Radius sliding wardrobes: photos of designs, advantages and review of modern models

In the field of interior design, new and extraordinary ideas and approaches to space design are constantly emerging, be it living rooms, bedrooms or hallways. Thanks to new design trends, the variety and availability of finishing materials and a variety of furniture and accessories, modern city apartments and private houses sometimes acquire the most unimaginable views.

Recently, there has been a noticeable trend towards smoothing out sharp corners, so rounded radius sliding wardrobes with their smooth outlines are becoming more and more popular, despite the fact that the price is much more expensive than standard models.

Main differences from classic models

First of all, radius cabinets are distinguished by their versatility. They can be made to order, based on the features and functions of the room. In addition, such cabinets can have a variety of shapes and are very convenient for hiding corners in a room or niches with protrusions that stand out sharply from the overall interior.

Multi-level stretch ceilings and podiums are popular in modern interiors; designers often resort to using radii. In this situation, radius cabinets not only complement the outlines on the ceiling or the contours of the podium, but also once again emphasize them.

Radius furniture looks much more compact than standard furniture, but appearance is deceptive - the capacity of such cabinets is greater due to the increased volume. If a standard sliding wardrobe is built into a niche, you can do without side walls during installation, but in this case the depth of the niche should be at least 60 cm. In the case of radius furniture, which often becomes corner furniture, the depth of the niche does not matter.

The internal configuration of the radius walls is very diverse; here you can easily use those elements that do not fit in standard compartments. To make the most efficient use of the space inside the cabinet, the shelves are adjusted to the shape of the doors. Inside there may also be small cabinets with drawers, spacious laundry baskets, shelves for shoes and hangers.

Advantages of radius furniture

As with any modern furniture, radius cabinets have many advantages over their older models. They have much more options than classic rectangular cabinets. Main advantages:

• Versatility

Radius cabinets, thanks to the variety of their shapes and design, fit into any modern interior. In small rooms they do not take up much space due to their compactness. In spacious, most often combined spaces, radius cabinets can act as a boundary between functional areas: for example, separating the living room from the kitchen or hallway.

• Design

If the apartment has a non-standard layout, radius furniture can hide imperfections or, conversely, emphasize the curves of the lines.

• Spaciousness and variety

Due to the large number of possible variations with internal filling, such cabinets can be used for different purposes. The classic option is to store bed linen, clothes and shoes. Fortunately, the variety of shelves, drawers, built-in cabinets, etc. allows you to do this. But you can use radius walls in another way, depending on your needs. If the cabinet is located in the living room, it can be built into open shelves for a TV or turned into a full-fledged bookcase.

• Door configuration

Radius cabinets have very good roller mechanisms, they are simple and reliable, which means that the furniture will serve you for many years. Before purchasing, be sure to check the operation of the rollers. Doors should open without effort or unnecessary noise.

The furniture available in stores is varied and most often satisfies all the needs of customers. In large furniture stores you can choose almost any model based on your wishes and financial capabilities.

However, not always store furniture can harmoniously fit not only in size, but also in design into the room. If you need a cabinet of non-standard sizes or colors, etc., this problem can be solved by ordering furniture according to an individual sketch. Fortunately, most furniture workshops and factories offer this service.

A specialist from the company visits the home, assesses the interior, and also advises the owners on what shape of radius cabinet to purchase and where it is best to place it. He will take all the necessary measurements, and the finished product will be at your home within a couple of weeks. This is, of course, a very important and valuable advantage, but at the same time, this option is much more expensive than store-bought models.

Materials

When purchasing a radius cabinet, first of all, you should make sure that high-quality and environmentally friendly materials were used for its manufacture, subjected to modern processing and production methods; only this can guarantee that the product will meet the stated requirements and will last for many years.

The most common materials for manufacturing include:

• Laminated chipboard from which the body is made.
• Fiberboard is used to make the back wall, most often the color is selected in neutral tones - white or cream, or to match the color of the facade.
• The design itself rests on plastic legs with the ability to adjust the height, which allows you to visually correct uneven floors.
• Shelves and drawers are made of chipboard.
• The cabinet facade is decorated with various decorative materials.
• Chrome-plated pipes are used for rods.
• The radius system is either steel or aluminum.
• Doors can be made of chipboard, lacobel, glass, mirror sheets, etc.

The manufacturing material is 80% of the quality of the product, the remaining 20% ​​is assembly. The price of the product also depends on the material. Let's consider their properties, arranging the names in ascending order of cost:

• Chipboard is the most popular, economical and widespread material; it is practical, easy to process and easy to maintain. Decorated to imitate stone or wood.
• Glass - used for decoration, practicality is low, as is functionality.
• Rattan is a relatively expensive coating, environmentally friendly and of high quality, with a high level of wear resistance and moisture protection.

• Decoracryl is a type of decorative glass with a matte surface, durable and resistant to damage.
• Wood – elite products are made from natural wood, a luxurious and expensive material that is also highly environmentally friendly and will last for many years.

Types of forms and decor

Such furniture has become popular, including due to the variety of shapes. So, here are the main options that can be found in stores:

• Convex design. Such a cabinet can be built into a small niche, while standard furniture simply will not fit there. This technique saves room space without compromising the capacity of the closet, which is especially important in small spaces. The space savings are obvious.
• The concave model smooths out the corners; it is not only an unusual element of the interior, but also an opportunity to visually make the space deeper.
• The round model is a great find for spacious rooms.
• The cabinet with combined shapes is very original and brings the missing zest to the interior. Such models are very popular in bedrooms.

Very often, radius cabinets are purchased to be placed in the hallway. One way or another, wherever you decide to install the coupe, it is worth thinking about the appearance. Mirrored or glossy doors are good if you need to visually expand the space. If you hang another mirror on the opposite wall, you will get the effect of a mirrored corridor. Mirrors with a pattern printed on them look impressive.

Doors with photo printing look no less interesting. A variety of images and patterns allows you to make the interior bright and rich. Such a cabinet can become a real work of art. Often such structures are installed in children's rooms - brightness and the absence of traumatic parts in the form of corners are what a child needs.

Photo printing, as a rule, is cheaper and more practical than mirrored facades, on which all stains are visible. When choosing film for photo printing, it is best to pay attention to Oracal film.

Facade decoration

The design of the fronts for the radius cabinet may be different. The choice of a specific shape is determined by the features of the living room and its size:

• a circle or sector in the case of a corner product. Such a cabinet does not have side walls, and its dimensions are determined by the size of the rear wall and radius. This form looks concise and attractive. It should be made monochromatic, as the pattern may be somewhat distorted;
• convex shape more like an oval. Such a radius cabinet is relevant in a small living room or if it is a walk-through. Such doors are decorated with photo printing, stained glass, film;
• concave facade - relevant in the case of a corner cabinet, which is located in a tiny living room. On a concave façade, photo printing with a pattern in the form of a landscape, geometric relief (if the façade is plastic or glass) look interesting;
• combined facade - when a concave section is connected to a convex one. These cabinets are ideal for long living rooms. An abstract pattern or floral ornament as a facade decor will perfectly highlight the unusual design of furniture.

Many different technologies are used to decorate radius cabinets, but there are also some techniques that cannot be used, for example, molding or carving.

Facade forms

Types of construction

The dimensions and type of furniture design largely depend on both the interior design and the architectural features of the room. Based on the type of design, cabinets can be divided into two options - cabinet and built-in. In addition, there are also corner models; they are built into a corner and occupy two walls at once. Such furniture can be symmetrical, but sometimes one of the sides stands out quite strongly from the other.

Cabinet furniture is always an independent element of the interior. This cabinet is fully equipped; not only the bottom and lid are in place, but also all three walls. At the same time, the radius version of the sliding wardrobe, due to its design, may either have no side walls at all, or they are quite small.

If measurements were made in advance, then when purchasing and installing a cabinet, you will not need to adjust the parts to each other. Such a cabinet can be used as part of a whole set, the parts of which can be swapped if necessary.

Built-in furniture does not have a full-fledged body, since the role of walls is most often played by a niche, and instead of a lid they have a ceiling. This is possible if a radius built-in wardrobe occupies the entire space from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall. All internal parts in the form of shelves, hooks are attached directly to the walls, floor and ceiling.

Such furniture is more difficult to fit into niches, since dimensions are required strictly according to the place where the cabinet will stand. Most often, such models are made to order, but the cost of the cabinet itself will not be too high due to the smaller amount of materials. Keep in mind that installation work, on the contrary, will be more expensive due to complexity and time-consuming.

Color spectrum

There are very specific requirements for pieces of cabinet furniture. A sliding wardrobe must be durable, spacious and functional. But even a high-quality and expensive cabinet that stands out from the general color palette will ruin the entire impression of the interior.

The choice of the most “outstanding” piece of furniture should be approached with all seriousness and the choice of material, texture, and facade decor should be decided in advance. There may be several options:

• the color of the facade organically combines with the overall style of the room, creating a successful background for various decorative items;
• rich shades of surfaces and stylish design solutions allow you to make your wardrobe the most memorable element of your decor.

The easiest way is to select the necessary furniture at the initial stage of finishing work. In this case, the most accurate selection of shades is guaranteed. Mirror or glass facades are considered a universal option, ideal for any interior style.

Supporters of fashionable bad taste in the kitsch style do not have to limit the flight of their imagination. This style breaks all canons and stereotypes; it easily combines all shades of the color palette. Fans of classic interiors should take into account that the design of the facade will have to choose from three primary colors.

One of the popular solutions is to choose identical shades of the facade and flooring. If the floors in a small room are decorated with dark laminate, then the wardrobe will look like a huge spot, visually narrowing the space. In this case, decorators advise choosing only the frame to match the color of the floor, and the facade may have mirror or glass inserts.

The purpose of the room in which the sliding wardrobe is supposed to be installed has a certain influence on the choice of facade shades

In a spacious living room, the main piece of furniture is a soft sofa and armchairs; it is better to choose neutral shades of the facade that do not attract much attention. Arranging a children's room involves the use of unusual rich colors; bright facades and photo printing with images of cartoon characters are welcome.

Types of sliding systems

There are two types of sliding systems, divided by the type of fastening of the guides. The first option, top-hung, is mounted to a wall or ceiling, while bottom-hung rails are mounted to a podium or floor.

The top-hung system allows you to avoid creating thresholds when installing the cabinet, which is very convenient for built-in models. However, when choosing this type of system, it is worth considering a number of its features. Sliding doors supported on the ceiling cannot be attached to plasterboard hanging structures.

The exception is plasterboard ceilings with additional reinforcement, otherwise the hanging structure will not support the weight of the furniture. If you have chosen a model that follows the contours of the ceiling in shape, you need to think about the design of the supports in advance and it is best to do this at the interior design stage, and not during renovation.

Sliding doors supported on floor rails have a number of advantages over the previous option. Firstly, the design of the cabinet itself does not depend on the type of ceiling; you can select the desired model even after installing the ceiling structures, since the load on the upper rails will be minimal.

Tips before purchasing

Radius cabinets are a real revolution in furniture design. The usual angular outlines are replaced by smooth and rounded lines, ugly or uncomfortable niches finally find their place in the interior, and small spaces become freer. So, how to choose the right wardrobe so that it is of high quality, spacious and lasts as long as possible?

Tip 1. How to choose the appropriate shape and design

Decide in advance on the shape of the cabinet, as well as where to place it. Also, the choice of form depends on the tasks required from the interior of the room. The forms of radius coupes were discussed in more detail above, so let’s focus on the two main ones:

• convex models with semicircular facades;
• concave structures with facades “recessed” inside.

If you want to hide a corner or use this space as efficiently as possible, you should choose convex models with a semicircular facade. Such furniture will not take up much space, being compactly placed in the corner, and the capacity of the cabinet will be much higher than that of its rectangular counterparts.

Concave structures, in addition to those possessed by classic semicircular radius coupes, have another advantage - visual. Rounded corners not only appear lighter due to fewer shadows, but they also look airy and spacious, making the room appear larger.

When choosing a suitable cabinet, it is very important to consider whether it is a built-in model or not. This is usually decided in advance. By purchasing built-in models, you can save a lot, since such a cabinet does not have all three walls. In fact, you are paying for the doors alone.

However, such a structure cannot be moved from its place if you plan a rearrangement or are planning to move to another apartment.

Built-in wardrobes will have to be completely disassembled and reassembled, even if you decide to move them to another room. A radius built-in wardrobe will last for a long time. However, this option also has advantages - the furniture is created exactly to the required dimensions and taking into account all the features of the room and interior.

The usual model of a radius compartment differs little from a standard wardrobe, except for its shape. The design is fully equipped, and the guides are mounted not to the ceiling or floor, as is the case with built-in models, but to the base and lid. Moving such a cabinet will not be a big problem.

So, when choosing the shape and design of the cabinet, decide which shape is best suited for your apartment, and also think about whether you plan to rearrange or move over time.

Tip 2. How to choose the right material and type of guides

Any sliding wardrobes, regardless of type and design, require the presence of sliding doors, the movement of which is ensured by guide profiles and rollers. The main material for the manufacture of profiles is metal - steel and aluminum. However, due to the design features of convex radius cabinets, the loads on the profiles increase greatly.

To give the facades a rounded shape, a lot of effort should be made. For example, acrylic glass doors bend right in place when installed in profiles. The load on the metal is colossal, so special attention should be paid to the strength of the guides. The minimum permissible metal thickness (in this case aluminum) is 1.2 mm. If the metal is thinner, it will not withstand the load and the doors will fall out.

Aluminum profiles are presented in a wide variety on the market; decorative plastic coating of different colors allows you to choose guides for any furniture design.

Of the two types of sliding systems, the lower one is the most reliable.

Tip 3. How to choose the right cabinet appearance

Having chosen the location for the cabinet and its main functions, you can begin to choose the design of the fronts and the configuration of the internal shelves, drawers, hangers, etc.

It is quite difficult to measure the size of the cabinet fronts yourself; it is better to leave this to specialists who will not only correctly take all the necessary measurements, but will also manufacture the cabinet to order. Experts can also give advice on how to design the internal content correctly and with the greatest functionality.

Important: when considering the size and location of the internal shelves, make sure that they do not touch the cabinet doors. In addition, every shelf and drawer must be freely accessible.

But the design of the doors depends only on your imagination. Finishing materials, colors, patterns - all this largely depends on the overall interior. Radius cabinets fit any style, from ultra-modern high-tech style to more conservative classics.

In addition to mirrors and photo printing, plastic, stained glass, natural leather, wood veneer and even fabric can be used to decorate facades. The latter will look very impressive in classic interiors in Baroque or Rococo styles.

Tip 4. How to buy furniture on a budget

The cost of furniture depends on several factors. First of all, this is the material of the guides and main elements of the cabinet - walls, base, lid and facade.

In the furniture industry, laminated chipboard is the most popular; both store furniture supplied to the mass market and designs based on individual sketches are made from this material.

Furniture made from chipboard is much more affordable than products made from solid wood, and is also lighter and easier to use. This material allows you to choose any texture and color. The thickness of the sheets determines the strength of the furniture, as well as its durability. In this case, you should not skimp on thickness - the thicker the walls, the better.

Sheets that are too thin will inevitably deform under the influence of gravity, which can ultimately lead to improper operation of the sliding system and damage to the decorative qualities of the cabinet. The most inexpensive options are 16 mm thick, but it is better not to save money and immediately purchase a laminate cabinet with a thickness of at least 19 mm.

For the manufacture of sliding facades, different materials are used: MDF, durable glass, mirror and others. The price of the doors is calculated separately from the cost of the body.

Tip 5. How not to make a mistake when choosing a contractor

Bespoke furniture is a good option for those looking for high quality and a perfect fit. In addition, it is convenient for those who do not have enough time to spend on tedious trips to furniture stores.

A specialist visiting your home will take all the necessary measurements and take into account the features of the walls and ceiling so that the new cabinet fits into the interior as best as possible.

It's tempting to have someone else do all the hard work, but you need to be careful when choosing a contractor. When choosing a company, pay attention to the following:

• number of reviews on the site: the more positive reviews left by customers, the greater the chances that the company really does its job in good faith;
• be sure to find out whether a guarantee is provided for the company’s services;
• on the website, among other information about the company, the qualifications of employees must be indicated;
• the longer a company is on the market, the more reliable it is;
• In addition, the official website of the company must indicate the materials used in the work, as well as all the necessary documentation for them.

Every self-respecting furniture company has showrooms where you can visually see examples of their work.

When choosing a radius sliding wardrobe for your home, take into account the features of the room, as well as the general style of the interior. You shouldn’t skimp on the quality of materials, and if you have the opportunity to order a wardrobe based on an individual design, you shouldn’t miss it.

Filling

Another important factor in choosing the right sliding wardrobe is its contents. For this, different storage systems can be used, but the following filling elements are used as standard:

• separate large sections, usually designed for storing really large and heavy items;
• numerous shelves, which can be located at different distances from each other, and when choosing shelves it is recommended to give preference to massive and reliable structures;
• small stands for souvenirs or cosmetics;
• drawers in which underwear is often stored;
• umbrella stands;
• large compartments for large bags or other similar items;
• a pipe used for storing various wrinkled items on hangers.

Some models are produced empty inside, which allows each user to take into account their own preferences when filling, as well as plan which items will be placed on shelves or other storage systems. This piece of furniture is certainly equipped with shelves, and the remaining parts may depend on its size and other parameters.