Long Hanging: What You Need to Know

How to design the perfect storage for long dresses, coats and occasion wear.

Long hanging space is essential in most fitted wardrobes — but only when designed properly. Here’s how to plan it so your longest items always look their best in your Oxfordshire home.

1) What is Long Hanging?

A full-height wardrobe section designed to store clothes that can’t be double-hung such as:

• Long dresses
• Coats & trench coats
• Occasion outfits
• Robes

It allows garments to hang freely without creasing, dragging or catching.

2) Who is Long Hanging Best For?

• Homeowners with formal or long outfits
• Anyone with wool coats (needed in Oxford winters)
• Shared wardrobes (dedicated section helps stay organised)
• Homes with high ceilings — Headington Townhouses, Summertown Semis

Most people only need one long hanging bay.

3) Recommended Dimensions

These are the measurements we use in our Oxfordshire workshop:

• Hanging drop: 1550–1800 mm (sweet spot: 1650–1750 mm)
• Rail height from floor: 1650–1750 mm
• Internal depth: 560–600 mm (so sleeves clear doors)
• Bay width: 500–600 mm
• Base clearance: 150–200 mm (protects hems)

Rail hardware:

• Oval tube 25 mm (stiffer than round)
• Centre support if width > 900 mm
• Load rated to >30kg

4) Best Position in a Wardrobe Run

We always design long hanging to sit where clothes move freely:

• On the outer end of the wardrobe run
• Away from drawer stacks for smooth access
• Not behind central doors where garments can snag

Bad placement = crushed fabrics + daily frustration.

5) Avoid These Common Mistakes

• Too shallow — sleeves catch on the doors
• Too wide — rail sags without centre support
• Too many long sections — wasted space
• Poor lighting — dark corners make finding clothes harder
• Bad airflow — mustiness & moths in older homes

Local Insight

Homes in East Oxford, Jericho and Iffley Road Victorian terraces often have narrow bedrooms, making double-hanging a better central solution with one long hanging section on the end.

Final Thought

One perfectly designed long hanging section will:

• Protect expensive garments
• Maximise storage
• Make mornings easier
• Keep wardrobes looking intentional

We design and build every project in our Oxfordshire workshop — tailored to your actual clothing, not generic assumptions.

Next Steps

Submit our Online Design Form — we’ll help you plan your internal layout within 48 hours.