South London Victorian Home

Complement the room’s styleIn a contemporary interior, it’s usual to opt for clean lines with minimal detailing. Traditional-style homes, on the other hand, suit designs such as panelled doors, decorative beading and carved, fluted edges. Check out any architectural features in the space, such as architraves, skirting boards and cornicing, and consider mirroring them on your new furniture. Here, the cornice has been fixed to the front of the unit, which allows it to continue seamlessly around the room. It also provides a neat edge to the cupboards. Think about how to finish edges and where the unit will meet other surfaces, such as the floor, walls and ceiling. Plinths or skirting details help to neaten things up at the base, or if you want a more streamlined effect you can take the unit straight down to the floor.

3. There isn’t enough clothes storage When you’re planning your bedroom storage, you will probably have two conflicting requirements to reconcile. One is for a specific and attractive item of furniture to use as a wardrobe, and the other is creating enough storage space for all your clothes, shoes, bags or even hats. An elegant armoire might match the bed style perfectly, but it could lack capacity for all the items you’d realistically like it to house. How can you solve it? Before you make an impulsive purchase, take the time to check the physical space of the clothing you need to store. Use a tape measure and note down the hanging space you need, and don’t forget to think through how you will store shoes as well. Fitted wardrobes can solve a lot of storage problems, with hanging space, shelving and potentially even drawers. You can either get them made bespoke to the room, in which case you’d have the option to take them right up to the ceiling, or otherwise seek out some modular furniture that you can design and assemble yourself.

Reboot fitted wardrobesHere, a whole wall of fitted wardrobes has been painted a deep shade of grey, complementing the other dark tones in the room and making the cupboards into more of a feature. Chalk-style paints work on almost any surface, so can normally be used on wardrobe doors that have a man-made finish. It’s worth experimenting with a tester pot on an inconspicuous area first (inside is ideal) to make sure you’re happy with the finished effect.Here’s how to pick the right shade of grey

Built in storage and a smidge of elegance