Hinged or Sliding Doors for Fitted Wardrobes?

Hinged doors suit most rooms where there is space in front of the wardrobe for doors to open, and they let you see the whole interior at once. Sliding doors suit rooms where floor space is tight, for example where a bed sits close to the wardrobe, but only part of the interior is open at any time. The right choice depends on the room, how you use the wardrobe and the look you want, rather than one option being better in general.

Hinged doors

Hinged doors open outwards, one or a pair at a time.

• Full access. Open the doors and the whole section is in view, which makes it easier to see and reach everything.
• Interior freedom. Drawers and pull-out fittings can sit anywhere inside, because there is no track or overlapping door panel in the way.
• Wide choice of styles. Shaker and other framed doors, flat slab doors, handleless designs, glazed doors and traditional panelled doors all work as hinged doors.
• They need room to open. Check the swing against the bed, other furniture, radiators and the room door before deciding.

Good hinges matter. Soft-close hinges close the door quietly and consistently, and they are worth asking about whatever the door style.

Sliding doors

Sliding doors run along a track, one panel passing in front of another.

• No swing space needed. Useful in smaller bedrooms, or where a bed or desk sits close to the wardrobe.
• Large, clean panels. Sliding doors suit a modern look, and mirrored or glazed panels can make a room feel bigger and lighter.
• Part of the interior at a time. Only the open section can be reached, so the layout behind each panel needs a little more thought.
• Interior planning around the doors. Drawers and pull-outs have to be positioned so they clear the door panels and the track.

Which suits your room?

• Little space in front of the wardrobe: sliding doors are usually the practical choice.
• You want to see everything at once: hinged doors.
• Lots of drawers and pull-out fittings: hinged doors give the most freedom; with sliding doors the interior is planned around the panels.
• A traditional or period room: framed or panelled hinged doors often suit it best.
• A contemporary room or a wish for mirrors: sliding panels, or flat or handleless hinged doors.
• Alcoves and sloping ceilings: both can work, and the right answer depends on the exact shape of the space, which is worth looking at during the survey.

Door styles and finishes

Whichever way the doors open, the style is a separate choice. Common styles include shaker and other framed doors, flat slab doors, handleless doors with push-to-open or grip-profile systems, glazed and framed-glass doors, and panelled doors for period rooms. Finishes can be painted or sprayed, veneered, textured or woodgrain, mirrored or glass, among others. You are not limited to a short standard range.

Does the choice affect cost?

Yes, but not in a simple way. The door system, the number of doors, their size, the style and the finish all affect the price, and so does what sits behind the doors. Sliding doors are not automatically cheaper or dearer than hinged ones. A fully carcassed sliding wardrobe, with complete carcasses, finished panels and a detailed interior, can cost more than a hinged wardrobe. Sliding fronts fitted across an alcove without full carcasses, with a simple shelf and rail inside, can cost considerably less. A fair way to compare is to price the same construction and layout both ways for your room. See what fitted wardrobes cost and what drives the price.

Getting it right for your room

Door choice is easiest to settle in the room itself, where the bed position, the space in front of the wardrobe and the interior you need can all be looked at together. We design and install fitted wardrobes with hinged or sliding doors, and the initial survey is free. For the other decisions involved, see our complete guide to fitted wardrobes and how to plan the interior.