What's the right size for a kids wardrobe?

Single door (50 to 60cm wide) up to age 7; double door (90 to 120cm wide) age 7 to 14; standard adult wardrobe (90 to 150cm) from teens onwards. Internal depth needs to be 50cm minimum so a coat hangs without folding. Buying small first and replacing at age 10 typically costs more than buying mid-size once.

Sliding doors or hinged doors for a kids wardrobe?

Sliding for any bedroom under 10 square metres or where the wardrobe sits in a tight nook; hinged for everything else. Sliding doors do not need swing space, but only show half the wardrobe at any time. Hinged doors show the whole interior at once, easier for younger children getting dressed themselves.

How much hanging space does a child need?

Surprisingly little: around 60 to 80cm of horizontal rail for a primary-school-age child, 100 to 120cm by secondary school. The rest of the wardrobe should be shelves and drawers for folded clothes (t-shirts, jumpers, pyjamas), which dominate a child's wardrobe far more than they dominate adults.

Should a kids wardrobe be secured to the wall?

Yes. BS EN 14749 (the UK furniture stability standard) requires an anti-tip strap on any wardrobe over 60cm tall in a child's bedroom. Most flat-pack ranges include the bracket; if not, an L-bracket and two screws cost under £5 at a hardware shop. Five-minute fix that prevents the most common nursery accident.

How long does a kids wardrobe last?

5 to 8 years for solid-pine and oak ranges; 3 to 5 for MDF and veneer-over-particleboard. The wear point is usually the door hinges (which loosen) and the bottom of the wardrobe (which dents from dropped shoes). Replace when the child outgrows the size, not when the wardrobe fails structurally.