Wardrobe Measurements and Usable Clearances
Overall width, height and depth are only the first layer. Note skirtings, cornices, power points, windows, light switches, return walls and door swings, plus any variation in floor or wall level. In older Adelaide homes, walls and ceilings are not always square; an on-site measure before manufacture is the point at which the cabinet dimensions, filler panels and scribe details can be finalised.
The internal depth, drawer projection, hanging clearance and shelf spacing must work with the garments and room, not just fit a nominal cabinet size. A wardrobe can lose useful capacity when a door, bed or window restricts access. Discussing these constraints early allows the layout to favour the items used daily and reserve higher or deeper areas for occasional storage.
Filler panels, scribes and small shadow lines are often the practical way for cabinetry to meet existing walls that are not straight. They should be treated as considered details, not defects. Reviewing samples, handle positions and the intended reveal between doors gives everyone a shared expectation before a custom wardrobe is manufactured and installed.
Internal Layout for Daily and Future Storage
List what the wardrobe must hold before selecting finishes. Long-hang clothing, folded garments, shoes, linen, bags, drawers and seasonal storage each need different clearances. Mix dedicated hanging zones with adjustable shelves and removable rails where future needs may change, such as a child growing or a room becoming a study. Size drawers for the items they will hold, and avoid deep, unlit shelves that become dead space rather than adding every available accessory.
A hypothetical bedroom brief might put long hanging space on one side and adjustable shelves on the other. Check the actual garments, drawer opening and room circulation before agreeing that arrangement.
Wardrobe Doors, Materials, Lighting and Ventilation
Hinged doors need clear swing space; sliding doors preserve circulation but limit access to part of the interior at once. Mirrored, painted and timber-look finishes each change light, maintenance and the visual weight of the room. For wardrobes near bathrooms, laundries or external walls, discuss moisture exposure and ventilation so the substrate, edging and installation detail suit the location.
Integrated lighting, power points and ventilation can make a wardrobe easier to use, but they need to be planned before the unit is built. Identify what requires electrical coordination, where cables or drivers can be accessed and whether exterior walls or adjoining wet areas create condensation concerns. These interfaces are resolved with the appropriate trades rather than retrofitted blindly.
Access, Site Measure and the Manufacturing Brief
For the first enquiry, tell us what the wardrobe needs to store, the room, your preferred door type and finishes, and the site location. Room photos, a rough sketch and approximate measurements are optional; email any available files to handymanfelix.au2026@outlook.com. These help us discuss the brief, while the final cabinet sizes follow the site measure.
Before the site measure, note access from the street to the room, parking, stair turns and any floor protection needed. Tell us when painting, electrical work or new carpet is planned so we can coordinate the measure and installation with the adjoining finishes.
At the site measure, we check wall and floor variation, usable depth and access against the proposed layout. We then review door movement, drawer projection, hardware clearances, fillers and lighting interfaces with you. Approve the drawings and specification before the agreed scope proceeds to manufacture and installation.
Wardrobe Quote Inclusions and Approved Changes
Use the same storage layout when comparing quotes. Record the wardrobe location, hanging zones, shelves, drawers and accessories, then compare the cabinet substrate, edging, door materials, visible finishes, handles and hardware. A quote for the same outside dimensions can cover a different internal arrangement.
Ask us which removal, transport, room protection, waste, installation and wall or trim making-good tasks are included or separately arranged. Identify any lighting interfaces and electrical responsibilities. An early budget estimate uses the information available; the confirmed scope and price follow the site measure and agreed layout, materials and hardware, with unresolved items recorded.
If you add drawers, change the door type or choose different hardware, we record the revised layout or specification and explain any price and scheduling changes in a written variation. Approve the affected work before it proceeds, and keep the agreed version with the original quote.
Wardrobe Handover Checks and Records
At handover, compare the installed layout and visible finish with the approved scope and final specification. Operate the doors and drawers; check handles, shelving, alignment, visible edges, agreed lighting access and how the unit meets the floor, walls and ceiling. Record any adjustment or outstanding work while the installation team is available, and keep the specification and surface-care information with the completion record.
Custom wardrobe planning questions
What measurements are needed for a wardrobe quote, and are photos enough?
For planning, note the available width, height and depth, ceiling slopes, skirtings, door swings and other obstructions if you already have that information. Photos and approximate measurements are optional for the first enquiry and can help MEL ONE discuss an initial budget. Room photos alone do not establish the final manufacturing dimensions or price. The confirmed quote follows the site measure, agreed design and specification, and installation arrangements.
What happens if I add drawers or change the doors?
We revise the layout, materials and hardware requirements, explain the effect on price and scheduling, and obtain approval for a written variation before the affected work proceeds.
Does the wardrobe quote include removal and making-good?
We identify removal, transport, protection, waste, installation and making-good as included, excluded or separately arranged in the written quote. Tell us what needs removing and which adjoining finishes must be retained so the site measure can address those details.
What should I keep after installation?
Keep the approved design and specification, quote and variations, care information, and handover record showing completed work and any agreed follow-up.