A two tone wardrobe belongs on the wall that gets the least direct daylight, positioned so the lighter of its two finishes faces the main light source. That single decision does more for the piece than any other, because a two tone design relies on contrast, and contrast disappears when strong light flattens both colours or when the darker section sits in permanent shadow.<\/p>\n
In most UK bedrooms that means the side wall rather than the wall opposite the window, and it means placing the wardrobe where you see it at an angle as you enter rather than head on. What follows explains why, and how to adapt the rule when your room does not allow it.<\/p>\n
Two tone furniture works through the relationship between its two finishes. Put a white and walnut wardrobe directly in front of a window and the white section will bleach out while the walnut swallows the light, exaggerating the split until the piece looks like two separate cupboards pushed together.<\/p>\n
On a side wall, light rakes across the fronts rather than hitting them straight on. The pale section holds its tone, the darker section keeps its grain and the join between them reads as intentional. If your only available wall faces the window, choose a pairing with less contrast, such as light oak with a soft grey, rather than white with black.<\/p>\n
Stand in the doorway. Whatever is directly ahead of you becomes the focal point of the room and sets its proportions. A tall, high contrast wardrobe in that position shortens the room visually and makes the doorway feel like an entrance to a corridor.<\/p>\n
Place the same wardrobe on the wall to the left or right and you see it in your peripheral vision first, then fully once you are in the room. The piece still has presence but it no longer competes with the bed for attention. This is the arrangement most interiors photographers use, and it works for the same reason in real homes.<\/p>\n
A horizontal split, with a lighter top and a darker base, grounds the furniture and makes the ceiling feel higher. It suits rooms with lower ceilings and it works well on a long wall where the horizontal line can run uninterrupted.<\/p>\n
A vertical split, with contrasting door fronts side by side, draws the eye upward and suits taller rooms or narrow walls. It also allows a neat trick: align the darker section with the corner of the room, and the wardrobe appears to recede into it.<\/p>\n
Whichever split you have, avoid placing it so the join lines up awkwardly with a window reveal or a door frame. Two strong vertical lines close together look like a mistake even when they are not.<\/p>\n
A two tone wardrobe already contains two colours, so the rest of the room should add very little. Pick up the darker tone in one or two small items and let the lighter tone dominate the soft furnishings. Bedside units in the paler finish, or in a neutral that sits between the two, keep the scheme calm. Our wooden bedside cabinets UK<\/a> range includes tones that bridge most common pairings.<\/p>\n Resist adding a third strong colour to the walls. A two tone piece against a plain, quiet wall looks deliberate. The same piece against a feature wall looks accidental.<\/p>\n In a room under about ten square metres, the wardrobe should sit on the wall the bed head is against, or in the corner furthest from the door. Both positions keep the floor in the centre of the room clear, which is what makes a small space feel workable.<\/p>\n Choose a narrower design in this situation. Two doors will usually be enough, and the reduced width keeps the contrast from taking over. Our modern 2 door wardrobes UK sale<\/a> range covers the widths that suit a small room without crowding the walkway.<\/p>\n With more space you have the option of using the wardrobe to divide the room. Positioned at right angles to the wall, a tall unit can separate a sleeping area from a dressing area, with the lighter finish facing the bed and the darker back panel forming a quiet backdrop for a dressing table.<\/p>\n This only works if the back of the wardrobe is finished properly. Check the specification before you plan it, since many wardrobes have an unfinished or thin back panel intended to sit against a wall.<\/p>\n If you are creating a dressing area, keep the table low and simple so it does not compete with the wardrobe. Options in our modern dressing tables UK<\/a> range are sized to suit the space left over once a wardrobe run is in place.<\/p>\n A two tone wardrobe can feel graphic, and in a bedroom that is not always the effect you want. Placing a large mirror on the adjacent wall reflects part of the wardrobe at an angle, which breaks the block of colour and reintroduces light.<\/p>\nPlacement in a small bedroom<\/h3>\n
Placement in a larger bedroom<\/h3>\n
Using mirrors to soften the contrast<\/h3>\n