Home Design & Decorating Room Design

15 IKEA Pax Hacks for Your Best Closet Ever

pax hack room divider

Een Goed Verhaal

The IKEA Pax closet system is a top seller and it’s not hard to see why. The closet allows for endless customization with all the sizes and internal storage options on offer, meaning you can create a closet that’s just right for your individual needs and your space, all at a very affordable price.

But that’s not all—the Pax wardrobe offers endless DIY opportunities to create a unique piece, no matter your decor style. The Pax can be turned in to a vintage wardrobe, it can take on a mid-century feel or you can go for a modern, minimalist look. You can also transform it into a built-in wardrobe or even a luxurious walk-in closet.

We’ve picked out 15 of the best IKEA Pax hacks that will inspire you to start creating your very own Pax hack today.

  • 01 of 15

    Antique Splendor

    antique closet Pax hack

    @the.decor.edit / Instagram

    If you’ve ever wanted an antique wooden closet without the splurge, get the look with this Pax hack by the.decor.edit. The doors are made from plywood sheets that have been cut in an arched shape and then stained to create a walnut wood effect. Finished with some elegant hardware, it's hard to believe this closet started life as the basic Pax system.

    Continue to 2 of 15 below
  • 02 of 15

    Retro Charm

    retro pac hack

    @ahouseonashbank / Instagram

    Inspired by the retro graphic patterns of Irish designer Orla Keily, Emma of ahouseonashbank made these cute handles to turn this Pax closet into a statement piece. The top of the closet has also been painted terracotta to match the wall and ceiling decor in the room, giving the illusion of a built-in closet without having to do the work.

    Continue to 3 of 15 below
  • 03 of 15

    Victorian Glamor

    victorian closet pax hack

    @itsnotsogrimupnorth / Instagram

    The Pax lends itself to almost any style and here it’s taken on a bold and glamorous Victorian look created by itsnotsogrimupnorth. They've not only created an authentic looking piece complete with trim and crown molding, but the color drenching of the entire room takes it to another level. 

    Continue to 4 of 15 below
  • 04 of 15

    Warm Minimalism

    sliding doors pax hack

    Hygge & Spruce

    When space is on the tighter side in a bedroom, sliding doors are ideal for a closet. Not only has blogger Hygge & Spruce paired the Pax frame with sliding doors, but the doors have been given a cozy Scandinavian aesthetic with warm wooden slats.

    Continue to 5 of 15 below
  • 05 of 15

    Maximalist Luxury

    walk-in closet pax hack

    Chris Loves Julia

    If you’re lucky enough to have a whole room to turn in to a walk-in closet, you can create the most luxurious dressing room with the Pax system like the bloggers at Chris Loves Julia did. Add some lavish details like a chandelier, leather ottoman, and vintage rug and no one will ever guess that this is a Pax hack.

    Continue to 6 of 15 below
  • 06 of 15

    Geometric Statement

    wallpapered pax hack

    Seasons in Colour

    Sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that can transform the Pax, like this one by Seasons in Colour. These closet doors have been covered in graphic wallpaper with metallic accents. The best part is that you can choose any wallpaper that works for your style and decor, making it unique to your home.

    Continue to 7 of 15 below
  • 07 of 15

    Seamless Style

    panelled closet Pax hack

    Little House on the Corner

    As custom made and built-in as this closet looks, it’s a surprisingly easy hack. The bloggers at Little House on The Corner extended the original Pax doors by gluing on slim MDF panels and painting them. It’s been finished with some brushed gold handles that add a striking touch. It’s the panelling detail that really makes this closet look like a custom-made piece.

    Continue to 8 of 15 below
  • 08 of 15

    Boho-Inspired

    pax hack room divider

    Een Goed Verhaal

    You don’t always have to reach for the power tools or even paint to hack the Pax. Mirjam from Een Goed Verhaal created a walk-in closet simply by placing two Pax units facing each other with space in between and finished it with a macrame curtain. The closet also doubles as a room divider in this multi-use attic space.

    Continue to 9 of 15 below
  • 09 of 15

    Scandinavian Aesthetic

    plywood pax hack

    @carnesure.house / Instagram

    The Pax isn’t just for clothes and can be used for storage in any room of your home, including the living room. Victoria from Carnesure House clad Pax frames with plywood sheets to fit in with her Scandinavian-style decor and provide much-needed living room storage for all her kids' toys. 

    Continue to 10 of 15 below
  • 10 of 15

    Turn of the Century Elegance

    victorian wardrobe pax hack

    Readmore House

    It’s hard to believe this characterful built-in closet started life as the humble Pax. With the addition of some baseboards, crown molding, and trim, this Pax wardrobe has been transformed into an expensive-looking closet that looks like an original turn of the century piece, which is exactly what the bloggers behind Readmore House wanted for their period home.

    Continue to 11 of 15 below
  • 11 of 15

    Modern and Playful

    painted IKEA pax

    @claire.moran.designs / Instagram

    This yellow Pax hack is such a cheerful piece for a kid’s room or nursery. It was created with some MDF surround and paint, and the round wooden handles finish the look off perfectly.

    Continue to 12 of 15 below
  • 12 of 15

    Vintage Opulence

    vintage pax hack

    Erin Kestenbaum

    When your budget doesn’t stretch to a custom-built wardrobe, it doesn’t mean you have to compromise as Erin Kestenbaum shows us. Here, the Pax has been painted in a rich blue hue and finished with brass pulls, giving this a high-end vintage inspired look. The additional details like the wallpapered ceiling and artwork elevate this space even further.

    Continue to 13 of 15 below
  • 13 of 15

    Modern Minimalism

    minimalist pax hack

    Moller-Kirchsteiger

    The Pax gets a simple and stylish makeover as an entryway closet with a bench. Blogger Moller-Kirchsteiger made extra-long custom doors and placed the closet on a plinth to create a seamless, floor-to-ceiling look. The doors are finished with birch wood handles, which add a subtle detail to the minimal look.

    Continue to 14 of 15 below
  • 14 of 15

    Sophisticated Storage

    pax hallway hack

    Porche and Co

    The Pax is equally at home in a hallway as it is in a bedroom. Here, it’s been used to create a lot of storage in a narrow hallway by Porche and Co. The built-in finish paired with the sophisticated sage green color and brass handles make this Pax piece unrecognizable.

    Continue to 15 of 15 below
  • 15 of 15

    Mid-Century Modern

    mid-century pax hack

    DIY in Progress

    When an original mid-century piece is not in budget, this Pax hack by DIY in Progress is the answer. The Pax doors have been replaced with inexpensive maple plywood sheets and stained a dark wood color. But it’s the details like the arched finish on the doors and the leather trim handles that make this closet so authentic.