Armoire Wardrobe Closet​: Elegant Storage for Your Essentials

Historically, armoires were highly ornate and built to hold armor, while wardrobes were simpler cabinets for clothes. Today, the terms are mostly interchangeable, though “wardrobe” generally implies a piece dedicated primarily to hanging clothes, whereas an “armoire” often includes a mix of hanging space, shelves, and drawers.

To accommodate standard clothing hangers without the sleeves brushing against the closed doors, the interior depth of a wardrobe should be at least 20 inches. A depth of 22 to 24 inches is optimal for hanging heavy winter coats or men’s suit jackets.

Yes. While flat-screen TVs have reduced the demand, “TV armoires” or “media armoires” are specifically designed for this purpose. They feature reinforced shelving to handle the weight of electronics, pocket doors that slide out of the way for viewing, and pre-drilled holes in the back panel for cable management.

Absolutely. Freestanding wardrobes are the perfect solution for historic homes, guest rooms, or apartments lacking built-in closets. Because they offer full hanging rods, top shelves, and lower drawers, they effectively serve as a complete, movable closet system.

A chifforobe (a portmanteau of chiffonier and wardrobe) is a piece of furniture that is divided down the middle. One half features a long door covering a hanging rod for clothes, while the other half consists of a vertical stack of drawers. It’s ideal for storing a complete wardrobe in one unit.

Because of their massive size and weight, many large wardrobes and armoires are shipped “knocked down” (flat-packed) or in multiple heavy boxes requiring assembly in the bedroom. This ensures they can actually fit through your doorways and up staircases. Always verify the delivery format before purchasing.

Many modern armoires come with adjustable or removable components. If your armoire is tall enough (over 70 inches), you can often install a second hanging rod halfway down to double your capacity for short items like shirts and trousers, provided the interior frame is sturdy wood.

Solid wood armoires are extremely heavy. To move one safely, you should remove all interior shelves, take out the drawers, and unhinge the doors to drastically reduce the weight. Always use a furniture dolly and moving straps, and never attempt to move it by yourself.

A jewelry armoire is a specialized, smaller piece of freestanding furniture (usually waist-to-chest height) designed exclusively for storing jewelry and accessories. It features multiple shallow, felt-lined drawers, hidden side doors with hooks for necklaces, and a flip-top mirror.

Yes. Just like dressers, tall wardrobes and armoires have a high center of gravity and can become front-heavy if the doors are wide open or if they are loaded unevenly. Installing the included anti-tip hardware to anchor the unit to a wall stud is essential for household safety.