What Happens at a Fitted Wardrobe Survey?

A fitted wardrobe survey is a visit to measure the space accurately, look at the walls, floor and ceiling, and talk through what you would like. At Carvalho Renovations the initial survey is free, and you do not need a finished design or a list of decisions beforehand. Its purpose is to understand the room and what you need, so that the design and quotation are based on the real space rather than guesswork.

Before the visit

Most projects start with a short conversation. It helps if you can send:

• a few photos of the room and the wall or recess you are thinking about;
• rough measurements, if you have them;
• any pictures of wardrobes or styles you like.

None of this is essential, and a short video of the room works just as well as photos. If you already have a budget, materials or finishes in mind, you can mention them at this stage too.

What happens at the survey

A fitted wardrobe survey usually takes around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the room and your requirements. The visit covers:

• Accurate measurements. Widths, heights and depths are measured properly. In an alcove or under a sloping ceiling, a small difference can decide whether panels sit neatly against the wall.
• A look at the space. Walls, floor and ceiling are rarely perfectly straight or level, and things like skirting, coving, sockets, radiators and windows all affect the design.
• A conversation about the design. What you actually need to store, the wardrobe configuration, hinged or sliding doors, materials and finishes, the interior and lighting.
• What else is involved. Whether an existing wardrobe needs removing, and whether making good or decorating should be part of the project.

Things worth thinking about beforehand

You do not need answers to all of these. A rough idea of a few makes the conversation more useful:

• roughly how much you hang, and how much of it is long, such as coats and dresses;
• what you prefer to fold rather than hang;
• whether you would like drawers, and for what;
• shoes, bags and other things that need a place;
• whether you would like lighting inside;
• hinged or sliding doors, if you already have a preference;
• the look you want, such as painted, wood-effect, mirrored, handleless or traditional;
• any awkward areas, such as a sloping ceiling, a chimney breast or a corner;
• anything practical, such as a bed position, a radiator or a window to work around.

Does the room need clearing?

It helps if the wall or recess being measured is reasonably accessible, but you do not need to empty the room for the survey. If you would like an existing wardrobe or furniture removed as part of the project, we can do that, with removal and disposal at an additional cost where required.

After the survey

The design, materials and finishes are agreed with you, and you receive a written quotation for the agreed scope and specification. If you decide to go ahead, a deposit is taken, and detailed design and 3D visualisation follow where the project needs them. Manufacture or supply normally takes around two to three weeks after approval, depending on the design, the materials and the specification, and installation is then arranged.

The free survey is not the same as 3D design. 3D visualisation is a separate service: it is developed as part of the project once you go ahead and pay the deposit, or it can be commissioned on its own, with no obligation to use us for the installation.

Arrange a survey

If you are planning fitted or bespoke wardrobes, arrange a free survey. For the bigger picture before the visit, see our complete guide to fitted wardrobes.