Hello everyone,
I recently bought an Ikea PAX wardrobe and am now considering how to make it as mobile as possible. Specifically, is there a way to convert or modify the Ikea PAX wardrobe so that it can be moved around without too much effort?
I don’t want to fix the wardrobe permanently in one place but rather be able to move it more easily to another spot in the room when needed. Of course, stability should not be compromised by the mobility. Does anyone have experience with casters, special feet, or other solutions to make the relatively heavy PAX more mobile?
It is important to me that the solution is practical, safe, and ideally cost-effective. Thanks in advance for your tips!
I recently bought an Ikea PAX wardrobe and am now considering how to make it as mobile as possible. Specifically, is there a way to convert or modify the Ikea PAX wardrobe so that it can be moved around without too much effort?
I don’t want to fix the wardrobe permanently in one place but rather be able to move it more easily to another spot in the room when needed. Of course, stability should not be compromised by the mobility. Does anyone have experience with casters, special feet, or other solutions to make the relatively heavy PAX more mobile?
It is important to me that the solution is practical, safe, and ideally cost-effective. Thanks in advance for your tips!
fareel schrieb:
Is there a way to retrofit or modify the Ikea PAX wardrobe so that it can be moved around without too much effort?In principle, any wardrobe can be made mobile by adding casters, but there are two important aspects to consider: First, how stable will the wardrobe be afterwards? Especially with taller wardrobes like the PAX, tipping resistance can become an issue.
Second, how strong and durable are the casters? Cheap casters might fail quickly under such weight or dig into the floor.
Therefore, I would be interested to know whether you are aiming for light mobility (rolling on smooth floors) or if it’s intended for occasional repositioning where the casters only need to cover short distances.
To maintain the mobility of the Ikea PAX wardrobe without compromising its stability, several factors should be considered:
- First, it’s important to understand that the PAX wardrobe is made from particleboard as well as MDF, which are not infinitely load-bearing at the attachment points.
- When attaching casters, it is advisable to choose sturdy furniture wheels with sufficiently large mounting plates to better distribute the load.
- Another option is to create a stable substructure from a solid wood board, which is screwed onto the bottom panel. Casters designed to carry significantly heavier loads can then be attached to this base, protecting the material.
- The casters must have a locking brake to prevent unintended movement.
- Important: Because the PAX is relatively tall, I also recommend securing the wardrobe against tipping, for example by fixing it to the wall or adding extra bracing if it remains mobile.
How exactly do you plan to move the wardrobe? Only on smooth flooring or also over carpets or thresholds? This will greatly affect the choice of casters.
- First, it’s important to understand that the PAX wardrobe is made from particleboard as well as MDF, which are not infinitely load-bearing at the attachment points.
- When attaching casters, it is advisable to choose sturdy furniture wheels with sufficiently large mounting plates to better distribute the load.
- Another option is to create a stable substructure from a solid wood board, which is screwed onto the bottom panel. Casters designed to carry significantly heavier loads can then be attached to this base, protecting the material.
- The casters must have a locking brake to prevent unintended movement.
- Important: Because the PAX is relatively tall, I also recommend securing the wardrobe against tipping, for example by fixing it to the wall or adding extra bracing if it remains mobile.
How exactly do you plan to move the wardrobe? Only on smooth flooring or also over carpets or thresholds? This will greatly affect the choice of casters.
danial60 schrieb:
How exactly did you intend to move the wardrobe? Only on smooth floors or also over carpets or thresholds?Thank you for the detailed response; that already helps a lot. I plan to move the PAX mainly on a relatively smooth laminate floor. Carpets are only in adjacent rooms, but the wardrobe won't be moved there regularly. There are small thresholds, yes, but I expect more short lifting movements rather than rolling it over them.
The wardrobe won’t be moved frequently, more occasionally, so a parking brake is definitely important. The idea of a wooden substructure sounds interesting. How stable and load-bearing should the wood be? Would, for example, an 18 mm (0.7 inch) plywood board as a base be sufficient, or would something thicker be better?
fareel schrieb:
The idea of a wooden substructure sounds interesting. How strong and load-bearing should the wood be?An 18 mm (0.7 inch) plywood panel is a solid choice for such a substructure. It is important that it fully covers the entire base area of the PAX to distribute loads evenly.
Make sure the panel is not too large, so it doesn’t become too heavy to move. A thicker panel provides even better stability but can significantly increase the weight.
The connection between the PAX and the substructure should also be strong and secure, ideally with multiple screws including washers to distribute the pressure.
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