15 IKEA PAX Hacks That Can Cure All Your Storage Woes

We simply can’t resist a good IKEA hack. Whether you’re hacking the TRONES shoe cupboard, EKET cabinet, or RAST dresser, it’s amazing what innovative DIYers can do. But if you’re daydreaming of a custom closet, you have to see what you can do with the affordable IKEA PAX wardrobe. With some ingenious IKEA PAX hacks from clever creators, you can turn this off-the-shelf closet system into a seriously luxe look.

And even without a hack, when it comes to closet organization, you simply can’t beat the PAX; it offers plenty of storage and built-ins to suit just about any need. Ready to upgrade your IKEA PAX system? Take a gander at 15 of our favorite ways to zhuzh this piece up.

Instagram user @ren.hove.ation used a light-colored fabric to cover her IKEA PAX cabinet, then added a soothing blue hue to the outlines. It comes together beautifully and looks great in this space.

Or, you could add a Pax cabinet to your kitchen if your space doesn’t already include a pantry like Trisha Sprouse’s kitchen. The benefit of adding this slim cabinet is that you don’t have to have a ton of space, yet there’s plenty of room to store often-used items and free up valuable countertop real estate.

Having a dedicated space to store everyday items and to do your makeup every morning is a bedroom upgrade you’ll never regret. A Pax cabinet system can be made into an enviable vanity, like the one shown in this bedroom.

Think a PAX closet system only belongs in the bedroom? Think again! This handsome home office space features a PAX closet painted a beautiful burnt orange hue, which expertly matches the shelves and cabinets of the desk next to it. 

Paint a PAX system black and voila! You’ve got the perfect modern touch to your space, like the one shown here. 

We love this adorable set up seen in this tiny NYC apartment, where Maitri Mody lives with her beloved pup. She chose to leave off the closet doors in order to display her array of colorful clothing. 

Between painting the PAX system a dark blue-gray and adding brass drawer pulls, this vintage-glam closet looks downright regal.

You can keep your PAX plain white and simply spruce up the space around it, as seen in this stunning before and after with statement wallpaper and greenery. 

Malcolm of Design 69 is obviously a genius because he figured out how to cut a PAX on an angle before tucking it under the eaves of his upstairs Victorian bedroom. We also love how he painted it to match the walls.

The Instagram user IKEAPAXHACK certainly knows a thing or two about elevating this basic cabinet! Here, they’ve mirrored the PAX in this entryway and added a clever circular design that brings a ton of visual interest.

There are a couple of reasons that this bedroom storage stands out: the angled design, the open cubby storage stacked above the unit and the gold ring pulls. Christina created a super stylish system that’s out in the open, but packs the punch of a walk-in closet.

PAX is painted the same pink color as the walls and paired with a white door and trim in this bedroom. Trés chic.

This bright green unit from @lets.stay.at.home works perfectly with this child’s room. An added curved panel adds a touch of whimsy, and is painted in the same color as the cabinet for a cohesive look.

Similar to SemiHandmade is Scandinavian A.S. Helsingo, which creates doors to fit IKEA wardrobes. We love the monochromatic look in the room above.

Just because PAX was designed as a wardrobe, doesn’t mean it can’t go elsewhere, like the kitchen or an entryway. This one, from @houseonthecorner_16, fits perfectly into an alcove in the home’s entryway. A white panel placed across the top helped achieve a perfect fit, and the mustard color is a chic invitation into the home.