Fitted Wardrobes vs Freestanding

 

Whether you’re kitting out your new home or refreshing a tired bedroom, everyone faces the same choice: fitted wardrobes vs freestanding, which works best?

At Online Bedrooms, we design and produce high-quality, made-to-measure wardrobes, and have years of experience helping people make this decision. So, we’ve put together this expert guide to fitted wardrobes vs freestanding including the differences and benefits of each. Keep reading to learn more. 

What Are The Differences Between Fitted Wardrobes and Freestanding?

You’ll have no shortage of choice when it comes to shopping around for wardrobes. Before we get into benefits and drawbacks of each type, let’s look at some of the key differences between the two.

• Cost: There are cost differences when it comes to fitted wardrobes vs freestanding, and made-to-measure wardrobes will almost always cost more than off-the-shelf alternatives. But there are also trade offs with this that we’ll get into shortly.
• Convenience: If you’re happy with a freestanding wardrobe, you can just walk into a shop and take one home the same day. Fitted wardrobes will take a little longer to be designed and built, but the benefit is more customisable storage that’s more convenient in day-to-day use.
• Design: Buying an off-the-shelf wardrobe means settling for a pre-chosen design, usually with no easy options for customisation. Whereas a fitted wardrobe can be made unique to you and your preferences. For example, at Online Bedrooms, we offer a huge range of colours, door styles, handles and internal storage configurations.

Why Choose Built-In Fitted Wardrobes?

Built-in wardrobes are viewed by many as the ultimate solution for bedroom storage, and you’ve almost certainly thought about buying them several times before.

So, are they actually worth the money? Here are just six of the best reasons to invest.

Benefits of a Fitted Wardrobe

Maximises Space

One of the key benefits of fitted wardrobes vs freestanding is space. Freestanding wardrobes are built to set sizes and tend to leave a lot of wasted space around them. Fitted wardrobes, on the other hand, are custom built to suit your room. They can be made to match specific measurements, no matter how awkward or unique the space, leaving no wasted area around them. This not only looks tidier but also creates more usable storage.

Effortlessly Stylish  

Fitted wardrobes create a completely seamless appearance, sitting flush with your walls and ceiling. This sleek finish elevates any space, adding a touch of elegance and making your home feel a little more premium.

Boosts Property Value

Fitted wardrobes are desirable, and like any desirable home upgrade, they can boost property value, potentially delivering a comfortable return on investment when it comes to selling. Conversely, freestanding wardrobes typically age faster with use and are unlikely to add any value to your property. Learn more about how fitted wardrobes can boost your property value in our blog post.

Covers Awkward Spaces

Made-to-measure wardrobes can be specially built to match any measurements. At Online Bedrooms, we often build wardrobes to suit awkward spaces, allowing you to turn difficult alcoves, chimney breasts or sloped ceilings into usable, stylish storage. See some of our options for fitted wardrobes for awkward spaces.

Makes The Room Feel Bigger

Another notable benefit of fitted wardrobes vs freestanding is their ability to make your rooms feel bigger. Because they’re tucked back into the space, flush with the walls, they don’t protrude forwards into the room as much, creating a greater sense of space despite usually being physically larger.

Fits Any Style  

They can also be tailored to match any design preferences, with custom frame colours, door colours, handles, door styles and much more. Ultimately, rather than having to find a pre-designed wardrobe and hoping it fits your style, you can just have one built from scratch to suit you. 

Benefits Of A Freestanding Wardrobe

Cost

One of the main reasons that people opt for a freestanding wardrobe over a fitted unit is cost. Off-the-shelf options are usually more cost effective and can save you some money up front if your budget is tight. This lower price comes with some downsides however, primarily in terms of space and quality.

Portability

Another factor in the fitted wardrobes vs freestanding debate is portability. Freestanding wardrobes can be moved around the home as needed and taken with you from property to property.

No Installation Needed

Fitted wardrobes require careful installation to ensure a tidy fit. Freestanding alternatives don’t. They can simply be assembled and quickly slid or lifted into position, saving you some time and effort.

Same Day Purchase And Delivery  

Freestanding wardrobes can be bought off-the-shelf, ready to go the same day. You can place your order online or pick one up and have it built and in place before the end of the day if you like. Alternatively, fitted wardrobes take a little time to build and deliver, because they’re created unique for each space.

Easy To Replace

Because freestanding wardrobes are mass produced, it’s easy to find exact or similar replacements if yours breaks or wears out. This is a trade off though, because freestanding wardrobes are generally not as high-quality as fitted wardrobes, and are likely to need replacing more often.

Matching Sets Available  

While freestanding wardrobes won’t fill a space in the same way as fitted units, you will often have the option to purchase matching sets. This doesn’t provide quite the same standard of finish, but it will look more cohesive than mismatched units. 

Fitted Wardrobes vs Freestanding: Sustainability Considerations

The final major factor here is sustainability. Like all mass-produced goods, off-the-shelf wardrobes take a toll on the environment. They are often made using lower grade materials which wear out faster and need to be replaced more often, increasing the demand for new products and fuelling environmental damage. 

Fitted wardrobes, however, are typically made from quality materials which last longer. This reduces the need for replacements, results in less waste going to landfill and, helpfully, saves you money too. 

Which is Right for Me?

Which decision is right for you when it comes to fitted wardrobes vs freestanding will vary depending on your space and budget. Generally, fitted wardrobes offer more benefits in terms of quality, customisation, fitment, aesthetics and storage space, but do come at a higher cost and take longer to deliver.

Freestanding wardrobes are cheaper but generally lower quality, leave a lot of wasted space and may not perfectly match your design preferences. Overall, we’d argue that fitted wardrobes are almost always the better option, and the higher cost and longer lead time is more than compensated for by the benefits, not to mention the potential return on investment in property value. 

Why Choose Online Bedrooms For Your Fitted Wardrobes?

Online Bedrooms is one of the UK’s leading choices for high-quality, made-to-measure wardrobes for spaces of all kinds. Every wardrobe is made right here in the UK using premium materials according to your exact specifications.

Choose from countless design combinations including colours, door styles and internal storage configurations. Our fitted wardrobes are delivered flat pack and ready to assemble using our unique, user-friendly fastening system. Alternatively, we can also arrange expert installation if you prefer.

Discover high-end, British-made fitted wardrobes at competitive prices with Online Bedrooms. To get started, just speak to our expert design team by calling 0115 647 7062 or filling out our contact form.