IKEA novice

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need some clothes storage for the bedroom, and as we want an unusual layout (hanging rail plus shelves) I can't find it in any standard wardrobes. So I'm wondering about the IKEA option. There's no store within 100 miles so I can't go and have a look.

are they reasonably tidy and long-lasting for the price, or is it all a bit too studenty? All opinions much appreciated.

Some of their stuff is nice (or I guess I mean good value really), some is tat - you have to go and see it for yourself. Even the same item in a different colour or finish can look really different.

The actual shopping experience is a nightmare. Do not take children with you. The store nearest to me (Southampton) only has one lift so you always have to wait ages to change floors. Go first thing in the morning or late at night then you should be OK.

Check that the dimensions of the boxes you are buying will fit in your car. Some of their things come in really small boxes requiring loads of construction and some of them come pre-built as one piece and so are bigger than you expect.

Pax wardrobes are great. We've had some of ours for years and they're still as good as new. I would really recommend going and having a look in person if you possibly can as it can give you ideas for different combinations etc.

The shopping experience is horrendous if you go at a busy time (weekends or bank holidays) and try and do it quickly. Ditch the kids, go on a weekday (having signed up for a family card so you can get free drinks all day), and then have a leisurely look round expecting to be there for a good few hours Plan in a lunch or coffee break and don't keep throwing cheap things into your trolley or you get a nasty shop at the checkout .

I guess you'll be looking at building your own PAX wardrobe then? I've got a few in the house, they're fine, perfectly sturdy (need the screws tightening every few months) and so long as you buy the right doors, look quite nice. I take my children to Ikea all the time. So much so that my two year old sighs audibly when we drive up to the store and my four year old can sleep on the top of a pile of flatpack boxes on a trolley. It is however much easier if you don't.

I think for the price they're great. Custom made built ins are just redunkulously expensive, and I think they often look cheap. We're putting a whole bunch of PAX units into our house - creating a massive hall cupboard where our old kitchen units were for coats, shoes and pushchairs, a linen cupboard on a new landing, we used them to create wardrobes in awkward alcoves (shallow depth PAX is particularly good for alcoves by chimney breasts) and I love the customisable interiors. I'm a particular fan of the baskets and the pull out clothes rails. I really like the Bergsbo doors (I have a lot of Hemnes bedroom furniture) but the sliding doors are nice too (although much more expensive and can feel a bit wibbly).

Dear Ikea,

please can I work for you, I know all your products and I am totally up for moving to Sweden.

MtM

PS wardrobe planner is AWESOME

thanks folks - from an initial look the PAX might well do the job, and I am playing with the wardrobe planner. I was hoping for 'sturdy' and 'not cheap looking' and from what is said here, it sounds like they will fit the bill.

it will all have to be done remotely, the delivery charge will still be cheaper than the fuel and I don't think a wardrobe will fit in the car. Have been to an IKEA but not for a few years!

PAX is good. We have had Pax wardrobe for 9 years DH still hasn't fitted the handles they are better if you don't move them around though, which is why we are leaving ours behind when we move.

The white looks lovely. I am really unkeen on the other colours, I think they can look cheap (although I could be won over to the black-brown).

Does anyone know if you can use the Pax system without the doors. We need something to go inside a fitted wardrobe.

If it's the same width, I don't see why not. You would just need to drill pilot holes to fit them in. The fittings only come in sizes to fit into 50cm, 75cm and 100cm I think.

Thanks MummytoMog. Best get measuring! Was a Bit worried it might all fall apart without the doors.

No, it wouldn't fall down, you hang the doors separately after you've built the rest.
PAX are great, we've had ours 5 years now and it is still perfect and good as new

Pax is good and not cheap and nasty. Great internal fittings and not too expensive.
The Bergsbo doors are prob the nicest.

We've got two sets of two 1m pax wardrobes up in our bedroom. they're stuffed fairly full with no doors and they're fine.

We intend to get doors but we've been in our house just for four weeks now and they haven't hit the top of the priority list yet.

can you buy the frames without doors and add doors later? Not sure if I actually want doors himself never shuts them anyway -

Yes, you can certainly do that. IIRC there was a picture in the catalogue a year or two back with curtains rather than doors which looked quite nice.

you good people are total founts of knowledge. Thank you!

We've bought PAX without the doors and fitted our own doors if you don't like the Ikea ones. Ours needed to match (or look reasonably similar to) other ones in the kitchen, so we ordered a door from a website that sells replacement kitchen cupboard doors. Some hinges and you're away.