Custom steel almirah or readymade: which should you buy?

Readymade vs made to size, side by side

The real difference is who decides the size and the inside layout: the maker of a readymade almirah, or you. Here is how a readymade almirah and a made-to-measure one compare in a real room.

One point often gets mixed up. Made to size does not have to mean built into the wall. We also make freestanding 2-door and 3-door almirahs to your size, and they move house with you like any other almirah. Built-in, wall-to-wall units are a separate option: see our wall-fit almirahs.

When a readymade almirah is enough

We make almirahs to size, but we will say it plainly: not every home needs one. A readymade almirah is a sensible buy in these cases.

• The wall is open and plain: no niche, beam or window in the way, and a little room on both sides. Most almirahs will stand against a wall like that without trouble.
• A shop size fits your space: measure the space first. If a readymade almirah fits with a little room to spare and its doors open fully, there is no problem to solve.
• You need it today: you can buy a readymade almirah and take it home. Anything made to order takes time to build.
• The shelves and colour suit you as they are: if the inside layout works for what you keep and the colour goes with the room, getting one made changes little.
• You shift often: if you rent and move every year or two, a freestanding almirah in a common size will find a place in the next home too.

Problems that push people to a custom almirah

These are the common situations where a readymade almirah does not sit well. They all come down to one thing: the almirah should be sized to the space, not the other way round.

• Uneven walls: many walls, especially in older houses, are not perfectly straight. The width at the top can differ from the width at the bottom, and a fixed-size almirah leaves a tapering gap at the side.
• Corners: the space between a wall and a door or window is often too narrow for a readymade almirah, or wide enough that one leaves a gap.
• Niches (aala): many houses have a recess left in the wall. A readymade almirah rarely matches its width, height and depth, so it either sticks out or does not go in.
• Wall-to-wall storage: if you want one almirah from one side wall to the other, it has to be made to that wall's width.
• Awkward rooms: a small room, a beam across the wall, or a window close to the corner all limit the size that will fit.
• Extra height: a readymade almirah stops at a fixed height. Going higher puts the wall above to use, instead of leaving it to collect dust.
• More shelves, or a locker: folded clothes, bedding, files and valuables each need a different kind of space. When it is made to size, you decide the number of shelves and can add a locker for papers and jewellery.
• Matching what you have: a new almirah next to an old one, or next to wooden furniture, looks better in a similar colour. Pick whichever of our colours, or the wood-look finish, is closest to the room.

For example, if a niche is 4 ft 2 in wide, an almirah 4 ft wide leaves a 2-inch gap at the side, and one 4 ft 3 in wide will not go in at all. Made to size, the almirah is built to the niche.

When a custom steel almirah makes more sense

Think seriously about getting one made to size in these cases:

• The space is a niche or a corner, the wall is uneven, or you want the almirah to fill a full wall.
• You want to use the full height of the wall, not just the lower part.
• You know what you will keep inside and want the shelves and locker planned around it.
• You want a particular colour, or a wood-look finish to go with the room.

If any of these apply and you can wait 7 days to 1 month, get one made to size, especially if you will live in this home for years. If none apply, a readymade almirah will usually do the job. See all the almirahs we make to your size, from 2-door and 3-door to mirror, locker and office almirahs, on our steel almirahs in Agra page.

Examples from our wall-fit and made-to-size work

These photos show wall-fit cupboards we made in our own factory. Each was made to the size of its own wall, which is exactly what a readymade almirah cannot do.

The red cupboard runs across a full room wall, with many doors side by side. The black locker cupboard in the second photo goes almost up to the ceiling. So the wall above, which a readymade almirah would leave empty, is in use here too.

How we make a custom almirah

1. 1Call or WhatsApp us, and send a photo of the space if you can.
2. 2We come and measure the space, free.
3. 3Size, design, colour and price are agreed with you before work starts.
4. 4We build it from CRCA steel in our own factory and deliver it free anywhere in Agra city, with a proper GST bill.

How long it takes, and what decides the rate

A custom almirah takes 7 days to 1 month with us, depending on the order. A small freestanding almirah and a wall-to-wall unit with many doors are very different jobs, so we tell you the exact time after measuring.

If you are shifting house or need the almirah before a fixed date, start early and allow for the full month. If you need one this week and cannot wait, readymade is the practical choice.

We do not have a fixed price list, because every almirah is made to a different size. A full-wall almirah needs more steel than a small one, so the rate is worked out for your size. The other things that decide it are on our steel almirah price page.

What measurements should you have before ordering?

You do not need exact numbers to ask for a rate: rough measurements and a photo are enough. Before you place the order, though, these are the measurements that matter. If you want a custom steel almirah in Agra, we come and take them ourselves, free.

• Width: at the top, the middle and the bottom. Walls are not always straight.
• Height: from the floor to the ceiling, or to a beam or window above. For a freestanding almirah, leave a little room below the ceiling so it can be stood upright in the room.
• Depth: how much room you can give the almirah without blocking the walkway or the space by the bed.
• Space in front: enough for the doors to open fully.
• Switchboards, pipes and windows: anything on that wall the almirah must not cover.
• The way in: the narrowest door or staircase the almirah has to pass through. Check this for any almirah, readymade or custom.

Our guide on how to measure for an almirah shows where and how to take each one.

Before you order: a quick checklist