London has a large number of newer purpose-built blocks, many from 2000 onwards. The flats are often bright and well laid out, but storage can be tight. There may be one small hallway cupboard, a bedroom with no wardrobe and an open-plan living space with nowhere to hide the clutter.
Adding fitted furniture to a new-build flat is a little different from working in a period house. This guide covers the walls, the rules and the layouts to think about.
What the walls are made of
Internal walls in newer flats are often timber stud or metal stud with plasterboard. External walls and walls between flats may be concrete or blockwork. Fixings must suit the wall. Plasterboard needs the right fixings, or fixings into the studs behind. A tall unit needs a secure fixing, especially if it’s holding books or heavy items.
Before any fixing goes in, cables and pipes need to be found and avoided. Your building may have drawings showing where services run.
Check your lease and building rules
Most new-build flats are leasehold. A lease can require consent for alterations, and fixing furniture to walls may count. Check your lease before you commit. We can’t advise on your lease.
Newer blocks often have a managing agent with contractor rules, a booking system for the lift or loading bay, and a concierge. Find out early. Our guide to fitted furniture in a leasehold flat has more.
Keep services and access points clear
New-build flats often hide important things in cupboards: a consumer unit (fuse board), a hot water cylinder, a heat interface unit, a ventilation unit or access panels. These must stay accessible. Engineers need to reach them, and some need space and airflow around them.
A fitted cupboard can be built around them, with doors and clear space to suit. See cupboards for boilers, meters and fuse boards for the principles.
Thinking about fitted furniture? We design, make and fit it across London: we visit, measure and talk through the design, then send a written quote. Arrange a design visit.
Fitted wardrobes in modern bedrooms
New-build bedrooms are often a neat rectangle, which makes fitted wardrobes straightforward to plan. A wall-to-wall wardrobe up to the ceiling uses the full space. Sliding doors suit rooms where the bed sits close to the wardrobe. Hinged doors give full access to the inside.
Ceilings may have a bulkhead where ducting or pipes run. A wardrobe can be built under it or scribed round it so it looks planned rather than squeezed in.
Storage in open-plan living spaces
An open-plan kitchen and living room needs storage that keeps the space calm. Ideas include:
- a built-in TV and media wall with closed cupboards below
- a long, low unit under a window
- a fitted cupboard by the front door for coats, shoes and the vacuum cleaner
- shelving to break up a long wall.
For TV walls, plan cable routes and ventilation for set-top boxes and consoles. New sockets are for an electrician. Read built-in TV units for more.
Making the most of a small hallway
Hallways in new-build flats are often short and narrow. A shallow cupboard can hold shoes and coats without blocking the way. A tall unit by the door, with hooks inside and a shelf above, can do a lot in a small space. Keep doors clear of the front door swing and any fire door closer.
Quick answers
Can fitted furniture be fixed to plasterboard walls?
Yes, with the right fixings or by fixing into the studs behind. Heavy units need secure fixings, and cables and pipes must be avoided.
Can a cupboard be built around my fuse board or hot water cylinder?
Yes, as long as it stays fully accessible, with any clear space and airflow the equipment needs.
Do I need my landlord’s consent to add wardrobes?
It depends on your lease. Some leases need consent for alterations. Check your lease or ask your managing agent first.
Related services
More advice
- Fitted Furniture in a Leasehold Flat: Check Your Lease
- Cupboards for Boilers, Meters and Fuse Boards
- Built-in TV Units: Cables, Heat and Sizes
- Storage Ideas for Small Bedrooms
- All advice
This guide is general information about fitted furniture. It isn’t legal, planning or building advice; for those, speak to the council, your landlord or managing agent, or a suitably qualified professional.