50 cm Deep Wardrobe: Which Alcove and What Fits Inside?

A wardrobe with a depth of 50 cm is a space-saving solution for narrow hallways and small bedrooms, but requires precise planning of internal dimensions or specialised pull-out systems for crease-free hanging of bulky jackets.

When furnishing a room, you quickly encounter the furniture industry standard: most wardrobes are 60 cm deep. This measurement has established itself because clothing on a standard hanger requires exactly this depth without hitting the back panel or the doors. Yet in narrow entrance areas, angled guest rooms, or small bedrooms, every centimetre of walking space counts. Here, a wardrobe 50 cm deep offers the ideal compromise between storage space and preserving room area.

This guide explains how to make optimal use of the reduced depth, what to look out for during assembly, and which internal fittings are crucial.

Which Rooms Are Suitable for a 50 cm Depth?

A 50 cm deep cabinet fits like a tailored suit for the room – it sits snugly, whilst leaving clearance precisely where it is essential for walkways. When little space remains between the edge of the bed and the wardrobe front, 10 cm less wardrobe depth often makes the difference between a cramped and a functional feel.

This dimension is particularly in demand in the following scenarios:

• Narrow hallways: As a cloakroom cupboard for jackets and coats.
• Guest rooms: Where storage is needed but room volume is limited.
• Sloping ceilings: Shallower carcases can often be pushed better beneath eaves.

Frequently, these wardrobes are made from chipboard with a hard-wearing decor finish. A white wardrobe blends particularly discreetly into small rooms and makes them appear visually larger than dark furniture pieces.

What Fits in a 50 cm Deep Wardrobe?

The usable internal depth of a cabinet is always less than the external dimension. With an external depth of 50 cm, you must deduct the thickness of the back panel (usually 3 mm to 5 mm), the groove for the back panel, and the front doors (typically 16 mm to 19 mm). This leaves a clear internal depth of around 46 cm to 47 cm.

Folded Clothes (T-shirts, Jumpers, Trousers)

For folded clothing, this depth is completely sufficient. A typical stack of T-shirts or jumpers requires a depth of 30 cm to 35 cm. You can therefore make full use of the shelves without garments disappearing into a second row and being forgotten. The shelves are traditionally positioned in height flexibly via shelf supports in a System 32 (drilled hole lines with 32 mm spacing).

Hanging Clothes (Shirts, Jackets)

A standard clothes hanger measures approximately 43 cm to 45 cm in width. Thin shirts and blouses can be hung without problems on a regular wardrobe rail in a 50 cm deep unit. For thick winter jackets or suit jackets, however, the sleeves will brush against the closed doors.

Specialised wardrobe accessories help here:

• Pull-out wardrobe rails (telescopic rails): Clothing is not hung side by side here, but behind one another (facing frontally). The rail pulls out via a ball-bearing slide, which vastly simplifies access.
• Drawers with full extension runners: If internal drawers are installed, ensure you choose full extension runners. In contrast to partial extension runners, the drawer can be pulled 100 % out of the carcase, allowing you to reach even the socks right at the back with ease.

Assembly and Installation: What DIYers Need to Know

Assembling wardrobes requires precise workmanship and the right tools. For the build, you generally require a cordless drill/screwdriver, bits (usually PZ or TX), a rubber mallet, and a spirit level.

Stability Through Wall Mounting

The shallower a cabinet is, the higher its tipping risk – especially when heavy doors are opened or fully loaded drawers are extended. A wardrobe with a depth of 50 cm and a typical height of 180 cm to 200 cm must be anchored to the wall without fail. Use suitable wall plugs and screws matched to the structure of your wall (concrete, plasterboard, brickwork).

Joining Technology and Hinges

The carcase is usually held together by cam and pin connectors (often combined with wooden dowels). This technique allows for a stable assembly that can be dismantled again if necessary.

Concealed hinges are used for the doors. A typical concealed hinge has a cup drilling diameter of 35 mm. On standard cabinets, a full overlay is mostly chosen, where the door sits over the front edge of the side panel when closed. If the hinge features integrated soft-close damping, the door closes gently and quietly without banging against the carcase.

When 50 cm Is Still Too Deep

In extremely narrow rooms, even 50 cm can look too bulky. If space is insufficient for a classic wardrobe, room planning must switch to shallower alternatives.

If the room has an extremely narrow layout, a wardrobe 40 cm deep offers an even more radical saving of space. Here, hanging clothes are organised exclusively front-to-back on pull-out rails.

For areas where only folded clothing, underwear, or accessories need storing, a low-height unit is often sufficient. A chest of drawers with a depth of 35 cm takes up significantly less room volume and keeps walls visually clearer.

If, on the other hand, you are furnishing a large bedroom and have sufficient floor space available, it is worth looking at a wardrobe for 2 people, which often uses the full 60 cm depth and provides maximum hanging space through wide carcases.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About 50 cm Deep Wardrobes

Do normal clothes hangers fit into a 50 cm deep wardrobe?

Yes, a standard clothes hanger (approx. 45 cm wide) fits into the remaining internal depth of around 46 cm to 47 cm. Thin garments such as shirts can be hung easily. For bulky jackets, however, the sleeves may rub slightly against the doors.

What tools are required for DIY assembly?

For proper assembly, you need a cordless screwdriver with suitable bits (usually Pozidriv or Torx), a rubber mallet for gently driving in wooden dowels, a cross-head screwdriver for fine-tuning the hinges, as well as a spirit level and a folding rule or tape measure for levelling the carcase.

Does a 50 cm deep wardrobe need to be fixed to the wall?

Yes. Due to the reduced depth in relation to height, the base area is smaller. To prevent tipping forward when opening doors or pulling out loaded drawers, secure anchoring to the wall using brackets and plugs is strictly necessary.

What is the difference between partial and full extension runners for internal drawers?

A partial extension runner only pulls out to around 75 % from the cabinet, leaving the back part of the drawer inside the carcase. A full extension runner, by contrast, allows the drawer to extend fully (100 %), ensuring a complete overview of the entire contents in a 50 cm deep unit.