ᐅ How do you set up an Ikea Pax wardrobe for storing shoes?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to set up an Ikea Pax wardrobe, specifically for storing my shoes, and I want to make the interior as functional and space-saving as possible. My main questions are:

- How can I best organize the interior to neatly accommodate different types of shoes (sneakers, boots, narrow men's shoes, etc.)?
- Which Pax components (shelves, drawers, special inserts) are best suited for shoes?
- Are there any practical tips for optimizing space within the wardrobe, such as stacking aids, shoe boxes, or other organization systems that can be integrated into the Pax?

So far, I have only planned the basic frame and some shelves, but I’m unsure if that will be sufficient or if I should consider other components like drawers or pull-out accessories. I’m also interested in any experience with specific Ikea accessories designed for shoe storage in the Pax.

I would appreciate detailed experiences or recommendations, including practical implementation tips.

Thanks and best regards!

Hello Narpu,

I can give you some comprehensive tips for your project. Setting up an Ikea Pax wardrobe for shoes requires some planning, especially if you want to accommodate different types of footwear.

First, you should familiarize yourself with the various interior fittings available for Pax: shelves, drawers, flap shelves, pull-out shoe racks (if available), and possibly clothing rods for hanging fewer shoes (e.g., boots).

- For sneakers and flat shoes, I recommend narrow shelves about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) high. This way, you can place several pairs in a row without wasting space.
- Boots, on the other hand, need taller compartments, at least 30-40 cm (12-16 inches) high, which you can create either with flap shelves set further apart or a large open compartment.
- Drawers or boxes are good for storing smaller shoes or seasonal shoe supplies protected from dust. Make sure the drawers are not too deep so you can keep an overview.

One tip: install adjustable shelves so you can flexibly adapt the height to your shoes. The standard Pax shelves are suitable for this and can be easily repositioned with the Pax brackets.

It also makes sense to store larger boxes or bins at the bottom of the wardrobe – Ikea offers boxes that fit well into the system and help optimize space. Transparent boxes are also useful for shoe organization, allowing you to see which pair is where.

Consider whether you prefer to stack all shoes visibly or partly store them in dust covers or boxes. Boxes offer two advantages: protection from dust and better stacking. The downside is slightly more effort to access the shoes.

Finally, you can complement the wardrobe with small storage elements from the Ikea range, such as the SKUBB series for textile compartments or shoe compartments that fit nicely on shelves. This creates a combined solution of open shelving and smaller organizing elements.

One last note: if the depth of the Pax wardrobe is sufficient, angled shoe racks that can be mounted on one side may also be suitable. These are not directly offered by Ikea for Pax but are available from third-party suppliers or can be custom-made.

What kind of shoes do you have exactly? Some measurements or the number of pairs will help to further specify the planning.

deoke schrieb:
First, you should familiarize yourself with the different interior fittings of Pax: shelves, drawers, flip-up shelves, pull-out shoe racks (if available), and possibly clothes rails for hanging fewer shoes (e.g., boots).

That’s a good starting point. Additionally, I can say:

- Use fixed adjustable shelves for shoes, with variable height settings to accommodate different shoe heights.
- Ikea offers specific Pax inserts such as shelf inserts or drawers that can be equipped with dividers to group individual pairs.
- For a large number of shoes, pull-out drawers can greatly improve accessibility. For example, pull-out units with glass or metal fronts take up little visual space and help keep things organized.

You should also consider creating storage for seasonal shoes in the lower section of the wardrobe, for instance by using stackable shoe boxes that are easy to access.

Furthermore, effective lighting inside the wardrobe supports better overview, such as LED strip lighting within the Pax. This prevents shoes from getting lost in dark corners.

For boots, a clothes rail with hooks or special boot holders can be useful if your wardrobe is tall enough.

Finally: before finalizing your plan, make sure to take measurements and create a layout grid of the wardrobe interior to assign shoe types optimally to the respective levels.

Dwight49 schrieb:
For boots, a clothes rail with hooks or special boot holders can be useful if your wardrobe is tall enough.

Thanks for the tip. My boots are about 40cm (16 inches) high, so I would probably have to give up a mid-height shelf to integrate a clothes rail or boot holders.

deoke schrieb:
What kind of shoes do you have exactly? Some measurements or the number of pairs would help to refine the planning.

I have around 30 pairs of shoes, including about 10 pairs of sneakers, 5 pairs of mid-height shoes (loafers or similar), 8 pairs of boots and ankle boots, plus some running shoes and sandals. Some of these shoes are quite wide, others are rather narrow.

My current plan is to place some large movable boxes at the bottom, with several adjustable shelves above, and possibly drawers at the bottom for smaller pairs.

Your suggestions about adjustable shelves and lighting are very helpful. Especially the idea of LED lighting seems very practical to quickly find the right pair.

Do you have experience with how many shelves it makes sense to install in a standard Pax wardrobe (about 236cm (93 inches) high and 60cm (24 inches) deep) without losing overview? And how would you stagger the shelf heights to store different types of shoes most effectively?