The short answer
Beside a window, yes; in front of it, never. Leave room for the window frame and the curtain, and if the window sits in the middle of the wall, build two wardrobes, one on each side, rather than one that stops short. A bed or a study desk can stand under a window instead.
In this guide
Why a wardrobe never covers a window
A wardrobe is a tall, solid box. In front of a window it blocks the light and the air, traps damp against the glass, and turns the window into something you cannot open or clean. When we plan your home, a wardrobe is never placed across a window, whatever its height.
Lower items are different. A bed can stand under a window whatever the sill height, and a study desk can sit under one, with its shelves left off the part of the wall with glass.
Leaving room beside the window
- The frame. Keep the wardrobe clear of the window frame and its moulding, so the side of the wardrobe meets plain wall.
- The curtain. A curtain stacks to the side when it is open. Leave about 6 inches between the frame and the wardrobe, or the curtain will always cover part of the window.
- The window’s own swing. If a window or its grille opens into the room, keep the wardrobe out of that swing.
- The depth. Our wardrobes are 2ft deep. On the wall beside a window, check that a wardrobe that deep does not shade the window from the side.
A window in the middle of the wall
When the window sits in the middle of the wall, the wall is really two short walls. Two wardrobes, one either side, usually store more than one long wardrobe on the wall beside it. Each one needs to be at least 4ft wide to be worth building; a narrower gap works better as open shelves or a dresser.
| Space beside the window | What fits |
|---|---|
| Less than 4ft | Open shelves, a dresser or a mirror |
| 4ft and more | A wardrobe |
| Under the window itself | A bed, a study desk, or a low seat |
From our designer
When a bedroom has a window on the best wall, I look at putting the bed under the window and the wardrobe on the wall opposite. It is often the layout that gives the most storage and the best light at once.
— An Ekatan designer
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Before you plan the wall
- Measure the plain wall on each side of the window, frame to corner.
- Note the sill height and whether the window or its grille opens inward.
- Decide where the curtain will stack when open.
- Check the wall for damp after rain before planning anything against it.
Common questions
Can a wardrobe go under a window?
No. Put a bed, a study desk or a low seat under the window, and the wardrobe on a plain wall.
How close to a window can a wardrobe be?
Clear of the frame, with room for the curtain to stack. About 6 inches is usually enough.
Should I split a wardrobe around a window?
If each side is wide enough for a wardrobe, yes. Two wardrobes either side often store more than one on another wall.
Related guides
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