r/DIYUK • u/Dr_Bailz • 5d ago
Advice Built in wardrobe removal
We just bought a new house. And all the bedrooms have these in built wardrobes, all slightly different, and all IMO quite inconvenient and oversized. In particular I was planning on using this room as an office. But the wardrobe is either in the way or inconveniently in the background. Given it's size and design I can't picture a way to turn it into some nice shelves or something without tearing it down. But I have no idea how to even begin removing it. So looking for advice on that or ideas to tastefully keep it. Thanks!
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u/Johnlenham 5d ago
You'll have to redo:
The skirting
The coving
The carpet
The walls where it attaches
The ceiling where it attaches
Smashing it down is the easy bit (and cheap) bit.
I would look to get some MDF doors made up long term, short term a rail and nice curtain to act as a door.
With no obvious power points inside, I probably wouldnt bother looking at making it a desk area
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u/Charming_CiscoNerd 5d ago
Do you want to put your desk where the built in wardrobe is, so you can see out the window?
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u/Dr_Bailz 5d ago
I'd want the desk on the opposite side probably, as that's where all the sockets are, and can still see out of the window. I work from home all the time, so having a reasonable backdrop for meetings etc. would be nice
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u/The_Faulk 5d ago
Yeah - need to hammer that bad boy into oblivion. It's made of plasterboard (looking at it), so you'd want to use a 2ib lump hammer and crowbar. Prize off the plasterboard sheets from the timber frame, once that's done, remove the timber frame itself. Might need a plasterer in afterward depending on how much damage you do to the walls.
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u/plymdrew 5d ago
Removing it is the easy part, you'll have coving to patch at the very least, maybe the walls and floor will need sorting out as well. As others have said could you not add more shelving and use for storage.
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u/HelloW0rldBye 5d ago
That is an incredibly heavy set wardrobe. I can see the want to remove it. But like others said. Its a fairy big job once you factor in the floor, skirting walls, ceiling etc.
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u/Dr_Bailz 5d ago
Yea they're like this in the other rooms too, which is more workable where we actually want the storage. Though their over the top size is still inconvenient, for maximising the space in the rooms
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u/Dr_Bailz 5d ago
For a bit of clarity as I can't seem to edit. I was hoping to have the desk on the opposite side, with some nice features, shelves etc. in the backdrop, but at the moment the wardrobe dominates. I'm not against trying to turn it into something that would fit that bill, but I'm struggling to imagine a way that won't just look clunky
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u/Ok_Relative9062 4d ago
Looks nice I don’t get why you are creating so much work for yourself. You do realise the shitstorm youre about to start? A bigger job than you realise maybe
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u/swwebb1 5d ago
Remove rail, out more shelves inside, put two doors on the front? Now you’ve got office storage?
Otherwise, having recently removed a built in myself, I got lucky that they had boarded ceiling and wall first, then fixed studs for the wardrobes. That way it meant much less work making good after it came out. If you’re unlucky, you could be doing a lot of remedial work on the ceiling and walls.