Are Ikea PAX really 'fitted wardrobes'? Recommendations please...

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

So having messed around a bit with the IKEA wardrobe planner, it seems to me that you are restricted by the width and height of the PAX units that you start off with? i.e., 150cm or 200cm wide and 235 high. Which is no good if you want to go up to a 255cm ceiling and have a space 190cm wide to fill - or am I missing something?

Anyway am a total ingenue when it comes to fitted wardrobes so any recommendations welcome. Safest would probably be to get a local joiner to make some as we have wonky walls / floors - but am guessing that would be expensive and not sure we or they would be knowledgeable enough to include all the smart space-saving things you get in modern wardrobes...?

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PRO

Saltbox Interiors London

6 years ago

Hi, you indeed only have a couple of options when it comes to the PAX, which is part of the deal when you buy IKEA flatpack I guess. They can still look wonderful with the right styling. In my own home, I have the PAX wardrobes in our office space, and I have bought the IKEA large felt storage boxes which look great on top and are handy for storing bits and bobs that you don't need to get to all the time. Another similar solution would be to buy more expensive baskets if it fits with the aesthetic of the room. Alternatively, I have worked with carpenters who can use the PAX closet solution as the frame and then build bespoke doors or surround which can look truly wonderful, albeit at a higher cost (though not as expensive as entirely bespoke) of course. There are many examples of this if you google "PAX wardrobe bespoke doors". Carpenters could then build an extra shelf above with taller doors, additional cabinetry or even a cornice to finish the job. Hope that is helpful!

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Comments (22)

Emmanuelle
6 years ago
We had the pax in our bedroom in our last house. There was indeed a small gap at top (10cm ish) but that never bothered me. We also had a gap at one end between wall and actual wardrobe and thought it was very practical: it hid our ironing table perfectly! The fittings inside were amazing! You can end up with a very well thought and practical wardrobe!
adrianlowery thanked Emmanuelle
A B
6 years ago
No! That is why the are a lot cheaper!
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Hmmmn...........the trouble is that with most of the -pre-built wardrobes with any style about them ( to go in a victorian home ) is that they generally have drawers at the bottom emulating a 'victorian style'. - such as these:- furniture market.co.uk very nice looking, really good value and more to the point amendable as above. Note that the middle has an extra piece of wood so that you would be putting another rail on a double thickness surface for extra support. Ours (albeit handmade ) have a piece of wood under the second rail going to the floor so that the bar can withstand more weight. The only problem with that style is the height. Because they have the drawer at the bottom, the height inside is lessened and fitting two rows of clothes one under the other is still cramped. I found these, with no drawers:- Cranleigh Furniture - not exciting in design, but you can have them painted or paint them yourself. At least they offer better height for two rails. Are you completely set against built in?? You can get a whole lot more creative and use the space to the max.
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Hi Gina, I specify IKEA a lot, so I know what you are looking for. One of my clients recently introduced me to this company called "sliding wardrobe world" - I haven't used them personally but they said they were very nice and very practical. I would definitely have a look at their stuff - its very different to IKEA in that you have "flexible pieces" such as the rails which can be adjusted to fit the space. If you couldn't afford doors you could save for those later and just install the basic units. http://slidingwardrobeworld.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjwq7XMBRCDsfOh2bKh0kYSJAClSOUG6U5tv2Pt4TT1CnVbUAYOvrKBRm1fRFN3nZqR7KqbdxoCtC3w_wcB The other thing I have done with another client is proposed a smaller IKEA set in the space and the filled the "left-over gap" with another slim bookshelf to make it all look built-in... I hope this gave you a head start or at least some ideas. Jo
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laurz84
6 years ago
Look at PAX hacks online...lot of people create fitted wardrobes with them but placing them on a base and adding cornices etc
adrianlowery thanked laurz84
Laura Thomas
6 years ago
We have pax wardrobes that appear to be fitted.
My husband screwed a baton to the wall and side of wardrobe to allow him to fix a piece of plasterboard to fill the gap. On the other side we have some ikea shelves, also filled around in the same way.
We have a very small gap at the top maybe 1-2cm so too small to fill with a piece of moulding/cornice.
Ikea hackers is a great place to get ideas and see what is achievable even if you only have basic diy skills.
adrianlowery thanked Laura Thomas
PRO
User
6 years ago
You can use the pax doors but get a carpenter to make a frame with a bit in the middle the width needed to make up the difference needed. Or many of the home stores, B&Q, Wickes etc do sliding wardrobe door packs, so it's not that hard to make something to fit. Obviously, you will pay more for it to be tailor made, you have to buy the materials and pay for the guy's time.

Depends what you want.

3 of these from Wickes on a frame would take up the 190cm width wickes sliding doors. With a nice thick frame top and bottom you can easily make up the remaining 13cm of height ( the doors being 222cm ) Then you can put what you like on the inside using a multitude of ideas from ikea, or design it as simply as you like for someone to build.

The last one of these that I made cost the client £1200 but it fitted perfectly. ( Albeit the inside was just hanging rails )
adrianlowery thanked User
adrianlowery
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for all comments and suggestions.

We really don't want any gaps, or boxes on top, and we want to maximise every inch of storage space so not keen on hiding gaps with bases / panels etc.

And I have retired from DIY. So looks like PAX might not be for us.

What is the score with these places like Sharps, Hammond's etc (and wicked / homebase)? Are they sort of made to measure, so you choose a unit that's close and they alter it to fit?
kikiamack
6 years ago
We used Hammonds for shaker style sliding door wardrobes in our boys' bedrooms last year. They are made to measure, but they do have a maximum height of sliding door that you can get. However, internally we can still access the space right up to the ceiling. If you get someone round for a quote, make sure you have measured how much hanging rail you currently use for the different lengths of clothes, work out drawer space and shelves required. We were pleasantly surprised by the price, we ordered during the sale, and they came in under my max figure.
adrianlowery thanked kikiamack
Daisy England
6 years ago
Sharps and Hammonds have always worked out expensive for me.
You might be pleasantly surprised by asking a carpenter for a price even if they do the basics and you fit the inner items of your choice.
adrianlowery thanked Daisy England
PRO
OnePlan
6 years ago
You can design cabinets to size on Jali.co.uk - then get it delivered flat packed for your joiner to install if you want to use every mm .
adrianlowery thanked OnePlan
adrianlowery
Original Author
6 years ago
That Jali place looks very interesting - thank you!

I did also find this DIY Wardrobes place - but there is v little chatter about it on the internet (couldn't find many reviews, references etc.)

https://www.diywardrobes.co.uk/
PRO
Nordikka - Bespoke Furniture & Steel Doors
6 years ago
adrianlowery

You only will achieve the functionality you are after with a bespoke system.

We exclusively supply truly bespoke sliding wardrobes made in Denmark . Stunning quality .

Please have a look at our website , download our brochure ( price examples excl installation at the back )

www.slidingwardrobessolutions.co.uk

I'll be happy to do initial design , just send me your plan with dims and any storage solutions required .

We deliver nationally too.
adrianlowery thanked Nordikka - Bespoke Furniture & Steel Doors
adrianlowery
Original Author
6 years ago
Right can anyone advise me if it is possible to cut away the bottom of a PAX side panel to fit around the skirting board (ours are about 10cm high) and have it flush to the wall? If we can do this then we can fit a 200cm wide unit in. Looking at the prices of real fitted stuff, we just aren't going to be in the flat long enough to justify.
A B
6 years ago
Just had a look at our (10 year old) pax and I don't think you can. In ours you would have to cut the base as well, exposing MDF on both sides. We have ours in front of the skirting board.
adrianlowery thanked A B
adrianlowery
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Jen thank you. Do you mean at the back? We would not need the back to be flush, I was just thinking the bottom of the side panel.
A B
6 years ago
They may make them differently now. But in ours the side panel joins directly to the back.
adrianlowery thanked A B
adrianlowery
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Ok ta. Also not possible because of the doors too probably? - esp sliding ones. Alternatively we could cut a hole in the right-hand panel that could go around the radiator valve...
PRO
Nordikka - Bespoke Furniture & Steel Doors
6 years ago
The easiest then will be to cut the skirting . If you cut the carcass you will reduce stability of already not the most solid product. I guess wardrobes will stay once you move out?
adrianlowery thanked Nordikka - Bespoke Furniture & Steel Doors
Laura Thomas
6 years ago
We had this issue when fitting Besta in to an alcove, and found that removing the skirting was the best solution. We kept the piece of skirting and refitted it when we moved house.
adrianlowery thanked Laura Thomas
adrianlowery
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
God I'm so stupid sometimes - yes that would be by far the better solution thanks!
adrianlowery
Original Author
6 years ago
>> I guess wardrobes will stay once you move out?

Probably yes
PRO
Kluk Construction Ltd
6 years ago
Bespoke joinery is always better to achieve maximum of storage from space you got. However with PAX there is option to match up for saving cost, however you are limited to size, if you got 190cm you need to fit 150cm and have covering panels.

We did in few houses to get lower cost build in units, that we put it in PAX wardrobes and we made bespoke side panels and framing, skirting so when you close them it looks like bespoke, where inside is still IKEA.
adrianlowery thanked Kluk Construction Ltd

Are Ikea PAX really 'fitted wardrobes'? Recommendations please...

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