When planning a new fitted wardrobe, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing between sliding wardrobe doors and traditional hinged wardrobe doors. Both options have their advantages, but the right choice depends on your available space, storage needs, budget, and personal style.
In this guide, we’ll compare sliding and hinged wardrobe doors to help you decide which option is best for your bedroom.
What Are Sliding Wardrobe Doors?
Sliding wardrobe doors are a modern space-saving storage solution that operate on a track system, allowing doors to slide horizontally rather than swing outwards. Available in a wide range of styles, colours, and finishes, sliding wardrobe doors can be used to create a fitted wardrobe look without the cost of a fully bespoke installation.
What Are Hinged Wardrobe Doors?
Hinged wardrobe doors attach to the wardrobe frame with hinges and open outward into the room. This traditional style of wardrobe door allows full wardrobe access. Because the doors swing open, they require clear floor space in front of the wardrobe.
Sliding vs Hinged Doors
There are many advantages and disadvantages to each wardrobe door style. The best option for your home will depend on factors such as available space, accessibility, style preferences and budget. Here’s what you need to consider when making your decision:
Space Requirements
One of the biggest differences between sliding and hinged wardrobes is the amount of space required.
Sliding Doors
Sliding doors move sideways along a track and therefore require no additional floor space for doors to open. This makes them ideal for:
- Tight spaces
- Small bedrooms
- Loft conversions
- Apartments
- Rooms where furniture sits close to the wardrobe
Hinged Doors
Hinged doors require enough unobstructed floor space to swing open fully. In larger rooms, this may not be an issue, but this can be particularly noticeable in smaller bedrooms where every centimetre counts. Beds, bedside tables, desks and other furniture may need to be positioned further away from the wardrobe to allow the doors to open comfortably.
Access to Your Wardrobe
Sliding Doors
Sliding wardrobes typically allow access to one section of the wardrobe at a time because the doors overlap. This can make seeing everything in your wardrobe difficult.However, modern sliding wardrobe layouts are often designed with this in mind. By carefully planning hanging rails, shelving and drawers, you can still enjoy convenient access to your belongings while benefiting from the space-saving advantages of sliding doors.
Hinged Doors
Hinged wardrobes can be opened fully, providing complete access to the entire wardrobe interior. However, for most households, day-to-day use rarely requires every section of the wardrobe to be open at once.
Style and Appearance
Sliding Doors
Sliding wardrobe doors offer a sleek, modern look that works well in contemporary bedrooms.
Slide wardrobe door finishes include:
- Mirror doors
- Glass panels
- Modern coloured finishes
- Minimalist designs
Opting for mirrored sliding wardrobe doors can help reflect light, making a smaller bedroom feel larger.
Hinged Doors
Hinged wardrobes suit both traditional design schemes and modern interiors. They are often chosen for their familiar look and versatility.
Installation Considerations
Sliding Doors
Modern sliding wardrobe door kits are designed with DIY installation in mind. You can enjoy a custom-fitted wardrobe solution without paying for a complete bespoke wardrobe installation.
Benefits include:
- Lower installation costs
- Made-to-measure flexibility
- Professional-looking results
- Excellent value for money
Hinged Doors
Installing hinged wardrobes often requires a complete wardrobe carcass, multiple hinges, and careful alignment of doors. The process involves screwing mounting plates to the carcass and clipping the hinges into place. It is important to measure accurately. Incorrect placement can lead to doors that fail to close correctly.
Hinged wardrobe doors may require adjustments over time to ensure they remain correctly aligned and continue opening and closing smoothly.
Which Option Offers Better Value?
The best choice often depends on the size and layout of your room.
Sliding Wardrobe Doors Are Ideal For:
- Small bedrooms
- New-build homes
- Loft conversions
- Apartments
- Box rooms
- Floor-to-ceiling fitted wardrobes
Hinged Wardrobe Doors Are Ideal For:
- Large bedrooms
- Traditional interiors
- Freestanding wardrobes
- Situations where full wardrobe access is a priority
If your main priority is to have maximum access to the wardrobe, then hinged doors may be a better option for you.
However, if you’re looking to save space, create a modern fitted wardrobe, and achieve professional results without the cost of a bespoke installation, sliding wardrobe doors are often the clear winner.
While costs vary depending on size and specification, sliding wardrobe doors offer excellent value. They also make better use of available space, which can be particularly important in modern homes where bedroom sizes are more compact.
Sliding Wardrobe Doors At Slide Wardrobes Direct
At Slide Wardrobes Direct, we offer a wide range of made-to-measure wardrobe sliding doors, including our linear, element, shaker, classic, and minimalist sliding designs.
We also provide you with detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to fit your wardrobe to make home installation as straightforward as possible.
Browse our collection of easy-to-install, DIY fitted sliding wardrobes doors today.
