How to Modernise Old Built-In Wardrobes? 8 Tips from Our Team

Written by: Zoona Sikander, Interior Design Writer & Social Media Content Creator
Edited by: Emma Cyrus, Senior Copy, Content & Editorial Writer
Reviewed by: Rey Amini, Senior Interior Designer & Architect
Fact-checked by: Benjamin Ibanez, Development & FF&E Manager

Built-in wardrobes are usually considered a long-time investment, but despite their many benefits, over the years, one can get tired of their same old style and want something new - that's just human nature.

Especially when you’re renovating your room or your home, you would want to update your old built-in wardrobes too for a fresh and modern look.

So we asked our expert wardrobe design team for tips on upgrading old built-in wardrobes and compiled all their suggestions in this blog for you. But if you don't have time to read it all, here's a quick summary:

1 - Switch to Sliding Doors

Making the conversion from hinged to sliding doors usually improves the appearance of the robe the most and it helps you make better use of the available space.

It is usually a relatively simple process that requires minimal changes to the wardrobe structure. And the choices in sliding doors these days will truly surprise you. Our senior designer, Cristina Chirila recommends choosing sliding doors that complement the rest of your room's aesthetics and furniture choices, though she herself, is a big fan of mirrored sliding doors, especially for smaller rooms. 

2 - Upgrade the Wardrobe Interiors

If your wardrobe was designed a long time ago and lacks proper storage or shelving, visiting a modern wardrobe showroom would amaze you as these days, you can find all sorts of luxury materials, accessories and lighting options for your wardrobe's interiors. 

According to our senior designer Benjamin Ibanez, if you have enough space, you must consider converting the room into a walk-in wardrobe by removing the wardrobe doors, as it is much more practical and functional, along with being a refreshing new change. 

So use this opportunity to upgrade your wardrobe to suit your lifestyle and storage needs. 

3 - Change the Door Style

If you have made significant interior changes or if your wardrobes look like they belong in a previous era, your wardrobe door panels can be replaced to ensure that they match your current style.

Additionally, some homeowners choose a durable (aka ugly) material when their children are little, but as they get older, they might want to upgrade to something more aesthetic.

At FCI London, we offer more than 100 wardrobe styles and more than 200 finishes so our customers can have a bespoke wardrobe designed for them - whether they’re building a new one or upcycling an old wardrobe. 

We are fanatical about luxury fitted wardrobe design.

Take a look at our range of contemporary wardrobes.

View Sliding Door Wardrobes

View Built-In Wardrobes

View Large Wardrobes

View Corner Wardrobes

View Floor-to-Ceiling

View Walk-In Wardrobes

4 - Add Some Mirrors

As we mentioned before, our wardrobe designer Cristina Chirila loves the use of mirrors on wardrobes as, according to her, they brighten up the room and make it appear much more grand and luxurious.

Consider combining mirrors with glass or wooden panels for a more modern appearance, as shown in the examples below:

5 - Add New Handles

If your wardrobe was made more than ten years ago, it's most likely that the door handles are outdated. It might even be worn out if it was a poor-quality handle. So if you're low on budget, adding new handles is a simple but good way to give your otherwise acceptable condition wardrobe an upgrade. 

We recommend visiting any nearby wardrobe showroom or hardware store to look at the latest handle styles and choose one that fits your style. 

6 - Remove One Door for Open Shelving

If, for any reason, you are not able to change all your wardrobe doors or convert it into a walk-in wardrobe, another cost-effective strategy is just to remove one (or more) of the doors and transform that unit into an open shelving space.

You can add some extra drawers and shelves in that section, paint it in a contrasting colour and install some new lights to give it a fresh feel. This will be a great spot to show off your favourite items, such as shoes, bags or any decorative accessories. 

7 - Add New Lighting

Most old wardrobes do not have lighting installed in them, which makes them dark and depressing. If this is the case with your wardrobe, make sure to add new lights as this will truly enhance your wardrobe experience. 

If you have a walk-in wardrobe or if you're transforming your old one into a walk-in closet then the best strategy would be to install a new chandelier. For other types of wardrobes, you can easily have LED light strips installed, either by professionals or on your own. 

Our designers highly recommend making good use of natural light - for example, if your wardrobe gets enough light from the window, you can install some mirrors inside your wardrobe to reflect that light every time you open the wardrobe doors.

If you're getting new lights installed in such a room, it would be best to go for dimmable lights that can be adjusted as needed. 

On the other hand, if your room lacks sunlight, you can consider having a skylight installed. If that is not an acceptable solution, simply have LED lights installed in your wardrobe's ceiling as they will vertically light up the whole wardrobe. 

Our designer, Benjamin, also loves the use of LED strip lights around the shelving or edges of the wardrobe for a light glow that makes even the most ordinary wardrobe seem luxurious. 

Final Thoughts

Built-in wardrobes were and still are a very popular and fashionable option everywhere. If they appear worn out, there's no need to replace them totally. By investing in a brand-new pair of modern sliding wardrobe doors that are personalised to suit your style and bedroom decor, you can give your outdated wardrobe a gorgeous upgrade. 

However, why end there? While you’re at it, you may also clear out all the clutter within and revitalise your wardrobe's interiors.

We hope that this article has assisted you in deciding how to upgrade your outdated built-ins.

For more ideas on keeping your built-in wardrobes up-to-date, check out these tips on how to make your built-in wardrobe look better and what’s the best material for built-in wardrobes.