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Sliding or hinged doors wardrobe? Measurements and differences

Which one is better, a wardrobe with sliding or hinged doors?

This is a question we keep receiving over and over from our customers, that is why in our new video guide we compare wardrobes with hinged doors and wardrobes with sliding doors by focusing on different points of view.

It may look like a banal concept but as a matter of fact it is something very important to keep in mind as these two types of wardrobes can satisfy the same needs in terms of look and storage capacity, but they both come with pros and cons.

In this handbook we will talk about:

  • - measurements
  • - prices
  • - use
  • - depth
  • - height
  • - flexibility of design
  • - aesthetic

Hinged or sliding doors?
7 most frequently asked questions

1 - PRICES

Which one costs more, sliding or hinged wardrobe?

If we compare the price of two wardrobes equipped with the same technical features (mechanical components, type of doors, finishes), the same quality level and the same measurements, hinged doors wardrobes cost less compared to the ones with sliding doors.

   

2 - USE

A wardrobe for two: how many doors and which one to choose?

The hinged door wardrobe can be use by two people at the same time. In this way a couple can open all doors at the same time and have access to their own compartments without getting in the way of the other.
This is not possible on the sliding wardrobe as when you open a door you will block the access of the compartment next to it.

Thanks to its extreme flexibility in terms of design a wardrobe with hinged doors allows you to create layouts that make the best use of the space, up to the last centimetre without the need of customised cuts.
If you have a small room, for example, even one additional single door can be used at best, with the right equipment, to save more space.
If, on the other hand, you have a big bedroom or even better an entire room dedicated to wardrobes, with an hinged doors wardrobe you can compose very big layouts, L or U shaped as well as with dressing units. Sliding doors wardrobes do not have the same flexibility.

4-door sliding wardrobe
8-door hinged wardrobe
   

3 - DEPTH

I'm tight with the space at disposal, which model should I choose?

A topic that comes out quite often during the design of a bedroom is the overall space that a wardrobe takes in depth.
Many people use to say: "I have a small room so I think a sliding doors wardrobe is better because in this way I have more space in front of the bed".
That is because we always take for granted that hinged doors take up more space when you open them. And that is absolutely right if we only think of the wardrobe when it's open. But keep in mind that this is not true when the wardrobe is closed, because in this case, for wardrobes with the same storage capacity, the depth of one with hinged doors is smaller.

In some cases the hinged door version might be the optimal choice even in small bedrooms. And here's why:

When we talk about standard dimensions, the depth of an hinged wardrobe can be - according to the door thickness - around 60 - 62 cm (+ handle, if present).
The sliding version will have a depth of around 65 - 66 cm and that is because doors slide one above the other with an internal and an external one; this asymmetry gives place to a bigger depth (on the right, left side or in the middle in case of wardrobes with three doors).
Be careful though when you calculate the encumbrance when doors are open: you will need to open them all completely and avoid them to touch the bed, for this reason if you opt for hinged doors, choose a version with 45 cm wide doors.

Two alternatives for small (or super small) bedrooms

1 - If your room is really really small, please keep in mind that with a wardrobe with hinged door you can also create a layout with an overbed unit also over a double bed.
We usually think of this solution as something for kids, but also in a master bedroom we can use the space at best by adding a bridge unit on one of the walls. Think vertical.

2 - Choose a wardrobe with reduced depth, instead of the standard 60 - 65 cm one. Sliding doors wardrobes too have this option.

3-door sliding wardrobe, white and glass
6-doow wardrobe in dark wood
3-door small wardrobe with built-in desk

Remind that if we have the same depth for both types of wardrobes, the hinged doors one takes less space and offers a more spacious internal compartment. For example: a custom cut sliding doors wardrobe 37 cm deep will have a usable space of 25 - 26 cm, on the other hand one with hinged doors will have a usable space of 33 cm.

If you're thinking the difference is not that much, we can assure you that it does change: just think about the size of the coat hangers that go from 30 cm (super slim versions) to 40 - 43 cm. Coat hangers might not fit!
Another suitable option is to opt for a different layout of the tube for clothes, just like in the photo.

Detail of the tube for clothes in a wardrobe with reduced depth
   

4 - HEIGHT

When we talk about heights many questions arise:
I have an antique house with high ceilings, which model do I choose?
I live in a flat with sloped ceiling, which kind of wardrobe should I buy?
I would like a very big closet room where I can store summer and winter clothes, as well as suitcases, blankets and duvets....
To sum up, height makes the difference both in terms of storage capacity and in terms of look.

Yet another time wardrobes with hinged doors offer more flexibility in terms of height. All collections reach 290 - 295 cm, with single or double door.
Wardrobes for winter / summer clothes come with two doors one on top of the other, very convenient to organise all your clothes by storing the ones you are not currently using inside the compartment above and everything you are using every day right below.

Only a few collections have in their range 290 cm high sliding wardrobes, the reason is simply that a sliding door with such a height is very heavy so this weight must be correctly supported by mechanic components and assisted opening-closing systems.
In our collection you can find a wardrobe with sliding doors which is 287 cm high.

White 6-door wardrobe with central shelving unit
White wardrobe with double door
White wardrobe with 4 sliding doors and wooden internal structure
   

5 - FLEXIBILITY OF DESIGN

In this case let's start from a question we ask often to our customers:
... do you want to make use of the whole wall up to the last centimetre in width, height and depth?
...do you want to create corner solutions, with bridge unit, with TV compartment or other inserts?
Then wardrobes with hinged doors are the ones for you.

If on the other hand you don't have particular issues of space and you're looking for a linear wardrobe for two, big and beautiful, then sliding doors are perfect.

Hinged doors wardrobes win on a purely customisation point of view.
It develops vertically and it has a bigger number of narrow doors compared to the sliding one; it is possible to have completely made to measure wardrobes with standard modules without having to cut them.

   

6 - AESTHETIC

Which one is more aesthetically pleasant?

The answer is.... the model you like the most. When we're talking about style we can not make judgments or give objective suggestions.
Obviously wardrobes with big sliding doors give the possibility to play with decorative elements able to catch the attention. The big surface of the front panels allow a designer to mix several materials together and experiment with serigraphs and carvings, offering highly decorative solutions.

This does not mean that wardrobes with hinged doors are less nice to look at, simply they have a fragmented frontal surface which has less to offer in terms of decoration and aesthetic combinations.
Hinged doors can be embellished as well, just think about glass doors or handles carved inside the panels.
These solutions together with the wide range of colours available give to wardrobes with hinged doors a good degree of aesthetic customisation as well.

Collage with detail of decorative sliding doors
Collage with detail of hinged door handles
   

7 - THE DUST

I'm allergic, which one of these models is more suitable for me?

Wardrobes with hinged doors are less prone to dust.
A high quality wardrobes with sliding doors of course has anti-dust seals, however the opening system structure composed of doors that slide one on top of the other, necessarily leaves a space through which dust can filter, even if only a little.