
Our bespoke joinery shines in dressing rooms and closets. We tailor every interior element with your day-to-day needs in mind. Slatted shelves, adjustable oak compartments, and pull-out trays give flexibility while allowing the space to evolve with your lifestyle. Hanging rails, velvet-lined drawers, and storage trays are hand-crafted using traditional methods. Full-length mirrored doors make it easy to check both front and back views when dressing. Tie racks, belt hooks, and waist-height trays bring smart touches that make daily routines easier. For formal or occasion dressing, a dedicated evening-wear cupboard may include full-length hanging, compartments for shoes, and shallow trays for accessories and jewelry. We also offer cedar of Lebanon lining for select wardrobes, which imparts a naturally fragrant aroma and acts as a natural moth deterrent.
Materials, Finishes, and Handcrafted Elements
We believe the interior and exterior of your custom wardrobe should be equally beautiful. Our cupboards and cabinetry are traditionally hand-painted, with a curated palette of exclusive paint colors and hand-cast ironmongery finishes to choose from. Our designers will help you select a finish that reflects the character of the space and coordinates with adjacent rooms. No detail—no matter how small—is overlooked.
Lighting and Power Considerations
While our approach is grounded in historic English joinery, we embrace thoughtful modern details that improve usability. We recommend integrated LED lighting inside hanging cupboards for visibility during darker months, as well as carefully placed sockets for a steamer, iron, or charging station. If the space includes a dressing table or vanity, lighting tone and placement are important for makeup and grooming. Our design team will guide you on how to best position task lighting while preserving the elegance of the room.
Create a Space That Feels Considered
A well-designed wardrobe should feel like an extension of the home as well as an ode to the client preparing to meet the day or the event. At Plain English, we believe a dressing room should be highly functional, organized and joyful–a personal reflection on how you want to live your life. A well-designed wardrobe or dressing room should feel like an extension of your home, supporting daily life with ease and grace. At Plain English, we believe these spaces should be equal parts organized and beautiful, grounded in how you want to live. Whether it’s a double-door cupboard, a row of tall wardrobes, or a dedicated walk-in space, every project is approached with the same care. The best designs offer comfort, clarity, and a quiet sense of luxury. Working with your Plain English designer means you’ll explore layout, materials, internal features, color, and finish with confidence at every step.
Plan a consultation with our team to begin designing a wardrobe or dressing room that’s tailored to you. Visit us in New York, Los Angeles, or London, or request a brochure to get started.
