ᐅ How can the Ikea Pax wardrobe be repurposed as a shoe rack?

Hello everyone,

I’m considering converting my Ikea Pax wardrobe into a shoe rack and wanted to ask for good ideas and experiences here in the forum. Specifically, I’m interested in how to best modify the inside of the Pax units to store as many different types of shoes (sneakers, boots, heeled shoes) neatly and clearly.

Do you have recommendations for shelves, baskets, or additional accessories that work particularly well? How can the space be used smartly to avoid unnecessary “empty” areas inside the wardrobe while keeping everything easily accessible?

Additionally, I’m curious if anyone has worked with special inserts for storing boots upright or at an angle. Perhaps drawers or compartments can be used differently than originally intended to suit shoes better?

I look forward to your suggestions, recommendations, and little tips that can really turn the Pax wardrobe into a personalized shoe rack. Thanks in advance!

jenna49 schrieb:
Do you have any recommendations for shelves, baskets, or perhaps additional accessories that work particularly well?

That’s an excellent question because the Pax wardrobe is originally designed for clothing and accessories, but with a few adjustments, it can be used very efficiently as a shoe rack.

First, I would recommend installing the shelves so they are height-adjustable—for example, about 15-18 cm (6-7 inches) of space for regular shoes and nearly 30 cm (12 inches) for tall boots. Ikea offers so-called shelf supports that allow fairly flexible positioning.

In addition, you can integrate baskets or wire drawers to store flat sneakers or sandals horizontally, which keeps them visible and easy to access.

An interesting tip: for taller boots, you can try placing them at an angle by attaching small wooden or metal supports to the back panel of the wardrobe to hold the boot shaft. This prevents creasing and saves space.

Drawers from the Pax accessories are also very useful because you can store small items like shoe care products or socks in them.

One question: what are the dimensions of your room, and how much space do you want to allocate per pair of shoes at most? This can significantly influence the optimal layout.

benonon schrieb:
First, I would recommend installing the shelves so that their height can be adjusted.

Exactly, that’s how I did it too, and it works great! 🎉

I also attached a few of those inexpensive cushioned strips to the shelves to prevent shoes from slipping off easily. That basically turned my Pax wardrobe into the perfect shoe rack – everything stays in place, yet you still have a quick overview.

I also find it super practical to leave the lower compartments free for tall boots. They fit well and can be placed side by side easily.

One more tip from me: a mirror on the inside of the wardrobe door not only saves space but is really handy when choosing your shoes!

Go for it – with a bit of courage during remodeling, you’ll end up with a truly awesome shoe rack – good luck! 😊

jenna49 schrieb:
How can you use the space smartly to avoid unnecessary empty gaps in the closet while keeping everything easily accessible?

To really use the space efficiently, you should consider flexible inserts:
- Several narrow shelves for flat shoes
- One or two compartments with drawers for accessories or shoe care products
- For tall boots, it’s best to leave the lower areas free or, as benonon suggested, install special holders

In my experience, a rotating shoe rack carousel inside the Pax wardrobe works very well as an addition. This way, even shoes stored in deep compartments can be easily rotated and quickly accessed.

Of course, this can’t be set up quickly, but with the right planning, the Pax system is extremely adaptable as a shoe storage solution!