Creating a custom IKEA PAX wardrobe can be a rewarding experience, especially if you choose to build the frame and doors yourself. With proper planning and tools, you can create a unique and functional storage solution that perfectly fits your style and space. In this guide, I’ll explain step-by-step how to make a built-in wardrobe using basic IKEA PAX elements and finishing it with DIY wardrobe doors and a custom side panel, from preparation to final assembly.
P.S. In 2 of the 3 children’s rooms, we opted for custom wardrobes: in one of the children’s rooms, we covered a niche behind the wardrobe, and in the other children’s room, every centimeter had to be optimally used to also create space for a DIY floating desk. For this bedroom, however, it can be done with the basic IKEA PAX elements of 100x58x236 cm, so I’ll be tackling this myself. I love a good DIY, very satisfying!
Step 1: preparation
- 2x IKEA PAX 100 x 58 x 236 cm: approximately €470 at IKEA
- 6x large drawers
- 4x shelves
- 2x clothes rods
- 4x IKEA KOMPLEMENT hinges (16 pieces in total)
- MDF with lacquer finish 18 mm: approximately €240 at the local sawmill (including the bookshelf)
- 4x wardrobe doors: 235.8 x 49.5 cm
- Top trim: 199.6 x 3 cm
- Side panel: 239.5 x 61 cm (58 cm wardrobe + 1.8 cm door + 1.2 cm baseboard)
- Bookshelf MDF with lacquer finish 18 mm:
- 2x sides: 239.4 x 31 cm
- 1x back: 239.4 x 31.6 cm
- 2x top and bottom: 28 x 31 cm (width x depth)
- 5x shelves: 27.8 x 30 cm (width x depth)
- Shelf supports 20x (+ drilling template for evenly spaced holes)
- Wood drill bit 3 mm for pre-drilling holes for shelf supports
- Forstner drill bit 35 mm
- Wood drill bit 5 mm
- Wood glue and water (or edge sealer)
- JigsawCordless drill
- 2 clamps
- 2 (cheap) handles
I used IKEA’s tool to plan the layout of the wardrobes and measured the height from floor to ceiling with a laser meter at different points. In some places, it was 240 cm; in others, it was slightly less, so I used the smallest height, 239.7 cm, to ensure the wardrobe fits well and the doors open and close properly.
To make the wardrobe doors, I went to the local sawmill (for me, that’s Van den Nest in Hofstade) and had the 18mm MDF panels cut to the exact size.
STEP 2: Determining the wardrobe door height
To keep things simple, I’ll use the standard IKEA PAX hinge placement for my custom wardrobe doors. Standard PAX doors are 229.4 cm high, with a 7 cm plinth at the bottom of a 236.4 cm PAX element. By making my own doors, I can hide the plinth and ensure a perfect fit.
- 239.7 cm – height between floor and ceiling
- 236.4 cm – height of the IKEA PAX elements
Calculation custom doors: total height
For full-height wardrobe doors, I maintain a distance of 2.1 cm below the ceiling and 1.8 cm above the floor. 1.8 cm is the thickness of the MDF I’ll be using. I’m also making a narrow bookshelf next to the wardrobe, and the base of that bookshelf will be 1.8 cm high. The best look will be if the wardrobe doors start at the same height, so I’ll have them 1.8 cm above the floor. If you’re not using a bookshelf and want full-height doors, you can also maintain 1 cm above the floor as a measurement.
This means the height of my wardrobe doors is as follows: 239.7 cm (ceiling height) – 2.1 cm (below the ceiling) – 1.8 cm (above the floor) = 235.8 cm. This height is also the internal height of my bookshelf, so everything aligns nicely.
Calculation custom doors: extension top & bottom
My wardrobe doors are 235.8 cm tall. To maintain the standard IKEA PAX hinge placement, I need to extend the bottom of my custom doors by 5.2 cm (7 cm plinth of the wardrobe – 1.8 cm ‘floating’ above the ground = 5.2 cm) and the top by 1.2 cm (235.8 cm – 229.4 cm – 5.2 cm = 1.2 cm). This ensures the total height is 235.8 cm. Calculating these extensions is crucial for determining the correct hinge placement in the next step.
- IKEA PAX wardrobe door: 229.4 cm
- My DIY wardrobe door: 235.8 cm
- Extend the top of the wardrobe door by 1.2 cm
- Extend the bottom of the wardrobe door by 5.2 cm
STEP 3: Painting in color
- Paint color: Charming D-12 / IG CH D-12 (via Gamma)
- MDF with lacquer finish 18mm
I chose MDF with a lacquer finish for easy painting. The edges need special prep: apply a wood glue and water mix, sand (grit 180), repeat, then paint twice. Ready-made edge sealers work too. I used Histor matte kitchen cabinet paint in “Charming D-12 / IG CH D-12,” chosen from a sample at Gamma.
STEP 4: Hinges
In this step, I provide an overview of the existing dimensions for the hinges of doors with exactly the same dimensions as those of IKEA PAX (for basic elements of 236 cm high) and the adjusted dimensions for the hinges/wardrobe doors that I am making to fit my space so that they fit the existing IKEA PAX basic elements of 236 cm high. If you’re doing this yourself, you can use the information below to make custom wardrobe doors for your IKEA PAX wardrobes. A hinge consists of a 35mm diameter hole made with a Forstner drill bit and 2 smaller holes of 5 mm diameter. The depth is 13 mm.
- 35 mm diameter with Forstner drill bit: center at 22.5 mm from the edge.
- 5 mm hole above and below at 22.5 mm from the center of the 35 mm hole and 32 mm distance from the edge.
4.1 Standard Ikea pax hinges – wardrobe 236 cm
- Center of the top hinge at 123 mm from the top of the door
- Center of the second top hinge at 1051 mm from the top of the door
- Center of the bottom hinge at 123 mm from the bottom of the door
- Center of the second bottom hinge at 1051 mm from the bottom of the door
The standard dimensions of the 4 hinges needed for the doors of the large IKEA PAX wardrobes of 236 cm high and 50 cm wide. The dimensions of these doors are 2294 x 495 x 18 mm. The two top hinges are at the same distance from the top of the wardrobe door as the two bottom hinges are from the bottom of the wardrobe door.
4.2 Ikea pax hinges – custom doors
The dimensions of my custom-made, full-height wardrobe doors are 2358 x 495 x 18 mm. As explained in step 2, I extend my doors at the bottom by 52 mm and at the top by 12 mm compared to a standard IKEA PAX wardrobe door. This means the hinge distances – if I want them to match exactly with the hinge placements of the standard IKEA PAX wardrobe doors – for my custom-made wardrobe doors are:
- Center of the top hinge at 135 mm from the top of the door (123 mm + 12 mm)
- Center of the second top hinge at 1063 mm from the top of the door (1051 mm + 12 mm)
- Center of the bottom hinge at 175 mm from the bottom of the door (123 mm + 52 mm)
- Center of the second bottom hinge at 1103 mm from the bottom of the door (1051 mm + 52 mm)
Make sure to measure and mark the exact locations on your wardrobe doors to ensure the hinges are placed correctly.
STEP 5: pre-drill and assemble the elements
I use a jigsaw to cut the baseboard so that it fits perfectly around the wardrobe and bookshelves. The wardrobe is built in parts in the room itself, so there is no need to move the whole wardrobe, which would be difficult given the small spaces. A side panel is used to cover the side of the wardrobe and ensure a seamless look.
I pre-drill the holes for the hinges and screws. Assembly is straightforward following the instructions provided by IKEA. Pay special attention to ensure the wardrobe is level and aligned correctly. This will make sure the doors open and close smoothly.
STEP 6: mounting wardrobe doors
I mount the wardrobe doors to the frame using the hinges. Since the holes were pre-drilled, this step is straightforward. Make sure to align the doors properly and make any necessary adjustments to ensure they are level and close correctly.
STEP 7: adding finishing touches
I add the handles to the doors. The handles I chose are simple and inexpensive, but they add a nice touch to the wardrobe. The final step is to attach the side panel to the wardrobe to give it a finished look.
And voila! A custom IKEA PAX wardrobe with DIY doors and a side panel. This project may take some time and effort, but the end result is a beautiful, functional wardrobe that perfectly fits your space and style. Enjoy your new custom wardrobe!