IKEA Pax for a wide alcove?

[trickyex]

I'd like to get some proper clothes storage organised for DS2 who is 11 and very messy. He has a lot of clothes, especially sports things (he skis, runs, plays tennis, cricket etc etc).
His current heavy wooden wardrobe is not at all practical.
I like the Pax units and all the associated interior fittings but the alcove in his room is 130cm wide. The room also has a very high ceiling (just over 3m).
I think if I have a 1m wide/2.3m tall Pax unit it will look odd and is wasting a lot of space.
I am not keen on the new IKEA modular range, it feels cheap.

I dont have the funds to go fully built in, am wondering about using the Pax frames somehow but they are too narrow.
Is there a way round this?
(google searches and IKEA hackers site have been fruitless!)

[Xiaoxiong]

What about building in the Elvari or Elgot systems? You can do hanging stuff above and drawers below?

[Xiaoxiong]

From Ikea that is!

[NotMeNoNo]

Use one 75cm and one 50cm unit,?

[holidaylady]

We have elvarli and it's super. Have a look on line

[trickyex]

Yes I could do either of those. Thank you both.
I like Pax as its very sturdy - DS is quite heavy handed.
But the others could work.
Actually the elvarli looks especially good as I could take it with me when I move (which is uncertain).
Is it sturdy holidaylady?

[trickyex]

Sorry not both, there were three of you!

[namechangedtoday15]

We used PAX frames (didn't fit the opening or ceiling height) but got a joiner to build extra bits to go up to the ceiling and at the side. We then bought made to measure doors from a company online, bought all the internal fittings from IKEA for the main bits.

[PickAChew]

The 75cm units are for the sliding doors so wouldn't work with a 50cm unit without modification.

[PickAChew]

Have you had a look at VISTHUS? If the quality is good, it looks perfect.
www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/wardrobes/free-standing-wardrobes/visthus-wardrobe-grey-white-art-50347616/

[holidaylady]

Yes it's very sturdy. It's anchored to the ceiling. The wooden bits are beautiful hardy bamboo. And all the drawers are soft close.

You could definitely move house with it. And you can design it to precisely what you need.

However you will need to go old school with some graph paper and cut out shapes as there's no online application thingy to calculate what you need. The staff in the shops can help too, if you can get in the day on a week day.

We have a made to measure walk in wardrobe. It's marvellous!

[PickAChew]

DS1 has a brimnes bed and it's very sturdy. The wardrobe has more hanging space and less shelving than the one above, though
www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/wardrobes/free-standing-wardrobes/brimnes-wardrobe-with-3-doors-oak-effect-art-60312027/

[minniemoll]

I have a 50 + 75 Pax combination in an alcove - the 75 has one 50 plain door and a 25cm mirrored door so that the mirror is in the middle of the unit. It works very well.

[trickyex]

The Visthus is perfect size wise, and looks practical too.
But I live in an old and slightly wonky house and I think it would look too modern.
I could adapt a metre wide and 2.3m tall Pax unit but there would be be big gaps to fill at the sides.
Am thinking the Elvarli with a curtain across the alcove might be best.
Decisions decisions!

[GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat]

@minniemoll where did you get your 25cm mirrored door? Is that something Ikea do or did you get it made specially?

[GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat]

I have a similar alcove (140cm annoyingly!) and went with the 100cm wide/236cm tall Pax in the end as I couldn't decide. I painted both alcoves a contrasting colour and quite like the way the white wardrobe looks as a standalone piece against the painted wall.
I tend to store tall things e.g. ironing board/ wrapping paper rolls tucked down the far side hidden from view. Does your son has any sports equipment that could be stashed there (tennis racket, cricket bat, skis?!)

It doesn't look as bad as I feared, somehow the 100cm wide Pax almost fills the 140cm space. Visually it doesn't look like 20cm either side (or 15cm in your case). I appreciate you're trying to maximise storage however.
I have a shelf at the top, a hanging rail and several of the 100cm wide drawers in mine - they fit masses!

When I was trying to solve the same problem I came across someone who'd used Billy shelves with the height extenders either side. I think they might be 20cm wide. It looked good.

[trickyex]

minniemoll what sort of interior fittings can you get for the 75cm pax though?
I am thinking I might just for for the metre wide unit (full height) and max out the drawers/shelves etc and use the sides as GarethS suggests (stashing misc sports kit etc).
I like the idea of a unit with sides and pull out drawer/shelves etc.
The Elvarli would be ideal in a downstairs cupboard I am planing for coats etc.

[trickyex]

Brimnes is perfect width wise but rather low (very tall ceilings in his room), but thank you.

[GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat]

You could also get some nice storage boxes/vintage suitcases to go on top if you still have a good 70cm on top for seasonal/less used things

[GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat]

You could add a couple of hooks at shoulder height down the sides of the alcove (near the front) to increase storage within the dead space before you put the wardrobe in place.

Are you getting the 58cm deep one? That's the one I have. It sticks out a little but not too badly.

[trickyex]

Yes good point, some nice looking boxes plus hooks will be perfect to make the most of the extra space.
Ikea sells a valet hook thing for the side of the unit where you can hang clothes for airing etc so I will grab one of those.
The alcove is 61cm deep so the 60cm unit will fit perfectly depth wise.
I may go to IKEA to run through options with one of the staff. There is almost too much choice of fittings and I am close to pax overload

[trickyex]

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/wardrobes/fitted-wardrobes/komplement-valet-hanger-white-art-70256931/

[GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat]

Oh they're great, I didn't know they existed!

Pax overload is a real thing

[KristinaM]

I have the tall Pax wardrobes in all three kids bedrooms ( they are teenagers and have a lot of stuff ). We have a combination of white gloss doors and mirror doors. If you want a more traditional look , Ikea sell white panelled doors.

If I had your space I would have 2 x 50cm . One side with 2 or 3 baskets at the bottom, to take clothes that you would put in a chest of drawers - underwear , PJ, shorts, tops, etc. Two might be enough because they are very deep. It depends if he prefers to hang or fold things like T shirts.

Then shelves above for sports kit. He can put ‘out of season’ kit on the top One or two shelves because he won’t be able to reach them without a small ladder.

Skiwear is best in a zip up bag so it can be compressed.

Other side of the wardrobe would be two hanging rails, one above the other ( as he won’t have any long items). And one shelf high up to make the best use of space . Again you can put out of season clothes on this.

There are lots of fancy fittings for the Pax wardrobes but most kids won’t use them. Eg they will toss all their shoes in a heap on the floor of the wardrobe and ignore the shoe rack.

The drawers (and some of the other fittings ) for the Pax are very expensive and kids prefer the wire baskets as they can see what’s in there. They also allow more ventilation - always handy for sports stuff.

So I’d go for the basic fittings. And remember if you buy too many shelves etc you can return them as as long as you don’t unwrap them.

You won’t have 15cm wasted on each side of the wardrobe because an old house will have deep skirtings that hold the unit out from the wall. It will end up getting sports bags dumped there anyway.

[KristinaM]

Forgot to say, don’t buy the trousers hangers unless you have the one neat and tidy boy in the Uk who is going to stand and thread his joggers through the little slots.

[trickyex]

Thanks Kristina, thats all great advice.
I think two 50m units would work well. Divide and conquer. And definitely boxes in preference to hanging things up....
I wouldnt dream of getting him the trouser hanger!
His clothes currently live in a motley selection of boxes and tubs - he just lobs his stuff in. Nothing is hung up if I leave him to do it. I try to help create order but its an effort.
I am seriously considering having a curtain across the alcove rather than pax doors as he wont open and close the doors but hopefully will use a wardrobe if its open and easy to access.
And I agree re the mesh baskets, they are the best option I think, I use them and find them better than drawers and shelves.