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When we’re invited into period homes across Norwich, the conversation usually starts the same way. The owners love the house - the proportions, the fireplaces, the details you just don’t get in newer builds - but they’re struggling with storage that actually works day to day.
Older properties weren’t designed around modern wardrobes, home working, or the sheer amount of stuff most of us accumulate. As designers, our job is to make storage fit naturally into the home, without losing the character that makes it special in the first place.
Why period homes in Norwich need a different approach
If you’ve ever tried to push a standard wardrobe into a Victorian or Edwardian bedroom, you’ll know the frustration. The ceilings are often higher, the walls aren’t perfectly straight, and alcoves seem just slightly too narrow for anything off the shelf.
In and around Norwich, we regularly see period homes with:
- Chimney breasts that create deep alcoves
- Sloping ceilings in converted loft rooms
- Narrow bedrooms where floor space is at a premium
- Walls that are subtly out of square
These features are part of the charm, but they do mean a one-size-fits-all solution rarely works. That’s why fitted furniture tends to suit these homes far better than freestanding pieces.
Making the most of awkward spaces
One of the most satisfying parts of our job is turning an “awkward” area into the most useful part of the room.
Alcoves either side of a chimney breast, for example, are often wasted or filled with mismatched furniture. Designed properly, they can become balanced storage that feels intentional rather than improvised. Sloping ceilings can be followed exactly, allowing wardrobes to extend into areas that would otherwise be dead space.
With fitted wardrobes, we design around the reality of the room, not an idealised floor plan. That means storage can run floor to ceiling and wall to wall, making full use of the space without bulky fillers or obvious compromises.
Respecting the character of the home
A period home doesn’t need to look modern to function well. In fact, the best results usually come from designs that quietly complement what’s already there.
Panelled doors, softer finishes and carefully chosen colours can sit comfortably alongside original fireplaces, cornicing and sash windows. Rather than competing with these features, well-designed fitted furniture frames them.
In tighter rooms, where hinged doors would be impractical, sliding wardrobes are often the best choice. They keep access simple without eating into the room, which is especially helpful in smaller bedrooms or loft conversions common in Norwich properties.
Practical storage for modern living
While the architecture might be historic, the way people use their homes certainly isn’t.
When we design storage for a period property, we’re thinking about how the space will actually be used. Long hanging for coats and dresses, shelving for folded clothes, drawers for everyday items - all planned around the homeowner rather than a generic layout.
In many cases, fitted storage makes period rooms feel bigger. By removing visual clutter and using the full height of the room, floor space is freed up and the room feels calmer and more balanced.
Seeing ideas take shape
For many homeowners, it’s hard to picture how bespoke storage will work until they see it properly designed.
That’s why visiting the Norwich showroom can be so helpful. Being able to see different finishes, door styles and internal layouts in person often sparks ideas that wouldn’t come up from a brochure alone. It also gives people confidence that bespoke doesn’t mean overly complicated - just well thought through.
Home consultations are equally important. Measuring the room, understanding the quirks, and talking through how the space is used allows us to design something that genuinely belongs in the house.
Storage that feels like it was always meant to be there
The best feedback we get from customers in period homes is when they say the furniture feels like part of the house, not something added later.
Good storage shouldn’t shout. It should quietly solve problems, make rooms easier to live in, and respect the history of the property.
If you’re living in a period home in Norwich and thinking about improving your storage, exploring fitted wardrobes, sliding wardrobes, or visiting the Norwich showroom is a good place to start. It’s often the first step towards making an old space work beautifully for modern life.
