Vintage Wardrobe

Vintage wardrobes from the 1950s through 1980s – when bedroom furniture was built from proper timber with joinery that held up through decades of daily use. We source mid-century wardrobes from makers like Ercol, G-Plan, Stag, and Scandinavian manufacturers who understood that a wardrobe needed to be solid, functional, and well-designed.

Each wardrobe here has been professionally restored in our Devon workshop. Wooden frames and panels are hand sanded to remove decades of wear, then finished with Danish oil or appropriate wax. Doors are checked and adjusted so they close properly – hinges get serviced or replaced if they’re past saving. Hanging rails, shelves, and drawer runners are assessed and repaired where needed. Original keys stay with the wardrobes when we have them; replacement locks fitted when necessary.

What we look for:

Solid construction – proper mortise and tenon joints, not just screws holding panels together. Quality timber throughout, whether that’s teak, oak, walnut, or beech. Doors that hang straight and close properly after 50+ years (good hinges and frame construction). Internal fittings that work – hanging rails that don’t sag, drawers that slide smoothly, shelves that don’t bow.

You’ll find different types here depending on what bedrooms needed back then. Single door wardrobes for smaller rooms or children’s bedrooms. Double door models – the most common size for couples. Triple door wardrobes with hanging space, shelving, and drawer sections. Some with full-length mirrors on doors, others with plain panels. Fitted wardrobes designed for specific wall widths, and freestanding pieces that can go anywhere.

Materials and construction:

Teak is common in mid-century wardrobes – warm colour, good grain, ages well. Oak gives a lighter finish, particularly popular in 1950s-60s British furniture. Walnut appears in higher-end pieces. Beech was used for internal components and budget-conscious designs. Better makers used solid timber for visible panels; cheaper examples use veneer over solid cores (not chipboard, which came later).

Construction details matter. Dovetail joints on drawers. Proper hinges – usually brass or steel, not cheap stamped metal. Full-depth hanging rails rather than shallow token gestures. Back panels in proper boarding, not flimsy hardboard tacked on. Feet or plinths designed to handle weight without collapsing.

Makers and styles:

British manufacturers like Ercol, G-Plan, Stag, and Schreiber dominated the market. Scandinavian imports brought cleaner lines and lighter woods. Some makers stamped their wardrobes – look inside doors or on drawer bases. Construction methods and design details help identify unmarked pieces – G-Plan’s distinctive handles, Ercol’s characteristic Windsor-influenced details, Stag’s robust construction.

Styles vary from plain Utility-influenced designs (1950s austerity) to sleek teak mid-century pieces (1960s optimism) to chunkier oak wardrobes (1970s). Some with decorative details like carved panels or shaped doors; others deliberately minimal with clean lines and simple handles.

Practical considerations:

Size matters with wardrobes. We provide dimensions because you need to know if it’ll fit your room and through your doorway. Many vintage wardrobes were built to be dismantled for moving – check if doors remove, if the top section lifts off the base. Some are too large to move intact through modern doorways without partial disassembly.
Internal configuration varies. Some are all hanging space with a single rail. Others have drawer sections, shelving units, combinations of all three. Consider what you actually need – a wardrobe that’s all hanging space isn’t much use if you need drawer storage.

Access is another issue. Fitted wardrobes often have specific widths designed for alcoves or chimney breasts. Freestanding pieces work anywhere but take up more visible floor space. Mirrored doors expand small bedrooms visually but show every fingerprint.

Restoration transparency:

We’re honest about condition and restoration work. If timber has been refinished, if handles are replacements, if hinges are new, if locks have been changed – you’ll know. Some wardrobes have minor veneer damage that we repair and match; others have solid timber throughout that just needs cleaning and oiling.

Internal wear is common – hanging rails show decades of coat hangers, drawer bases might have scuffs from clothing, shelves show stacking marks. We address structural issues but don’t try to make 50+ year old interiors look unused.

Delivery considerations:

Wardrobes are large, heavy items. Our standard delivery applies – free over £1,000, otherwise £75-95 depending on size and location within our delivery area. Larger wardrobes may need professional carrying or partial disassembly. We advise on access requirements before delivery – measure your doorways and consider stairways if the wardrobe is going upstairs.

These come from house clearances and sales across Southwest England. They’ve held decades of clothing in bedrooms throughout Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, and Dorset. Properly maintained, there’s no reason they won’t continue for decades more – that’s what solid timber construction achieves.