Built-in cupboards are an excellent way to make small bedrooms seem bigger without losing valuable floor space. Standing against a wall, they can be adapted to suit your specific space requirements.
UCAN offers several ideas for built-in cupboards and cupboard assembly videos for self-installation. In most cases, only basic DIY skills are needed.
Location
To determine the right cupboard for your small bedroom, you need to consider the size and shape of the room. To assess your cupboard's best size and position, draw your room to scale so that you can try out various layouts.
Moving furniture around can be challenging, but many useful tools and mobile apps are available to help you virtually arrange your room to see what works and what doesn't. If you prefer old school methods, draw your furniture to scale and cut out the pieces to move around on your drawing.
Remember to consider items like your bed, headboard, bedside tables and desks or dressing tables.
Which cupboard?
It's essential to choose the right cupboard for your space. A cupboard with one or two doors will suit very tiny bedrooms. Bedrooms with a bit more room to work with may have sufficient space for a three- or four-door cupboard.
Keep in mind that you need to leave enough room to get in and out of bed without feeling cramped or bumping into things in the middle of the night.
Corners
A free corner in the room could be used to add a cupboard with one or two doors. Once you have an idea of which storage corner will work best, you can set up your cupboard to visualise how it looks in real life.
Maximise storage
It's surprising how many clothing items can be stored on even a short rail, whereas folded clothing takes up a lot more cupboard space.
- Hang jeans and pants on shower hooks.
- Tank tops, scarves, camisoles - even shoes - can also be hung on space-saving hooks or shoe racks.
- Space savers, such as wicker baskets, boxes, wire racks and other storage options, help maximise space within your cupboards.
- Open and closed space savers help you store smaller items such as accessories, make-up, jewellery or lingerie while keeping your cupboard clutter-free.
- Open baskets can be decorative and functional and are ideal for storing blankets, cushions and other décor items.
- Pull out shoe racks will keep your shoes in order without taking up too much room.
- Under-bed storage is excellent for keeping winter clothing or summer clothing, and you can swap your wardrobe each season.
Colour scheme
Cupboards that match your walls will blend into the background. The blend creates a seamless look and will make the room look bigger.
Pastel shades generally make rooms appear larger, whereas darker colours and complex colour schemes can make rooms look cramped. It's best to keep it simple, avoid patterns and excessive detail that will make your room appear smaller.
Instead, aim for light colours and one or two complementary shades to open up the room.
