If accessories are your Achilles heel, or you’re developing a bit of a fashion stash, it’s likely a walk-in wardrobe would be among your dream ‘must-haves’. While a room dedicated solely to housing your clothing collection might be the ultimate interiors goal, what this fantasy really represents is the luxury of space – or, as the old adage goes, a place for everything and everything in its place.

But what if there was a way to equip your home with extra wardrobe capacity, enviable aesthetic appeal and some of the opulence associated with a walk-in wardrobe, only with real house proportions? Read on to see if there’s a suitable storage solution to be found for your imminent clothing crisis.

Section off your sleep space

If you’re craving a dressing area but can’t sacrifice a whole room to the cause, look at reworking the layout of a large bedroom.

Here, a half-height wall performs a dual purpose. It acts as a neat headboard for the sleeping space, while also providing a division, behind which lurks oodles of extra storage and a bespoke dressing area.

Fit shallow accessory cupboards

Get the feel of a luxurious walk-in shoe closet even in a smaller bedroom by fitting expertly lit glass-front cabinets. The area between the bedroom door frame and wall can be difficult to utilise for clothes storage, as it’s often too narrow to accommodate a rail with hangers. However, options like this space-savvy design will please shoe addicts, as the tall yet shallow form is ideal for accessories (or folded clothes).

Overhaul a bijou bedroom

A boxroom too small even for a bed makes a wonderful walk-in wardrobe if you take care to maintain light levels. Mirror-clad doors make this luxe dressing room feel bigger than it is, and glass ceiling shades lend further subdued elegance without heaviness.

To justify the use of space, consider which other objects around the house you could create storage for in such a room. Or perhaps it could also double as a home office?

Become a screen star

For a fashionable New York loft vibe in a reasonably big room, it’s possible to use wooden screens to section off an area and create a walk-in wardrobe. Here, extensive glazing prevents the structure from becoming too imposing, while elegant lighting and an organised arrangement inside help to make the feature a pleasing focal point.

Try a corridor of cupboards

Why walk in when you can walk through? Create a corridor of cupboards en route to the bathroom for a space-friendly fix for your clothing conundrum.

When considering this type of arrangement, remember it will be necessary to close the bathroom door when showering to avoid damp problems in your wardrobe. Bathrooms should be fitted with an extractor fan, while a Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) system can help to reduce humidity and pollutants in the rest of the house.

Reframe a doorway

On a similar theme, this ingenious set-up allows for a bank of chic storage around the entrance to the en suite bathroom, in which you could potentially house a cocktail chair and a full-length mirror, allowing you to take clothes through for dressing.

Flat-fronted doors lend a minimal, contemporary air to the system, avoiding undesirable comparisons with the fitted wardrobes of the 1980s.

Watch out for wasted space

Create room for a walk-in wardrobe (of sorts) even in a little loft conversion by carving a cupboard out of the eaves. By enclosing the awkward area occupied by the sloping ceiling, a useful storage area is created out of what would otherwise be redundant wall space. Painting everything the same colour ensures cohesion in a small area.

Here, a guest bed has been included, but you could equally swap it for a sofa or sofa-bed, giving a walk-in wardrobe feel. For a full-length mirror, staircase walls can often be put to good use.

Kit out a corner

Commission custom-made joinery to make the most of every square inch of your home. A top landing, for instance, could provide space for a comfortable dressing area (though you might need a screen if it’s open).

Built-in cupboards and shelving can be squeezed into awkward areas where off-the-shelf furniture wouldn’t fit. You can even find companies that will design a bespoke wardrobe to accommodate your exact collection of clothes, shoes and accessories, with a place for every item (and a little room to spare for those essential additions).

Explore alternative areas

If your bedroom is too tiny to contemplate adding wardrobes, how about fitting out another nearby nook? This beautiful bathroom has long and lean cabinets that make the whole room into a walk-in wardrobe. An unobtrusive ladder is both decorative and handy for reaching those high hangers.

Skip the spare bedroom

In this impressive apartment, it’s the bed itself that packs away into the wardrobe, turning a one-bedroom loft into a two-bedroom home. With no need for a dedicated guest room, you may just free up enough space for the walk-in wardrobe of your dreams…