Built In Closet or Walk in Wardrobe?
Recently my SEO expert asked should we be concerned about using the term “closet” as well as walk in wardrobe. We then decided to dive in a find out the differences between the two.
Closet is a very popular term in the USA for a room that we call a walk in in wardrobe. They most often use the term wardrobe as a free standing piece of furniture. This is why we rarely use the term wardrobe as it gets mixed up with the product we are helping customers with and that is a closet or walk in robe system that includes accessories.
Google Ngram
If you Google Ngram (or click here) you can search common phrases from the past two hundred years and you can determine the difference between American and British use of the words wardrobe and walk in wardrobe. That should keep you occupied for hours:)
I found one compelling reason why the word closet isn’t that popular in British English from the website stack exchange:
“I’d guess that one reason that the word “closet” (in this context) isn’t as common in the UK is that homes here tend not to have closets, possibly because UK homes are, on average, smaller than in the US.”
The contributor goes on to say:
“In the UK when a home does have what in the US would be called a closet, it’s more usually referred to as a “walk-in wardrobe”, or possibly “fitted wardrobe” (although that would more often be more like a cupboard built into the room).”
Just to confuse I’ve also discovered, from the USA, that there is a wardrobe closet. Its a portable wardrobe that will fit inside your walk in wardrobe (riveting stuff eh?). I doubt it would really suit your needs as much as a customised, well planned out walk in wardrobe.
Australia: Closet Or Wardrobe?
The problem with meanings we have here in Australia is our culture is a hybrid of American & British influence and although closet is American to most it is still used in Google searches (about 70% less however). Now the next question is how we use both terms without appearing silly!
Call Leigh Robinson today to discuss your closet requirements. Ph: 0412 525 137
