Hello everyone,
I recently started organizing my collection (mainly books, figurines, and trading cards) more efficiently and am considering using an Ikea Pax system for storage. Since the Pax system is very flexible—with various sizes, inserts, and accessories—I’m interested in how to best use it for different types of collectibles.
Which combinations of interior fittings (shelves, drawers, hanging rods, etc.) work best for secure yet easily accessible storage? Do you have experience planning the modules so that, for example, fragile figurines are well protected while cards are kept neatly organized? I would also appreciate any tips on customising the Pax cabinet doors or lighting, if anyone has implemented something like that.
Looking forward to your ideas and experiences!
I recently started organizing my collection (mainly books, figurines, and trading cards) more efficiently and am considering using an Ikea Pax system for storage. Since the Pax system is very flexible—with various sizes, inserts, and accessories—I’m interested in how to best use it for different types of collectibles.
Which combinations of interior fittings (shelves, drawers, hanging rods, etc.) work best for secure yet easily accessible storage? Do you have experience planning the modules so that, for example, fragile figurines are well protected while cards are kept neatly organized? I would also appreciate any tips on customising the Pax cabinet doors or lighting, if anyone has implemented something like that.
Looking forward to your ideas and experiences!
Hello jonluca,
Thank you for your detailed question, which shows that you are really considering how to store your collection in a practical way.
Some time ago, I had a similar plan with my model cars and comics. I found it especially challenging to protect delicate items from dust and impacts. That’s why I used a lot of glass shelves and extra drawers in my PAX system to create stable surfaces.
Here, I would recommend using adjustable shelves for the figurines, so you can adapt based on their size. For your cards, shallow drawers are ideal – this way, you have quick access without them falling out.
Considering wheels or modular systems can also be helpful if you often rearrange.
Wishing you success with your planning, and feel free to share what solution you choose in the end!
Thank you for your detailed question, which shows that you are really considering how to store your collection in a practical way.
Some time ago, I had a similar plan with my model cars and comics. I found it especially challenging to protect delicate items from dust and impacts. That’s why I used a lot of glass shelves and extra drawers in my PAX system to create stable surfaces.
jonluca schrieb:
Which combinations of interior fittings (shelves, drawers, clothes rails etc.) are especially suitable for secure yet easily accessible storage?
Here, I would recommend using adjustable shelves for the figurines, so you can adapt based on their size. For your cards, shallow drawers are ideal – this way, you have quick access without them falling out.
Considering wheels or modular systems can also be helpful if you often rearrange.
Wishing you success with your planning, and feel free to share what solution you choose in the end!
Hello jonluca,
to address your question clearly and from the start, I recommend dividing the entire PAX planning process into three steps:
- Step 1: Analyze your collection. How large are the individual items, and how often do you want to access them? Figures require more stability and dust protection, while cards should be sortable and quickly accessible.
- Step 2: Choose the base modules. The width (50 or 75 cm (20 or 30 inches)) and height (201 or 236 cm (79 or 93 inches)) of PAX allow for different layouts. For collections with small items, I often opt for narrower modules to prevent losses.
- Step 3: Select the interior fittings individually:
- For figures, I recommend glass shelves with LED lighting, attached with clips — heavier shelves can also rest on metal supports.
- For cards, flat, sturdy drawers work well, where you can use inserts for organizing cards.
- Doors: If you want to protect figures from dust, cabinet doors with glass fronts are best, preferably satin or tinted glass, to provide a nice look while keeping dust out.
Note: The PAX system also offers doors with soft-close damping, which is more convenient, especially for delicate items.
Lighting is not technically difficult, but it’s important to watch the heat generated by LED strips — some have built-in sensors that turn off the light if the temperature gets too high. Also, pay attention to cable management to keep things tidy and safe.
One more tip: If you have collectibles sensitive to light, check the brightness and color temperature before installing lighting to avoid color distortion.
How large is your collection approximately, and what kind of figures do you have? Then I could give you more precise advice.
to address your question clearly and from the start, I recommend dividing the entire PAX planning process into three steps:
- Step 1: Analyze your collection. How large are the individual items, and how often do you want to access them? Figures require more stability and dust protection, while cards should be sortable and quickly accessible.
- Step 2: Choose the base modules. The width (50 or 75 cm (20 or 30 inches)) and height (201 or 236 cm (79 or 93 inches)) of PAX allow for different layouts. For collections with small items, I often opt for narrower modules to prevent losses.
- Step 3: Select the interior fittings individually:
- For figures, I recommend glass shelves with LED lighting, attached with clips — heavier shelves can also rest on metal supports.
- For cards, flat, sturdy drawers work well, where you can use inserts for organizing cards.
- Doors: If you want to protect figures from dust, cabinet doors with glass fronts are best, preferably satin or tinted glass, to provide a nice look while keeping dust out.
Note: The PAX system also offers doors with soft-close damping, which is more convenient, especially for delicate items.
jonluca schrieb:
Please also share tips for customizing PAX cabinet doors or lighting if anyone has experience with that.
Lighting is not technically difficult, but it’s important to watch the heat generated by LED strips — some have built-in sensors that turn off the light if the temperature gets too high. Also, pay attention to cable management to keep things tidy and safe.
One more tip: If you have collectibles sensitive to light, check the brightness and color temperature before installing lighting to avoid color distortion.
How large is your collection approximately, and what kind of figures do you have? Then I could give you more precise advice.
F
flo-Theres24 Oct 2024 11:43Good morning,
to add a practical perspective to the topic:
The PAX system is indeed very versatile, but you should always consider the maximum load capacity of the shelves, especially if you have heavy or large figurines. It may be worth considering additional shelves or reinforcements.
Furthermore, the drawer fronts of PAX are quite simple; here you have the option to customize the look by using individually sourced fronts (e.g., wood or glass), which can give the collection a high-quality appearance.
For organization: use storage boxes in the drawers to sort cards by category, rarity, or series; some swear by magnetic dividers or special inserts for collectible cards.
Doors with mirror or glass fronts do protect against dust but I tend to leave them off if you need frequent access. Alternatively, you can leave some compartments open and others closed.
That is a very important point, it’s a pity it is often overlooked.
Best regards
to add a practical perspective to the topic:
The PAX system is indeed very versatile, but you should always consider the maximum load capacity of the shelves, especially if you have heavy or large figurines. It may be worth considering additional shelves or reinforcements.
Furthermore, the drawer fronts of PAX are quite simple; here you have the option to customize the look by using individually sourced fronts (e.g., wood or glass), which can give the collection a high-quality appearance.
For organization: use storage boxes in the drawers to sort cards by category, rarity, or series; some swear by magnetic dividers or special inserts for collectible cards.
Doors with mirror or glass fronts do protect against dust but I tend to leave them off if you need frequent access. Alternatively, you can leave some compartments open and others closed.
Palenar schrieb:
If you have collectibles sensitive to light, check the light intensity and color before installing lighting to avoid color distortion.
That is a very important point, it’s a pity it is often overlooked.
Best regards
flo-Theres schrieb:
I use organizers in the drawers to sort cards by category, rarity, or series; some people swear by magnetic dividers or special inserts made specifically for trading cards.That’s exactly what I did too – it makes it much easier to keep track and prevents everything from getting mixed up when you quickly pull something out.
jonluca schrieb:
Do you have any experience planning modules so that fragile figures are protected while keeping the cards organized and easy to find?For fragile figures, I’ve placed foam boards in between them to prevent direct contact, which offers extra protection. This way, you can also combine different heights within a shelving unit.
If you want to refine the plan further, I recommend using the Ikea PAX planning tool, which allows you to visualize the interior fittings in detail. It really helped me avoid making impulsive purchases.
Feel free to write again when you’re working on a specific layout – I’m happy to share more experience and photos from my similar setup.
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