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Wardrobe accessories: what fits where, with real sizes

Check the kind of space and the free height each wardrobe accessory needs. A step ladder needs about 3 ft 11 in (1200 mm), so it goes in extra-long hanging, double hanging or open space. A steamer needs about 2 ft 4 in (700 mm). A jewellery tray sits on a shelf, in a drawer or in a cubby.

Our 8 ft example wardrobe, two cabinets. Drawn to proportion. Free heights from our planner's standard layout; dashed lines show what the tall fittings need.

The four fittings

Step ladder
Needs about 3 ft 11 in (1200 mm)
Garment steamer
Needs about 2 ft 4 in (700 mm)
Wire basket
Needs about 8 in (200 mm)
Jewellery tray
No height rule

Four fittings, and where each goes

The numbers match the pins in the drawing. Sizes are our example's.

  • A step ladder, drawn to proportion from its size; the card lists its width, height and depth.

    1. Step ladder

    Reach the top shelf or the loft.

    • Width about 1 ft 5 in (420 mm)
    • Height about 3 ft 9 in (1150 mm)
    • Depth about 4 in (110 mm)
    • Goes in long hanging, extra-long hanging, double hanging or open space
    • Needs about 3 ft 11 in (1200 mm) of free height
    • Too short: long hanging in our example
    • Can fix to a side wall
  • A garment steamer, drawn to proportion from its size; the card lists its width, height and depth.

    2. Garment steamer

    Holds a garment steamer, so you can freshen clothes in place.

    • Width about 10 in (260 mm)
    • Height about 2 ft (620 mm)
    • Depth about 9 in (220 mm)
    • Goes in short hanging, long hanging, extra-long hanging, double hanging or open space
    • Needs about 2 ft 4 in (700 mm) of free height
    • Can fix to a side wall
  • A wire basket, drawn to proportion from its size; the card lists its width, height and depth.

    3. Wire basket

    Keeps loose things together on a shelf.

    • Width about 1 ft 5 in (440 mm)
    • Height about 6 in (160 mm)
    • Depth about 1 ft 4 in (400 mm)
    • Goes in open space, shelves or cubbies
    • Needs about 8 in (200 mm) of free height
    • Sits inside only
  • A jewellery tray, drawn to proportion from its size; the card lists its width, height and depth.

    4. Jewellery tray

    Jewellery and watches, each in its own place.

    • Width about 1 ft 5 in (420 mm)
    • Height about 2 in (45 mm)
    • Depth about 1 ft 3 in (380 mm)
    • Goes in shelves, drawers or cubbies
    • No height rule
    • Sits inside only

Will the tall ones fit?

Free height is the open space between shelves, rails, or the box top and floor.

A step ladder needs about 3 ft 11 in (1200 mm) of free height. In our example, an extra-long hanging section gives about 5 ft 3 in, so the ladder fits; a long hanging section does not. Long hanging gives about 3 ft 6 in (1070 mm) in our example.

A garment steamer needs about 2 ft 4 in (700 mm) of free height. Every hanging section in our example gives at least that.

Each fitting goes inside one compartment. The step ladder and the garment steamer can also fix to its side wall.

Other wardrobe accessories

Sizes vary by brand: measure the product, then check the free height and depth of the space.

  • Seven more accessories

    Their sizes depend on the product you choose.

    • Pull-out tray
    • Tie rack
    • Belt rack
    • In-wardrobe safe
    • Fold-out ironing board
    • Pull-out mirror
    • Valet rail

Plan the rest of your wardrobe

Know the fittings you want? Compare complete layouts and pick the spaces they need.

For wardrobe makers

The planner checks the kind of space, the mount and the free height. It does not check width or depth: measure those.

If a space is too short, the planner shows the space's free height and the height the fitting needs.

The fit table uses our 8 ft example: each space at its standard height in our planner.

Where each fitting fits, standard heights in our planner
Fittingshort hanginglong hangingextra-long hangingdouble hangingopen spaceshelvesdrawerscubbies
Step ladderNoNeeds 1200 mm; 1070 mm hereFitsFitsFitsNoNoNo
Garment steamerFitsFitsFitsFitsFitsNoNoNo
Wire basketNoNoNoNoFitsFitsNoFits
Jewellery trayNoNoNoNoNoFitsFitsFits
Sizes of the four fittings, mm first
FittingWidthHeightDepthFree height needed
Step ladder420 mm (about 1 ft 5 in)1150 mm (about 3 ft 9 in)110 mm (about 4 in)1200 mm (about 3 ft 11 in)
Garment steamer260 mm (about 10 in)620 mm (about 2 ft)220 mm (about 9 in)700 mm (about 2 ft 4 in)
Wire basket440 mm (about 1 ft 5 in)160 mm (about 6 in)400 mm (about 1 ft 4 in)200 mm (about 8 in)
Jewellery tray420 mm (about 1 ft 5 in)45 mm (about 2 in)380 mm (about 1 ft 3 in)No height rule

Related pages

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    Wardrobe interior ideas: what goes inside

    Choose what goes inside your wardrobe by what you own: five layouts full of clothes, drawn to one scale in our 8 ft example, and how to pick yours.

  • Interiors

    Wardrobe shoe racks and laundry baskets

    Where shoes and a pull-out laundry basket go in a wardrobe: about 2 ft (600 mm) of height each in our planner, the basket's depth, and the corner rule.

  • Comparison

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    Sliding or hinged wardrobe doors? Sliding doors need no floor to swing open. A hinged door needs clear floor as deep as it is wide: about 2 ft in our example.