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Walk-in closets are becoming an increasingly popular storage solution for clothes, shoes, and accessories. This guide will provide ideas, tips, and recommendations for choosing the best closet layout, including various layouts—from linear to corner, U-shaped, and multi-wall options.

What is a dressing room?

A walk-in closet is a space you can enter to conveniently store your belongings and change clothes. It transforms a regular closet into a separate, functional room with easy access to all storage items.

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Main dimensions and layout

For a functional walk-in closet, it’s important to provide sufficient space: at least 120 cm deep to ensure access to shelves and easy movement. The layout depends on the room’s size, as well as the placement of the bed and other items. The layout can be either opposite the bed or behind it, with a transition through the bedroom’s entryway.

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Practical planning tips

When space is limited, a linear arrangement may be more advantageous, while for square rooms, a U-shaped layout or shelving on two opposite walls may be the optimal solution. In attic spaces, it’s important to adapt the layout to the roof slope using specially selected elements.

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Design options

Internal structure variations include panel systems with adjustable rails for shelves and accessories, columns and rods for hanging clothes, and doorless wardrobes that visually open up the space and allow for the placement of a variety of accessories.

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Closing the dressing room

To separate a walk-in closet from a bedroom or other space, you can use sliding doors or traditional door designs. Functional accessories help maintain order and protect delicate items from dust.

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What to consider when choosing furniture

Proper closet design starts with understanding your needs: what items you plan to store, which areas require more attention (such as long clothes, shoes, or accessories), and how much space you’re willing to devote to storage.

Many modern solutions include the ability to customize internal equipment to suit your needs, allowing you to optimize space even in small rooms.

The first and most common mistake is to perceive an Italian kitchen as a single stylistic category. In reality, Italy represents several distinct engineering and design philosophies in kitchen manufacturing.

Key point: Italian kitchens are sold not by façade design, but by the architecture of the system.

For example:

• Boffi, Poliform, Arclinea design kitchens as part of the architectural structure of the home.
• Scavolini, Lube, Febal focus on serial production with strong visual culture.
• Valcucine represents an engineering-driven and ecological approach, where the kitchen is a technological object.

When a client says “I want an Italian kitchen,” the correct professional response is to clarify what problem the kitchen must solve over 5–10 years of use.

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2. Cabinet Construction: What Is Rarely Explained in Showrooms

Cabinet thickness and materials

At premium Italian manufacturers:

• cabinet panels are typically 18–22 mm, usually multilayer boards with moisture-resistant treatment;
• the back panel is structural rather than decorative, which directly affects long-term geometry stability.

In real-life terms:

the kitchen will not deform after 2–3 years, even under fluctuating humidity (especially relevant in homes with underfloor heating and panoramic glazing).

Adjustability

High-quality Italian kitchens include:

• three-dimensional adjustment for hinges and runners;
• plinths and legs engineered to compensate for floor irregularities of up to 20–25 mm.

This is critical in turnkey projects where perfect construction tolerances rarely exist.

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3. Fronts and Finishes: Visual Appeal vs. Engineering Quality

Lacquer

Italy remains the global benchmark for lacquer finishes, but distinctions matter:

• polyester lacquer (used by Boffi, Poliform) offers depth, durability, and repairability;
• polyurethane lacquer is less expensive but more sensitive to impact damage.

From practice:

In households with children, I rarely recommend ultra-gloss finishes unless the design includes protective logic (recessed handles, push systems without protrusions).

Veneer

Italian manufacturers treat veneer as a craft discipline:

• strict texture selection;
• symmetrical layouts (bookmatching);
• complex toning without a “plastic” appearance.

This is where Italian kitchens visually separate themselves from even high-quality mass-market German alternatives.

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4. Worktops: Where Design Ends and Engineering Begins

Natural stone

Italian brands pioneered large-scale use of:

• thin stone worktops (12–20 mm);
• integrated sinks made from the same material.

However:

this aesthetic requires rigid substructures and precise span calculations. It cannot be installed like a standard countertop.

Quartz and ceramic

Brands such as Laminam and Florim are not merely material suppliers, but part of the broader Italian kitchen ecosystem.

Advantages include:

• thermal resistance;
• minimal joint visibility;
• architectural surface expression.

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5. Ergonomics: Where Italian Kitchens Often Exceed Expectations

Unlike the German “everything by standard” approach, Italian kitchens are frequently designed:

• around the user’s actual height;
• with non-standard worktop heights;
• using mixed cabinet depths (60 + 75 cm).

Real case example:

For a client 195 cm tall, we designed a 98 cm working height—cooking ceased to be physically exhausting.

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6. Hardware and Mechanisms: Understanding the Real Difference

Approximately 90% of Italian kitchens use:

• Blum or Hettich hardware—configured individually;
• proprietary systems developed in-house (Valcucine, Boffi).

Important nuance:

identical hardware brands do not guarantee identical user experience. Final feel depends on cabinet rigidity and precision adjustment.

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7. Pricing: What You Are Actually Paying For

In the high-end segment, cost reflects:

1. Design and engineering—not just furniture.
2. Long-term geometric stability.
3. Repairability over time.
4. Visual relevance after 10 years.

If a kitchen is inexpensive yet marketed as “Italian,” it is almost always:

• locally assembled;
• built with simplified cabinet construction;
• driven by decorative appeal rather than system logic.

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8. Who Italian Kitchens Are Truly Designed For

Suitable if:

• the kitchen is an architectural element of the home;
• tactile quality and detailing matter;
• the entire interior is being designed holistically.

Not suitable if:

• maximum functionality is required at minimal budget;
• the kitchen is a temporary solution.

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For international clients, the next logical steps may include:

• a direct comparison of specific brands (Boffi vs Poliform vs Arclinea);
• guidance on how to distinguish authentic Italian kitchens from showroom marketing;
• a professional analysis of your floor plan with applied kitchen logic.