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Design 101
The Best Armoires for Wardrobe, TV, Jewelry, and More
Published: September 19, 2024
Armoire is a fancy French word for a piece of furniture rooted in purpose as much as appearance. These storage solutions for bedrooms and living rooms can be both functional and stylish. Â
The best armoires for your home may have shelves, hanging rods, drawers, or even mirrors. Evaluate your storage needs to find the perfect armoire that highlights your design aesthetic. Â
What Is an Armoire?
An armoire is a tall, decorative piece of furniture used for storage. Armoires can be found in many rooms of the house, including the bedroom and living room. Â
Armoires are typically used to store clothing, televisions, and other items. Although storage features vary by style, some include drawers, shelves, hanging rods, and cabinet doors.Â
Styles of Armoires
Armoires come in a variety of styles to accommodate different storage needs. Different armoire styles can:Â
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Replace your closet
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Provide additional storage for clothing
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Hide away your living room television
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Double as a full-length mirror
Wardrobe
Wardrobe armoires are typically found in bedrooms and serve as storage space for clothing. In most homes, wardrobe armoires are used in addition to closets and dressers. Â
However, in small spaces, a wardrobe armoire might provide the only storage space for your clothing. Store folded clothing in drawers and on shelves and hang other clothing from rods built into the wardrobe.Â
TV armoire
TV armoires, also called media armoires, provide storage for TVs and other entertainment equipment. They are specifically designed to fit television dimensions. When you want the television out of sight, you can just close the cabinet doors. Even electrical cords are hidden from view, pulled through holes in the back of TV armoires.Â
Non-hanging armoire
A non-hanging armoire is an armoire without a built-in rod for hanging clothing. Non-hanging armoires may be designed with shelves, drawers, cabinet doors, or a combination of the three. These armoires work well if you have other space in your bedroom, like a closet, for clothes that need to be hung up (like dress shirts, dresses, and suits). Â
Mirrored armoire
A mirrored armoire gives you a built-in mirror to use when dressing. Mirrors are usually on the outer side of the armoire's doors, offering functionality while creating a distinct sense of style with a mirrored aesthetic. If you prefer a non-reflective outer appearance, look for a mirrored armoire with the mirrors installed inside the cabinet doors. Â
Choosing the Best Armoire for Your Space
Before you begin your search for your new armoire, take a few minutes to prepare for your armoire-shopping experience. Consider how your armoire will be used, what room it will furnish, and how its style can complement the design of that room. Â
Determine your storage needs
Your storage needs will dictate what features you should look for in an armoire.Â
For clothing storage in your bedroom:Â
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Determine if your wardrobe armoire will be your sole clothing storage or if some of your clothing will also be stored in a closet or dresser. 
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Consider what kinds of clothing you will store in your armoire to decide if you need shelves, drawers, a hanging rod, or a combination of the three. 
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Do an inventory to determine how much clothing you want to fit into your armoire. 
For storing televisions and other items or equipment in your living room:Â
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Evaluate the items you want to store in the armoire and decide if drawers, shelves, or a combination will work best. 
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Measure any large items, like a television, to make sure the armoire and its shelf space can accommodate the TV. 
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Consider whether or not the armoire needs to have openings in the back to pull cords through
Measure your space
Everyone's worst furniture delivery nightmare is having the furniture delivery service bring in furniture that looks much larger or smaller than expected. Avoid this dilemma by carefully measuring the area where you plan to store the armoire. Â
Evaluate each armoire's height, width, and length against the available space in the room. Remember to measure doorways so the armoire can reach your room upon delivery. Â
TIP: Use painter's tape to outline the armoire's height, width, and length in the exact space you intend to put it. Then, step back and evaluate your impressions of its size before buying. Â
Select your style
Once you know the armoire will fit in the space, consider different styles of armoires to determine which one best complements your home's style.Â
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Open armoires without cabinet doors may be the best for storing items you wish to display or avoiding having to open and close doors whenever you want something from the armoire. 
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Armoires with cabinet doors and drawers may be best if you aren't likely to stay organized; that way, you can hide unpaired socks and unfolded clothing, creating a more relaxing bedroom vibe. 
Learn more•
Television armoires with cabinet doors nicely hide away the TV when it's not on. 
Consider your home design style as you choose among the many available armoires to make sure your new piece complements your home's aesthetic. Â
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You can choose a vintage armoire to complement the nostalgia associated with the country club aesthetic. 
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Choose a dark-stained armoire with scalloped edges and ornate detailing for a French country look. 
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High-quality craftsmanship marks traditional design style. A sturdy, well-made armoire that can be passed down for generations works well in your traditional home. 
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Rooms designed in a cottagecore style have a dreamy, cozy feel. For a romantic vibe, choose an armoire with old-fashioned hardware and ornate woodwork. 
Learn moreThe Best Armoires for Your Space
Now that you know how to choose the best armoire wardrobe or TV armoire, explore the many options for different armoire types and styles. Â
Best TV armoires
The right TV armoire for your living room or bedroom will easily store your television and other entertainment equipment. You may also want to store games, books, puzzles, blankets, or other items in your TV armoire. Select a TV armoire that can store everything you need while also complementing the design style of your living room or bedroom. Â
Best mirrored armoires
The mirrored armoire that works best for your home provides the storage space you need with the added benefit of a built-in mirror. The mirrors also make rooms appear larger. Before you buy a mirrored armoire, make sure the mirrors will reflect a part of the room that is easy to keep clean and organized. Â
Best jewelry armoires
Store your necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other jewelry in a jewelry armoire with storage space designed specifically for jewelry. Jewelry armoires can be freestanding or hung on the wall. The best jewelry armoire may even have a built-in mirror.Â
Best farmhouse armoires
Farmhouse-style armoires complement the style's high-quality craftsmanship. For that rustic aesthetic, look for an armoire with a distressed finish. Cross pieces that form the x-panel design reminiscent of barn doors are perfect for a farmhouse armoire. Â
Best modern armoires
Look for neutral-colored armoires with clean lines and minimalist aesthetics for rooms decorated in a modern style. Modern armoires are designed with functionality first and style second. The hardware on modern armoire drawers and cabinet doors is functional and simple rather than ornate. Â
Best armoires for small spaces
When furnishing small bedrooms or living rooms, try to find lighter-colored armoires with less detailing and simple lines to help the room feel larger. Select a tall armoire that uses vertical space instead of floor space. Adjustable shelves and customizable drawer organizers can help you maximize your armoire's storage space. Â
Shopping for Your Armoire
With this overview of armoire features and styles, you can find an armoire with the perfect balance of functionality and design. For more information about shopping for armoires, read the furniture.com guide to armoires and chests.Â
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