IKEA PAX hack for built in wardrobes

[Hank86]

Has anyone done the ikea PAX hack for built in wardrobes and can tell me how hard this actually is?! I’ve seen loads and loads of instagram posts where they make it look very simple but keen for some real life experience…! We would like to do 3 built in wardrobes and with a quote for over £5k from a joiner we are exploring if DIY PAX is an option. DH and I have pretty good DIY skills but we aren’t experts. For context we are in a Victorian terrace (so no doubt the walls won’t be perfectly straight…) and we are building into chimney breast alcoves. Thanks!!

There are a lot of how we did this on youtube. I think this chap explains how to hack Ikea furniture well. In this case a Billy bookcase but Pax has the same cam bolts and dowel system. It is quite genius how he uses the original holes to drill the new ones to the correct depth.

This is a woman who built hers in, here is the base part build to raise it to the same height as her skirting board.

Ikea has changed how some of their Pax is now put together in terms of it being almost part assembled. In terms of longevity, I have a lot of Pax wardrobes. We used them in the children's playroom and they are still great after 15 years. We have also internally reconfigured them over the years too. Internal fittings are decently priced.

Did one, it's quite doable but can be time consuming and be prepared to break some components in the process (ikea guarantee sends you replacements for free). The pax is made of cardboard type wood so can be a bit frustrating to work with.

Brill thank you @CandleMeltAway@Papricat super helpful! I think we’ll give it a bash (literally)

@Hank86 I know Papricat is saying it is made of cardboard type wood. This is not true, it is particleboard ie chipbboard and foil wrapped which means it has a plastic coating like most kitchen cabinets. It feels very solid. Some of their other products (desk tops and tables) can be made of the honeycomb cardboard sandwiched between two layers of thin wood but it will tell you under materials what they are made of.

Best of luck with it. As I said there are lots of videos on youtube, so longer than Insta where you get to see them putting it together and painting it. Also videos on how to cut Ikea furniture too.

If you do paint it then Zinsser BIN primer in the red tin is a one coat product as per professional decorators who use this day in day out. It covers well and you should only need one coat. You will also need to throw away any brush or roller used with it. Again lots of these videos on youtube. It is a brilliant resource.