Wardrobe Interior Layout: A Practical Guide

Two wardrobes with the same width and the same doors can feel completely different to live with. The difference is the inside: where the rails sit, how far apart the shelves are, and whether there is a place for shoes, bags and bedding. This guide walks through a practical wardrobe interior layout, with typical measurements you can use as a starting point, and then shows how to plan your own.

The numbers below are common rules of thumb used by furniture makers, not fixed standards and not Khashab specifications. Measure your own clothes and adjust. The easiest way to test a layout is to sketch it in the cabinet designer while you read.

Start with what you own

Before choosing a layout, sort your clothes into four groups and count roughly how much of each you have:

• Long hanging: dresses, abayas, coats, gallabiyas.
• Short hanging: shirts, blouses, jackets, trousers folded over a hanger.
• Folded: T-shirts, jumpers, jeans, home clothes, bedding.
• Small items: underwear, socks, scarves, belts, accessories.

A household with many long garments needs a full-height hanging section. A household that mostly folds will be better served by more shelves and drawers. Most families need a mix, which is why wider wardrobes are usually divided into sections.

Hanging zones and rail heights

Typical clear heights for hanging, measured from the rail down to the bottom of the clothes with a little space below:

• Long hanging: around 150 to 170 cm of clear drop. In a 200 cm high wardrobe this usually means one rail at about 170 to 180 cm from the floor, with a shelf above it.
• Short hanging: around 90 to 100 cm of clear drop. Two short-hanging rails can be stacked in one section, one high and one low, which doubles the space for shirts and jackets.
• Trousers on hangers: around 70 to 80 cm.

Leave about 5 to 7 cm between the rail and the shelf above it so hangers lift off easily. Clothes on hangers need roughly 55 to 60 cm of depth, which is why standard wardrobes are about 60 cm deep. Khashab's wardrobes, for example, come in many designs at a set depth of 60 cm.

Shelves: spacing and depth

Folded clothes are easiest to reach when stacks stay low. A gap of about 25 to 35 cm between shelves suits T-shirts and jumpers; jeans and bedding may need 35 to 40 cm. Shelves that are too far apart encourage tall piles that topple when you pull from the bottom.

Use the space above the hanging section, near the top of the wardrobe, for things you reach for rarely: winter blankets, suitcases, spare pillows. Adjustable shelf supports are worth asking for, because what you store changes over the years.

Drawers

Drawers keep small items tidy and hide clutter. Typical internal heights are 12 to 15 cm for underwear and socks, and 20 to 25 cm for jumpers or home clothes. Place drawers at waist height or below so you can see into them. Full-extension runners let you reach the back of the drawer, and soft-close runners stop slamming. Dividers or trays inside a shallow drawer are useful for watches, ties and jewellery.

Shoe space

If shoes will live inside the wardrobe, give them their own low section so dust does not reach clothes. Flat shoes need about 15 to 18 cm per shelf; heels and trainers about 20 to 22 cm; ankle boots more. Slanted shoe shelves with a small lip show more pairs at once. Many homes in Egypt keep shoes near the entrance instead, and a separate shoe rack there leaves more room in the bedroom.

Layouts by number of doors

Two-door wardrobe

For widths of about 100 to 120 cm, the simplest layout splits the inside in two: one side for hanging, the other for shelves with two or three drawers at the bottom. If you have many long garments, give the hanging side full height; otherwise stack two short-hanging rails.

Three-door and wider wardrobes

At about 150 to 180 cm, a common plan is one long-hanging section, one double short-hanging section and one section of shelves and drawers. At 200 to 240 cm there is room to give each person their own side, or to add a dedicated section for bedding and bags.

Sliding doors

Sliding doors save the space a swinging door needs in front, which helps in narrow rooms. Two things change inside. The tracks take some depth, and the doors overlap, so you only ever open part of the width at a time. Plan internal drawers so they are not behind the overlap, or they will hit the door when opened.

Kids' wardrobe layout that grows with the child

Children's clothes are short, so a young child needs very little long hanging. Start with a low rail at about 100 to 120 cm that the child can reach, deep drawers for toys and clothes, and shelves for folded items. Use adjustable shelf supports and allow for a second rail position, so the rail can move up and a second one can be added as the child grows. Keep heavy items low. Tall wardrobes in children's rooms should always be fixed to the wall; our tip-over prevention guide explains how.

Lighting and accessories

Small additions make a large wardrobe easier to use. LED strips switched by a door sensor light the inside when you open it. A pull-down rail helps you reach high hanging sections. Pull-out trouser racks, tie and belt hooks, and a mirror on the inside of a door are other common choices. Add them where they solve a real problem, since each one uses space.

How to measure for a wardrobe

• Measure the width of the wall at three heights (bottom, middle, top) and use the smallest figure.
• Measure the height at both ends, as floors and ceilings are rarely level.
• Note skirting boards, sockets, switches, air-conditioning units, windows and doors that open nearby.
• For hinged doors, check there is room in front for the door to open fully and for you to stand.
• Check the route into the room: lifts, stair turns and door frames.

Khashab's wardrobes come in many designs in set widths of 100, 120, 150, 180, 200 and 240 cm, 200 cm high and 60 cm deep, and any size can be made to measure. Before production, a site measurement visit (EGP 2,000) confirms the final dimensions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best layout for a two-door wardrobe?

There is no single answer, but the most practical plan is usually one side for hanging and the other for shelves with drawers at the bottom. Choose long hanging or double short hanging based on your own clothes.

How deep should a wardrobe be for hanging clothes?

A hanger needs roughly 55 to 60 cm, so a 60 cm deep wardrobe suits clothes hung side-on. In shallower cabinets, a pull-out rail that hangs clothes front-to-back is the usual workaround.

Plan your wardrobe interior

Open the cabinet designer to set the width, divide the sections and try different combinations of rails, shelves and drawers. Then browse the wardrobes collection for door styles, or read about natural wood, MDF and beech to understand the materials. When your layout is ready, contact Khashab with the dimensions and your location for a quotation.