Open wardrobe – Modern design for your home
An open wardrobe combines an airy look with functional storage and is a modern take on the classic closed wardrobe. At Möbel Ehrmann, you’ll find open wardrobes in a variety of styles – from minimalist metal shelving systems to warm, Scandinavian-style wooden designs. Our range is designed for customers who take a thoughtful approach to designing their living spaces whilst also wanting quick access to their clothes, shoes and accessories.
As a family-run business with over 30 years’ experience in the furniture trade, we can advise you on dimensions, materials and layout – either in person at our showroom or by telephone in advance. On this page, you’ll find an overview of designs, materials, storage solutions and everything that goes into well-thought-out planning.
What makes an open wardrobe special?
An open wardrobe deliberately dispenses with doors and solid cabinet bodies, instead featuring visible clothes rails, shelves, drawers and, where appropriate, curtains or sliding panels. The piece of furniture thus serves both as storage and as a design feature in the room. Instead of concealing your wardrobe behind closed doors, it takes centre stage – organised by colour, material or occasion.
Typical designs range from a simple wall-mounted bracket with a clothes rail, through modular shelving systems, to floor-to-ceiling wall units with integrated drawer units. Many systems can be expanded, allowing the storage capacity to grow along with the wardrobe.
A stylish way to display your favourite pieces
Anyone wishing to showcase their clothes and accessories to their best advantage would be well advised to opt for an open wardrobe. High-quality fabrics, leather goods and carefully curated wardrobes are shown off to their best advantage on well-lit rails and shelves. Combined with indirect lighting, this creates a calm, almost studio-like atmosphere.
Advantages of open shelving systems
An open wardrobe system offers a number of practical and aesthetic benefits. You can see your entire wardrobe at a glance, which makes choosing an outfit in the morning easier and reduces the likelihood of buying duplicates. At the same time, open solutions appear lighter than closed cabinet units and can make small rooms feel more spacious.
- A better overview of clothes, shoes and accessories
- Quick access without doors or pull-outs
- Flexible expandability thanks to modular systems
- Visually light in appearance, suitable for smaller bedrooms and dressing alcoves
- Better air circulation, especially for delicate fabrics
At the same time, an open wardrobe requires a little more discipline than a traditional closed wardrobe. Those who see tidiness as an integral part of their interior design will benefit particularly – whereas those who prefer a completely closed solution can browse our selection of classic sofas and armchairs for complementary interior design ideas.
Space-saving solutions for small bedrooms
An open shelving system can be a good choice as a wardrobe, particularly in small bedrooms or older flats with high ceilings. Wall-mounted designs save floor space, whilst floor-to-ceiling modules make full use of the height. An open shelving system is also frequently used as a room divider between the sleeping area and the dressing area.
Materials: wood or metal for your open-fronted cupboard?
The choice of materials plays a key role in determining the character of your open wardrobe. Wood and metal are the two predominant materials, each with its own strengths. In our showrooms, you can compare the materials directly and feel the finishes for yourself – something that is often difficult to do when choosing purely online.
Open wooden wardrobe
An open wooden wardrobe brings warmth and natural grain to a room. Solid woods such as oak, beech or walnut generally age gracefully, whilst finely matched veneers look particularly elegant. Wood is ideal for interior design styles that favour natural materials – from the Scandinavian look to the modern country house style.
Open metal wardrobe
An open metal wardrobe impresses with its clean lines and industrial look. Powder-coated steel frames, black profiles or brushed aluminium complement modern loft and industrial-style homes very well. Metal frames give the supporting structures a delicate appearance; they are sturdy and easy to maintain. If you’d like to combine wood and metal, we also offer hybrid systems featuring wooden shelves and metal rails.
How to design your walk-in wardrobe
The walk-in wardrobe is the logical extension of the open wardrobe system: a separate room or partitioned-off area designed to accommodate clothes, shoes and accessories. When planning, you should decide early on the layout of walkways, lighting and the arrangement of hanging and folded items.
As a rough guide, allow around 1.20 to 2.00 metres of hanging and shelving space per person. Shoes require low, well-ventilated compartments, whilst folded items look their best at medium heights. Drawers with fabric liners protect delicate knits and underwear. Adequate general lighting, supplemented by warm-white LED strips beneath the shelves, ensures colours are displayed true to life.
If you’d like to plan your walk-in wardrobe, our interior design consultants can assist you with measurements, material suggestions and a 3D design plan. You can see which showroom is nearest to you in our location guide.
Keeping things tidy in an open cupboard
As an open wardrobe displays its contents, it thrives on a well-thought-out organisation. Sorting by colour family or occasion has proven effective in practice and ensures that the wardrobe looks uncluttered rather than chaotic. Uniform hangers – ideally made of wood or with a velvet finish – create a consistent look and protect the shoulder seams.
Storage boxes made of felt, linen or rattan help organise small items such as scarves, hats or belts. Seasonal wardrobe items should be rotated in closed boxes so that the items currently being worn are always on display. A weekly sort-out of around ten minutes is usually enough to keep things tidy.
Think outside the box when it comes to wardrobes
An open coat rack is also a good option for the entrance hall: a wall-mounted console with hooks, a hat shelf and a narrow clothes rail for jackets. A continuous, open clothes rail beneath a shelf works as a space-saving solution in many hallways – particularly where a traditional coat cupboard would look too bulky.
Why you should choose Möbel Ehrmann for your wardrobe
Möbel Ehrmann is a family-run business with many years of experience and several branches in the Palatinate, Baden and Trier. When choosing an open wardrobe, you’ll benefit from a combination of personalised on-site advice and a carefully curated online range. Our interior design consultants take the time to discuss measurements, your living situation and material choices – with no pressure to buy.
Quality at Ehrmann
With our open wardrobes, we focus on durable construction, robust fittings and honestly crafted materials. Solid wood solutions, high-quality board materials and neatly powder-coated metal frames are integral parts of our range. The result is furniture that does not need to be replaced after just a few years, but will serve you well for many years to come.
Our services: advice, planning and installation
Our service includes our own fitting teams – we do not use external contractors. This means that the same colleagues who deliver your furniture will also assemble it professionally. For particularly extensive solutions, such as walk-in wardrobes, we can, on request, take care of the complete measurement and final assembly. Affordable finance options are also available if you’d like to pay for your new furniture in convenient instalments.
In addition to our bedroom range, at Möbel Ehrmann you’ll find many other living areas all under one roof – including our kitchen range with bespoke planning, as well as matching living and dining room furniture. Come and be inspired by visiting one of our showrooms – we’ll be happy to advise you.
What size should an open wardrobe be?
The right size depends on your living situation and the amount of clothing you have. For a single person, a module 80 to 120 centimetres wide with a clothes rail and two to three shelves is often sufficient. Couples usually allow for 200 to 300 centimetres. In terms of height, it’s worth making the most of the available ceiling height – hat shelves above two metres are ideal for seasonal storage.
Is an open wardrobe suitable for every bedroom?
In principle, an open wardrobe can work well in almost any bedroom, provided there is sufficient floor space and the wardrobe is maintained regularly. In very small rooms, a wall-mounted system without legs is recommended, as this keeps the floor visually uncluttered. In rooms with sloping ceilings or bay windows, modular solutions can adapt particularly flexibly to the architecture.
How do I look after an open wardrobe properly?
An open cupboard should be dusted regularly, as more dust settles on shelves and cross-bars than in closed cupboards. A soft microfibre cloth is usually sufficient; for wooden surfaces, a care oil may occasionally be advisable, depending on the finish. Metal frames can be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth. To prevent delicate fabrics from fading, the cupboard should not be placed in direct sunlight.