As a design-minded bloke who grew up in the States, I like to think that I cut my decorating chops in the hallways of the American high school.  Anyone who attended one of these institutions knows that the school locker is the ultimate canvas for self-expression.  From the stick-on mirror to photo collages of famous footballers, student lockers comprise a pastiche of generational décor.  Now, years later as an adult who’s just moved into his first flat, I find myself applying the lessons learned in my locker to getting the most of my wardrobes.  For the less acclimated, here are some tips for bedazzling your cabinets:

Take time for aesthetics

Your wardrobe may not be the most glamorous piece of furniture in your home, but that doesn’t mean it can’t add considerably to a room’s design.  Dark stained hardwoods look great in almost any décor scheme, but to throw a fun wrinkle into my own flat I chose a black gloss cabinet to house my clothes.  The black really shines in rooms that are open to light, and for an even more exciting look, I recommend embellishing the inside of the cabinet with a contrasting pattern or colour scheme.  This can be achieved with a simple coat of paint (or if you’re feeling quirky, a few pieces of coloured chalk), but perhaps the easiest way of sprucing up your inner cabinets is with simple wallpaper.  Be it classy tartan or whimsical butterfly wallpaper, the lasting effect invokes memories of covering the insides of lockers with wrapping paper and ornaments for the holidays.  The look is fun, festive, and best of all, unique.

Outside the box organisation

Few people think of the wardrobe as a multi-purpose fixture, but in homes that are low of space (like mine) it would be foolish to take such an attitude.  Since my girlfriend and I share a wardrobe, we have both found slightly unorthodox ways to get the most out of the storage space inside.  For her, this means installing a small rectangular mirror on top of the wallpaper, as well as an extra compartment inside one of the drawers where she can keep spare makeup.  For me, it’s the addition of a “secret” tie rack along the back inner wall of the cabinet where I can store my ties without sacrificing precious space for clothing.  With these minor modifications, we’re both able to go about our business in the morning should the other be monopolising our one tiny loo.

Got any can’t miss tips for maximising storage space that we should know about?  Lay ‘em on us in the comments below.

Did you know?

In the 17th century, oak wardrobes were imported to the UK from America because the wood was over-harvested in England.

-Jeff O.

Tweet