Why Should Every Room Have Armoires

It’s where I first saw the lovely burl wood armoire depicted above, which I’ve admired ever since. At the same moment, I was thinking about how much I missed the Chronicles of Narnia series on a completely separate subject. I want to be Lucy Pevensie, seeing the finely carved wardrobe and thinking she’s found the finest hiding spot ever when she opens the door, sliding through all the fur coats and tumbling through fir branches into soft, lovely snow.

Since Arlyn inquired whether I’d be interested in creating a blog post about wardrobes and armoires the next week, shortly after the secretary desks article, I must’ve been unconsciously working to materialize something about them. Coincidence? No, I don’t think so. We’ve reached at this stage as a result of this. Let’s talk about wardrobes, or armoires if you’re feeling fancy, and how to adapt them into our contemporary lives, since while most of us don’t live in a massive French castle, these bigger pieces of furniture may be effectively used in almost every room of the house. It’s one of those elements that gets overlooked all the time, but let’s leave that aside for now and concentrate on the armoire.

And just wait until the conclusion of this post because we’ve got a fantastic compilation for you with antique and modern pieces in huge and small scales, as well as a variety of budgets. I made tried to offer alternatives for every type and size of home in this collection.

With a name like “wardrobe,” you’d think they’d be confined to the confines of your bedroom. However, at EHD, we encourage thinking beyond the box and strive to be trailblazers in all we do. We’re not in this situation, but we’re inspired by what we’re witnessing from others who are. Because armoires are really simply storage cabinets, why can’t we utilize one anyplace we need storage? They’re also perfect for smaller footprints because they take up more vertical space than horizontal.

A fascinating tidbit about armoires: they were originally designed to store weaponry (like an armory where you can purchase weapons) rather than clothing! There may have been a period when cabinet builders utilized them to keep their equipment as well. The ruling French nobility didn’t think of using them until much later to hang their costly clothes and put their dressing accessories in. The “fad” took on among the less fortunate French, much as it does now, and they created their own less elaborate armoires. This concludes today’s history lesson. Let’s get started!

ENTRYWAY

I believe utilizing armoires in entryways is a brilliant idea. It’s a fantastic method to make a statement while also being quite clever. Huge jackets that you’d like to hide? Place it in the closet. While you’re at it, throw in your boots and other work shoes that you don’t use very frequently. What’s with all the drawers? Put away handbags, supermarket bags, and even trash mail…do you need a new rubbish drawer? Consider it a single, very large catchall for everything you need to grab or set down. It’s like having all the benefits of a mudroom without the hassle of constructing one.

Do you have a small entryway? You may get the same effect by placing a thinner armoire at your entrance, or at the extreme end of your entry hall, as seen in the image above. The caning design on the doors provides the impression that the piece is lighter, and it deceives the eye into believing it’s not your typical tall and intimidating slab of furniture.

Of course, if you have an entryway with high ceilings and a magnificent iron staircase, a totally closed, distressed piece like the one seen above in a space created by Amber Interiors will still seem light while adding a TON of character.

BEDROOM

Another interesting fact I discovered throughout my research: Sears incorporated the hanging rods and side shelves/drawer combo that we find inside many modern-day armoires. That’s right, the same Sears that used to sell prefabricated house kits. Their chifforobe is apparently revolutionary in that it is the first to accommodate for both hanging and folded garments.

Okay, so this one is probably not for me (I have a habit of putting everything in Amazon boxes and stuffing them in every closet and cabinet to be sorted through and disposed of “later,” #noshame and also #shame), but if you’re a little more organized than I am, I absolutely love this concept of a totally sleek and modern glass/metal armoire.

Of course, this looks fantastic in a modern environment, but it would also look excellent in an urban loft or even an apartment with architectural charm and traditional paneling—I love a nice contrast. This bold setting would be perfect for someone who is all about the capsule wardrobe… she’d be the fully put-together and sophisticated #girlboss that I obviously aim to be. Please post images and tag me in them if you obtain a glass armoire or wardrobe so you can be my role model and I can live vicariously through you.

Could this be the hidden door to my Narnia? Some may think this is a bit of a stretch, but I really like how the homeowner incorporated the armoire into their closet. While I adore the look of a wall of built-in closets, I find that it may sometimes appear too modern. Incorporate this understated, almost austere vintage armoire into your design scheme, and you’ve created a one-of-a-kind piece that adds character and charm to your bedroom. Not only will you have more storage room for your clothing, but also for additional pillows and blankets.

DINING ROOM

This home, designed by Jessica Helgerson, has been making the rounds on Instagram, but I didn’t notice this photo of the dining room until I was researching for this piece. That armoire on the right is unmistakably an armoire, and it makes perfect sense. Is there a difference between a china cabinet and an armoire? What’s in a name, anyway? That which we term an armoire might just as easily be used to store linens, dishes, and other other items.

Jessica appears to have kept the armoire’s original warm finish, which works in the space because, while the coffered ceilings give the room a more traditional sense, the ceiling’s fresh white paint and the other more modern pieces in the room keep the dining room from looking dated. The objective is to keep things basic and controlled so that the armoire may stand out as a wonderful finishing touch. If you already have a lot of traditional goods, painting a historic piece may always bring some color. While I doubt I’d ever be able to bring myself to paint over a burlwood cabinet, other more ornamental items may be a different story…especially if I got it for a good deal.

BATHROOM

There are so many options. In the bathroom, an armoire provides quick storage for all of your towels, bath mats, additional toiletries, and robes…again, without having to construct anything out (I know, I keep using that as a selling feature, but who wants to hire a contractor, ya know?). Find the ideal vintage piece, bring it home, and display it in your bathroom. Done. As soon as you step out of your peaceful, perfumed bath, you may grab for your cosy pyjamas. (Fun fact: the French only considered a wardrobe decent if it suited “eight tiny men.”) What a detailed description. And strange.) Again, due to space limits, not everyone can do it, but if you have the room, why not?

LIVING ROOM

There are a plethora of alternatives available. An armoire in the bathroom provides convenient storage for all of your towels, bath mats, extra toiletries, and robes…again, without having to build anything (I know, I keep using it as a selling feature, but who wants to employ a contractor, ya know?). Find the perfect vintage item, bring it home, and put it on display in your bathroom. Done. You may put on your cosy pyjamas as soon as you get out of your relaxing, fragrant bath. (Fun fact: the French only thought a wardrobe was good if it fit “eight small men.”) What a thorough account. Strange, too.) Not everyone can accomplish it owing to space constraints, but if you have the space, why not?

And, to get the most bang for your buck, make your furniture pieces dual-purpose. The homeowner in the image above positioned it between the living room and the foyer, so it can now act as a catchall for BOTH areas. When unexpected visitors arrive at your door (who does that?? ), feel free to stuff your rubbish and clutter into them.

Have a good time with your artwork. You can always paint it over, sand it down, and refinish it if you locate one for cheap and don’t like the finish. As Hotel Peter & Paul did above with their armoires. It was either painted or stained, and 3D elements that were almost cartoon-like were added. When I initially saw it, I assumed it was a rendering or a computer graphic, but no, it’s the design on all of their guest rooms’ armoires. It’s a weird yet amusing feature that helps to balance out the room’s more conventional aspects. I’m all for that, and I’d be interested in seeing your guys’ perspective on it.

OKAY, if you’ve decided you need an armoire in your house, it’s time to go shopping. Below are different pricing ranges for our favorite armoires, which may be used for ANY storage necessity, not just clothing and not just in the bedroom. If you see one on Chairish or Etsy that you like, act quickly because they’re one-of-a-kind. Also, don’t kill the messenger, but before I let you go, I’ll tell you this: some of these armoire selections are a bit more amorphous, which means they might be a wardrobe/tallboy dresser or a china cabinet, but their presence in the room will give you armoire feelings.