ᐅ How can I effectively plan Ikea Pax wardrobes in a narrow bedroom?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install an Ikea PAX wardrobe in my rather narrow bedroom and am looking for effective planning tips. The room is only about 2.20 meters (7 feet 3 inches) wide in total, which naturally limits the options for selection and arrangement. I want to create as much storage space as possible without overwhelming the room. It would also be helpful if the planning includes aspects such as flexible interior organization, door options (sliding doors versus hinged doors), and fitting the wardrobe into niches and corners.

Does anyone have practical experience or concrete recommendations on how to optimally plan PAX systems in such tight bedrooms? Which guidelines or concepts have proven effective? I appreciate any advice, whether about choosing the modules, interior fittings, or clever design ideas to avoid overcrowding the narrow room.

Thanks in advance!

To follow up on your question: In small spaces, smart use of space is absolutely crucial. For PAX, sliding doors are especially suitable because they don’t require swing space, which saves room. I would also recommend making full use of the maximum height, for example with 236 cm (93 inches) tall units, to maximize storage.

Interior organization is another important factor. Combine hanging rods with adjustable shelves and drawers to keep different types of clothing and accessories well organized. The flexibility of PAX allows for customization to meet your specific needs.

I would also carefully measure the actual available space for the wardrobe to plan more effectively. Are there any corners in the room that could potentially be used as a niche? Such areas can often be better utilized by selecting or adapting the modules accordingly.

PULAU schrieb:
For PAX wardrobes, sliding doors are especially suitable since they do not require swing space and therefore save room.

That is true, but you should keep in mind that sliding doors, no matter how cleverly designed, often come with disadvantages. For example, limited access since only one side of the wardrobe is accessible at a time. In a narrow bedroom, this can be inconvenient when you need quick access to certain clothing items.

Additionally, sliding doors usually add more weight, which can make installation more difficult on narrow or lightweight wall structures. It is important to check the wall condition in such cases.

Another consideration is whether it is really better to save room width with sliding doors or to choose narrower wardrobe widths with hinged doors instead, provided there is enough floor space. The individual movement patterns in the bedroom should also be taken into account.

First of all, precise measurement of the narrow space is essential to optimally fit the PAX modules—planning down to the millimeter prevents later problems.

Here is my suggestion in several steps:
- Top-heavy planning for space utilization: Make full use of the available height (up to 236 cm (93 inches)) and plan accordingly with the appropriate cabinet frames.
- Doors: Sliding doors save space but reduce ease of use, especially in narrow bedrooms. Alternatively, narrow hinged doors with fixed opening angles can be simulated to test clearance for movement.
- Interior layout: Combine at least two clothing rods at different heights, drawers for underwear and jewelry, as well as adjustable shelves. Also consider well-designed interior lighting to brighten dark areas.
- Installation: Be sure to check the wall construction, ideally load-bearing walls. This prevents later tipping or damage.

One more question for you: What are the exact dimensions of the room? Are there windows or radiators that impose specific restrictions? These have a significant impact on planning options.

I really like the PAX system, even in small rooms! 🙂 The key is to find a good balance between storage space and room to move around.

I had a narrower room as well and installed flexible PAX modules with sliding doors, which worked great because it kept the area in front of the wardrobe clear.

A tip from me: use interior organizers with baskets and dividers to reduce clutter and make everything easier to find! Installing LED wardrobe lighting also makes the closet feel more open and inviting.

Keep at it, it will turn out great!

KELIRA schrieb:
I would like to create as much storage space as possible without making the room feel too cramped.

Another important point I’d like to mention: storage is good, but the visual sense of space often suffers significantly from overly bulky cabinet fronts. Here, I would recommend using light-colored or frosted mirrored doors instead of the usual painted fronts to help open up the feeling of the room.

The color coordination with the floor and walls should not be underestimated either. A cabinet color that is too dark in a narrow room can feel like a heavy block visually, greatly reducing the overall comfort.

It might also be worth considering a combination of different door types within the PAX system. Depending on how often you access certain areas, you could use sliding doors where access is less frequent and hinged doors elsewhere.