Fitted Wardrobes in Period Homes in Hertfordshire

What Truly Bespoke Fitted Wardrobes Actually Means

Period homes across Hertfordshire present a very different challenge to modern properties. From low cottage ceilings to grand Victorian ceilings exceeding three metres in height. These homes rarely conform to standard furniture assumptions.

Fitted wardrobes in period homes must be designed around the building itself — not adapted to it. When this is done properly the result feels architectural and intentional. When it is not compromises become visible very quickly.

This guide explains why period homes demand a genuinely bespoke approach to fitted wardrobes, the mistakes that are commonly made and what homeowners should look for to achieve a clean, long-lasting result.

Why Period Homes Require a Different Approach

Hertfordshire’s period properties vary widely in age and character but they share one thing in common: they expose shortcuts.

Unlike new-build homes with predictable dimensions. Period properties often feature:

• ceiling heights that vary dramatically room to room

• walls that are not plumb or square

• uneven floor levels

• chimney breasts as well as alcoves that shift across their height

• ornate skirting, coving, picture rails and dado rails

These details are not problems — they are part of the home’s character. But they cannot be accommodated successfully using standardised wardrobe systems without visual compromise.

This is where the difference between fitted and truly bespoke becomes critical.

“Fitted” Does Not Automatically Mean Bespoke

One of the most common misconceptions in the industry is that all fitted wardrobes are bespoke. In reality, the term fitted is often used to describe systems built around pre-determined cabinet heights and widths, adapted to suit a room.

In period homes this typically results in:

• large scribe panels used to fill excess height

• oversized fillers to disguise misalignment

• proportions that feel visually heavy or unbalanced

• wasted vertical space disguised rather than designed

A wardrobe can be fixed in place and still not be truly bespoke.

A genuinely bespoke fitted wardrobe is designed from the room outward, not from a set of standard sizes inward.

For a full explanation of this distinction, see our guide:
What Is a Fitted Wardrobe?

Common Mistakes in Period Homes

Over the years we have seen the same issues repeatedly in period properties across Hertfordshire. Particularly where system based wardrobes are used.

The most common problems include:

• standard-height carcasses disguised with large top panels

• thin back panels or no backs at all

• frame based systems sold as premium solutions

• colour inconsistencies between doors and surrounding panels

• modular construction details that become obvious over time

These choices are not always explained clearly to homeowners. Especially when wardrobes are being sold as “bespoke”.

In many cases, customers pay bespoke level prices but receive a simplified system designed primarily for speed and efficiency rather than long-term quality.

Architectural Features That Demand True Bespoke Design

Period homes often include details that require careful, thought-out designs:

• ornate coving that must be scribed accurately

• picture rails that interrupt standard vertical alignment

• chimney breasts that are rarely straight or centred

• deep traditional skirting profiles

• walls that taper or twist over their height

A truly bespoke fitted wardrobe accounts for these features from the outset. The goal is not to hide them but to work with them so the wardrobe feels as though it belongs in the room.

This is where experience matters far more than marketing language.

What Truly Bespoke Looks Like in Practice

A properly designed fitted wardrobe for a period home should:

• be built to the actual ceiling height not padded out to reach it

• maintain clean proportions across tall or low rooms

• minimise filler panels rather than rely on them

• integrate visually with architectural features

• feel balanced when viewed as part of the whole room

Crucially bespoke does not mean weeks of disruption while wardrobes are built on site.

At Simply Fitted Wardrobes, wardrobes are designed specifically for the room but manufactured in controlled conditions and installed efficiently — achieving precision without unnecessary intrusion into your home.

Our Design Process & Why It’s Different

One point clients frequently comment on is how straightforward our process feels compared to national brands.

We do not spend hours in your home designing wardrobes at the dining table or applying sales pressure. There are no “manager phone calls” or artificial discounts.

Our process is simple:

• a measured visit to understand the space

• a short discussion about how the wardrobe will be used

• selection of preferred styles from our brochure

• a bespoke CAD design and clear quotation prepared afterwards

This approach respects your time and allows you to review everything properly. Without pressure.

When a Fitted Wardrobe May Not Be the Right Choice

Fitted wardrobes are a long-term, built-in solution and they are not suitable for every situation.

They may not be appropriate where:

• the property is short-term or rented

• flexibility and future relocation are priorities

• budget constraints outweigh long-term value

Being honest about this helps ensure fitted wardrobes are chosen for the right reasons and installed with the right expectations.

How This Page Fits Into the Bigger Picture

This guide focuses specifically on period homes in Hertfordshire but it forms part of a wider body of knowledge designed to help homeowners understand fitted wardrobes properly.

You may also find the following guides useful:

• Why Plinth Construction Makes or Breaks the Finished Look

• Why Fitted Wardrobe Colours Don’t Always Match

• Fitted Wardrobes Guide: What You Need to Know

For an overview of our work across the county return to:
Bespoke Fitted Wardrobes in Hertfordshire

Fitted Wardrobes in Period Homes in Hertfordshire Frequently Asked Questions