My perfect bedroom suite would have views over the trees or ocean, an ensuite and a massive walk-in wardrobe that looks like a Tom Ford showroom. It would have a central drawer unit with compartments for belts, ties and cufflinks, with a glass top to display the watch collection I don’t yet have.

This walk-in wonder would be as big as my first apartment or thereabouts, and it would be designed to the nines with plenty of orderly hanging spaces, beautiful timber-veneer panelling, leather or suede inserts in drawers and brass handles to set off the details perfectly

While still a dream for me, such wonderful storage does exist, and it’s available locally through retailers such as Poliform and Rogerseller. In general, these wardrobe systems are designed and manufactured by Italian luxury brands. You can specify the finishes and inclusions so the finished product is tailored to your clothing and lifestyle.

These beauties aren’t the only way to get luxurious storage, however. If your budget allows, you can work with a joiner and designer to dream up a bespoke solution that suits your needs to a tee.

If your budget is a little more mainstream, you still have plenty of choice. The first thing to consider is what you need to house and when it will be used. Thinking carefully about how many jackets and shirts, suits and dresses, jeans and jumpers you have will give you an idea of what ratio of hanging to shelving to drawers you need.

Some stores offer a standardised selection of simple modular units with different door fronts and exterior finishes, so you can configure your wardrobe your way. A ratio of two-thirds hanging to one-third drawers and shelving is about right.

If you don’t need to house a corporate wardrobe alongside your civvies, a system that is half hanging, half drawers and shelves could be the way to go. Ensure you have plenty of open shelves for folded clothes so you can see your options stacked on top of each other, leaving drawers for undergarments.

Once you have the space and structure worked out, consider the details – good-quality hangers, shoe storage, drawer dividers, lighting and mirrors.

In my home, I needed to squeeze as much storage as I could into a relatively small and awkward space. My solution was to separate the functions into different zones. I allocated 1.5m to hanging space, with three separately located drawer units. The third zone contained a simple flat-packed wardrobe, giving me additional shelves, drawers and hanging space. Combining different flat-packed options yielded a good-looking and very functional storage space.

If you don’t have an obvious nook for a built-in, freestanding units are a great inclusion and can come in some pretty nifty styles and finishes. The added benefit of a freestanding unit is that it gives you an opportunity to add in another piece of furniture for contrast and interest. Even better, you can take it with you when you move house.

To keep costs to a minimum, look into the temporary or exposed wardrobe systems that you can simply bolt together and place where you like. Flat-packed options are an easy go-to. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can cobble your own system together using materials such as rope, leather shelving straps, timber panels and even scaffolding for a more industrial look.