A two tone melamine wardrobe looks simple on a drawing: two panel colours, one carcass, a run of doors. That apparent simplicity is exactly why it slips through procurement checks. Finish samples never reach site, door sizes drift by a few millimetres, hardware arrives without the handles specified, and the whole bedroom handover waits on one joinery package. Below is the review sequence we use before a two tone melamine wardrobe order is released for production, and what each check is meant to prevent.
1. Confirm the two finishes as physical samples, not renderings
Melamine panel colour reads differently under warm villa lighting than on a screen or in a design intent drawing. Before any order is placed, ask for the actual panel samples for both tones, and confirm they are the same surface family across doors, carcass edges, shelves and internal boxes. A door tone that matches while the edge banding sits half a shade lighter is one of the most common complaints on two tone joinery.
Record the sample reference for each tone in the purchase order, and have the buyer and the site team both sign the same sheet. If the project specifies finishes from a supplier range, request the samples through the custom & OEM service so the panel and edge references stay consistent from sample approval through to production.
2. Lock the dimension basis: shop drawings, not architectural plans
Wardrobe orders made from architectural elevations carry risk, because those drawings rarely reflect finished floor levels, skirting, plaster build-up or the position of services. Require the supplier to work from site-verified dimensions and issue shop drawings for approval before cutting. The drawing should show overall height and width per run, door leaf widths, drawer stack heights, hanging rail levels, shelf depths and clearance to doors and light switches.
For made-to-measure joinery this step is where most rework is avoided. Every dimension you approve on paper becomes a production instruction; every dimension you leave open becomes a site problem.
3. Specify the layout and internal configuration in writing
Two tone refers to the exterior palette, but cost and usability are decided inside the carcass. Confirm the split between hanging sections, drawer focused modular wardrobes, shelving and any display or glass-front bays, room by room rather than as one blanket specification. State the number of drawers per unit, rail heights for short and long hanging, and whether adjustable shelves are required.
Where a run includes corner or walk-in sections, decide the access method early: L shaped corner wardrobes and walk-in layouts behave differently for reach and door swing than a straight run, and those decisions change both hardware and price.
4. Verify the substrate, board thickness and edge treatment
Ask what the panel substrate is, what thickness is used for doors, carcass and shelves, and how edges are finished. Shelf spans that are too wide for their thickness sag over time; thin door leaves feel light in the hand and can bow on tall heights. Confirm which surfaces are edged, the edge colour, and whether abs or standard edging is used on high-wear fronts.
5. Set hardware expectations separately from the panel order
Handleless fronts, integrated profiles, hinges with soft close, drawer runners and any internal lighting are frequently quoted as allowances rather than fixed items. Specify brand or model where it matters, hinge type and opening angle, runner load rating, and who supplies the handles and light fittings. A wardrobe that arrives without the specified ironmongery still counts as an incomplete delivery.
6. Agree tolerances, packing and delivery sequence before shipping
Joinery is usually one of the last trades on site, so a delayed or damaged wardrobe package stops painting, flooring and final cleaning from closing out. Confirm how panels are packed and labelled per room, which container or shipment they travel in, and what happens if a panel is damaged in transit. Where the supplier handles logistics and door-to-door delivery, get the packing list format agreed in advance so site crews can match each bundle to the shop drawing instead of unpacking at random.
Also agree how shortages are handled: which parts can be re-cut quickly, what spare hardware ships with the order, and who signs off the goods on arrival.
7. Plan installation access and the snag list
Tall wardrobe panels need a route to the room. Check lift capacity, stair widths, corridor turns and whether panels can be assembled in place. Then agree what "complete" means: doors aligned and adjusted, drawers running smoothly, no visible damage on edges, all hardware fitted. A written snag list at handover protects both sides and gives the supplier a clear basis for correction under installation and after-sales support.
8. Keep one document as the single source of truth
The controlled document above carries the finish references, approved shop drawings, internal layout per unit, hardware schedule and delivery sequence. Every variation is recorded in it with a date. When an issue arises later, that document, not an email chain, shows what was agreed.
| Risk | What it looks like on site | Control before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Finish mismatch | Edge banding or internal panels differ from door tone | Signed physical samples with references in the purchase order |
| Dimension error | Gaps at ceiling, doors fouling skirting or switches | Site-verified dimensions and approved shop drawings |
| Layout changes late | Extra drawers added after cutting starts | Frozen internal configuration per unit before production |
| Hardware gaps | Hinges, runners or handles missing on delivery | Hardware schedule quoted as fixed items, not allowances |
| Transit damage | Chipped corners, unlabelled bundles | Packing standard, labelling by room, agreed goods receipt check |
| Installation delay | Panels cannot reach the room; snag list disputed | Access survey and written handover criteria |
Related options worth reviewing at the same time
If two tone is only a starting point, compare it against matte finish melamine wardrobes for single-tone rooms and two tone acrylic wardrobes where a higher-gloss front is wanted. For kitchens ordered in the same package, matching panel tones across two tone melamine cabinets and bedroom joinery is far easier to control when both are specified from the same samples.
Frequently asked questions before ordering
When should finish samples be approved in the programme?
Before the purchase order is signed, not during production. Sample approval sets the panel and edge references that go into the order; approving later means re-cutting.
Who should take the final site measurements?
The party making the panels, ideally after finishes are complete or with confirmed finished floor and ceiling levels. Measurements taken from drawings alone leave build-up tolerances unverified.
Can a two tone wardrobe be matched to kitchen cabinetry in the same project?
Yes, if both are specified from the same panel and edge samples and ordered against the same references. Matching by product name alone is not reliable across different ranges.
What should be inspected when the joinery arrives?
Panel count against the packing list, edge condition on visible faces, correct labels per room, and the hardware quantities listed in the schedule. Record exceptions the same day with photographs.
If you are specifying melamine joinery for a villa or multi-unit project, send us the drawings and the two tones you are working to: contact SANTERSON to arrange samples, shop-drawing review and a quotation against your layout.