Most wardrobe returns are not about the wardrobe. They happen because the room was measured once, quickly, and the door swing or the route upstairs was never checked. Five minutes with a tape measure before you order avoids nearly all of it.
Measure the wall, not just the gap
Start with the wall where the wardrobe will stand. Measure the width at floor level and again at shoulder height, because skirting boards, radiators and older Birmingham plasterwork rarely give you the same number twice. Use the smaller of the two.
Then measure the ceiling height in the same spot. Sloped ceilings, coving and loft conversions are the usual reason a wardrobe fits the floor plan but not the room.
Leave room for doors and drawers
A wardrobe needs clear space in front of it, not only behind. As a working rule, allow:
- 60cm in front of hinged doors so they open fully
- 50cm in front of drawers so they pull out without hitting the bed
- 5cm at each side if the wardrobe sits between two walls
If the room is tight, mirrored sliding doors or a wardrobe with lower drawers usually solves it. Our wardrobe size guide covers the choice in more detail.
Check the route into the bedroom
Measure the narrowest point between the front door and the bedroom: usually a stair turn, a landing or a doorway. Compare it against the carton depth and height rather than the assembled wardrobe.
If the tightest turn is narrower than the largest carton, say so when you order. Flat pack delivery to the room is far easier to plan before the van is loaded.
Write the numbers down before you order
Keep four numbers together: wall width, ceiling height, clear floor space in front, and the narrowest point on the route in. Send them with your enquiry and we can confirm what fits before anything is built.
Not sure about any of them? Ask us for a quote with your room measurements and delivery postcode, and we will come back with the sizes that work.
Frequently asked questions
How much space should I leave above a wardrobe?
Leave at least 2cm above the wardrobe. The unit has to be tilted upright during assembly, so a wardrobe built to the exact ceiling height cannot be stood up in the room.
Can a wardrobe sit in front of a radiator?
It is better not to. Heat can dry the panels unevenly over time, and you lose most of the warmth from that radiator. Where there is no alternative, leave a 10cm gap and keep the doors closed.
Do you deliver outside Birmingham?
We deliver across Birmingham and the surrounding local area. Send your postcode with your enquiry and we will confirm before you order.