Sliding or hinged – which wardrobe is better and what to choose to keep things in order
Choosing furniture is a responsible matter, because it is bought for many years to come. It’s not always easy to figure out which closet is better, a compartment or a hinged one. It would be good to think about this question in advance, after first considering the pros and cons of both options, and studying the features of the furniture.
Hinged wardrobe
A hinged wardrobe is a type of room furniture designed for storing linen, outerwear and other things. It is called swing because of the way the doors open. The door must be pulled towards you and moved to the side. This type of cabinet is considered classic. The model still has many fans. The doors are attached to the side walls using hinges. Some models use a frame to install the mount.
Hinged cabinets are reliable and have a reasonable price. However, this model is not suitable for tight spaces. There must be enough free space in front of the cabinet so that the door can open. It is also important to choose a model with high-quality fittings; the ease of use of a piece of furniture largely depends on it.
The hinges must have a safety margin to withstand the weight of the sashes and their repeated opening and closing. The number of hinges is calculated based on the size and weight of the door leaf. Hinged cabinets are equipped with different types of fastenings. Loops are:
- invoices;
- semi-overhead;
- foldable;
- card;
- inverse;
- corner.
For lightweight materials, a heel mechanism is used - in this case, the fittings are attached to the corners of the door from the bottom and top. Hinged wardrobes are also classified by the number of doors; they can be from 1 to 4. Manufacturers also produce five-door wardrobes, but they can rather be considered as a miniature dressing room. This piece of furniture takes up a lot of space and is installed only in spacious rooms.
The facade of a hinged cabinet can be solid or framed. For the manufacture of solid panels the following is used:
- natural wood;
- chipboard;
- MDF.
The frame façade consists of a frame and a panel. Frames can be made of wood, MDF, aluminum. Various materials are also used for inserts. The decorative finish of the facade can be selected so that the cabinet fits into the interior.
The surface of the facade is covered with film and decorated with plastic or natural veneer. There are also models in which the facade is made of mirror, glass, leather or decorated with photo printing.
The cabinet can be free-standing or built-in. The second option is convenient to use if the apartment has niches. A built-in wardrobe can improve the appearance of a room, hide imperfections in wall decoration and allow rational use of room space.
Closet
The sliding wardrobe is a more modern design. The product has sliding doors, which is why it got its name. The main advantage of this type of furniture is considered to be a more rational use of living space. Sliding wardrobes are distinguished by functionality, reliability, and ease of use. Thanks to the design, the possibilities for design finishing of the facade have also significantly expanded.
The wardrobe will last a long time only with careful use.Otherwise, sliding systems may become prematurely deformed and the doors will no longer open and close. The wardrobe must be installed on a perfectly flat surface. Before choosing a cabinet, you need to decide on its location. Materials used to make products:
- MDF;
- Fiberboard;
- Chipboard.
The sliding wardrobe can have a rectangular, angular or radius shape. Sometimes one part of the facade is made convex and the other concave. As a result, the surface takes on the shape of a wave. The sliding wardrobe can be built-in or cabinet. Radius structures with a concave facade that rounds the corners look beautiful.
Built-in furniture is made individually to exact dimensions. The advantage of a cabinet cabinet is its mobility. Furniture can be moved to another place at any time. Sliding doors are divided into:
- frameless;
- frame;
- with overhead profiles.
The complexity of installation depends on the type of structure. It is easiest to install frameless doors, but this system is the most unreliable in operation. Frame doors that have a frame around the entire perimeter serve better. Due to this device, the structure acquires the necessary rigidity and does not deform. There should be no loud noise when the door slides. Normally, the rollers operate smoothly, without braking.
Sliding wardrobes usually have from 2 to 4 doors. The design of the facade should be selected to match the overall interior of the room. Today, the priority for decoration is glass, mirrors, carved surfaces, and original prints. For additional convenience, the model can be equipped with pull-out shelves, lighting, and stands for equipment.
What is the difference?
A hinged wardrobe and a sliding wardrobe are made from the same materials.Both furniture options have a modern design and, when selected correctly, fit organically into the interior. The products differ only in the way the doors are opened.
In a swing wardrobe this mechanism is implemented using hinges, while in a sliding wardrobe the doors are moved to the side using rollers. This design gives a wardrobe with sliding doors certain advantages - it can be placed close to other furniture, this will not interfere with access to the contents of the shelves.
comparison table
The table shows the main characteristics of both products. You can also evaluate the pros and cons of each model.
| Swing | Coupe | |
| Characteristics | Case material – wood, MDF, chipboard, aluminum. The facade decoration uses: glass, mirror, leather. Type of construction – built-in or free-standing. The opening mechanism is hinged. Number of sashes – 1-5. The maximum length of the doors is 2.7 m, their average width is 40-50 cm. The storage system consists of shelves, drawers, partitions, hooks, shoe stands, and rods. | Case material – fiberboard, MDF, chipboard. Body shape – straight, angular, radius. The model can be built-in or cabinet-mounted. Standard sizes: height – 220-240 cm, width – 90-240 cm, depth – 45-60 cm. Sliding system – frameless, framed, with overhead profiles. Roller material: steel, plastic, rubber, Teflon. The number of sashes is 2-4. Facade finishing – veneer, film, paint, glass, mirrors. The internal space is divided into three zones: the main one for hangers, the lower one for shoes and accessories, and the upper one for hats. Additional equipment – external shelves, lighting. |
| Advantages | Reliability, long service life, ease of use, affordable price. | Simplicity and ease of use, ample opportunities for decoration, more rational use of living space. |
| Flaws | Requires additional space to open doors; in a small room it can look bulky. | Reduction of useful internal area due to the presence of a sliding mechanism, the possibility of deformation of metal guides, the need to periodically clean the sliding system. |
| Price | From 3,000 rubles. | From 4,000 rubles. |
Prices for cabinets depend not only on the size, but also on the chosen facade finish. Custom-made furniture will cost more and take time to manufacture.
Pros and cons of a swing wardrobe
Due to its simpler design, a hinged wardrobe is cheaper compared to a sliding wardrobe. In addition, the model has other advantages:
- long service life;
- reliability of design;
- ease of use.
The disadvantage of this model can be considered the need to allocate a lot of space for a piece of furniture. The swing type of doors requires additional space, otherwise it will be inconvenient to use the cabinet.
Pros and cons of a wardrobe
A sliding wardrobe is considered a more ergonomic model, as it saves space due to the sliding door opening mechanism. In addition, the advantages include:
- convenience and ease of use;
- reliability;
- the opportunity to choose a façade to match your interior.
The disadvantages of such a cabinet are related to the features of its design. The doors must be opened and moved carefully, otherwise the guides may become deformed. Over time, dust accumulates at the bottom of the sliding system, which must be cleaned so that the mechanism continues to work smoothly.
What is better to choose
A sliding wardrobe is ideal for narrow or cramped spaces. It is installed in corridors, on balconies, in small rooms. This model is also irreplaceable if it is necessary to hide uneven walls. A built-in wardrobe will come to the rescue.
In terms of ease of use, a hinged wardrobe is superior to its counterpart with sliding doors, since by opening its doors, you can gain access to the entire internal space at the same time. Sliding doors always leave one area closed.
For those who value luxury design, a coupe model is a better choice. Such a cabinet makes it possible to combine materials used for finishing the facade. A classic swing wardrobe will be easier to clean.
If you choose a wardrobe, you will have to regularly clean dust and debris from the grooves. If there is no cleaning, the operation of the sliding system may be disrupted. In the case when the budget dictates the choice of a cheaper model, it will be more profitable to purchase a swing wardrobe. Savings arise due to its simpler design.
Reviews for both models were in favor of the wardrobe with a slight advantage. Young families, when furnishing an apartment, more often choose a model with sliding doors due to more efficient use of space, fashionable design solutions, and are willing to overpay for it. The more conservative older generation prefers the classics.
When choosing a closet for your apartment, you need to take into account the area of living space, interior style, and your financial capabilities. Both models can serve for years without creating inconvenience if you initially select the right piece of furniture and use it carefully.