ᐅ Which Ikea Pax combinations work well in small hallways?

Hello everyone,

I’m currently facing the challenge of furnishing my very small hallway in a functional yet visually appealing way using an Ikea Pax wardrobe system. I’m especially interested in which combinations of Pax wardrobes work best for small hallways. My main concerns are:

- Maximizing space usage with limited floor area (particularly narrow or short hallways)
- Practical organization (e.g., storage for shoes, coats, possibly bags)
- Visual impact – meaning not too bulky or overpowering
- Options with sliding doors or fronts that make particular sense in small hallways

Does anyone have experience or recommendations on which Pax combinations or dimensions have proven especially effective here? Are there specific depths, widths, or module variants you would use? And how do you arrange the interior fittings to make the most of the small space?

Thanks in advance for your tips and advice!

Hello Kinki,

First of all, your very detailed question is great – it makes it easier for us to help you properly. Generally, for small hallways, I recommend using wardrobe depths of 35 cm (14 inches), as the standard 58 cm (23 inches) depth is often too deep and can quickly overwhelm the space. A combination of a 35 cm (14 inches) deep wardrobe with a width of about 50-75 cm (20-30 inches) is often ideal to still have enough storage.

Sliding doors are actually a very good choice because they don’t require extra space to open, which is invaluable in a narrow hallway. Inside, you can organize with drawers and pull-out shelves – a drawer insert is good for shoes, and something to hang clothes works well for jackets.

One more tip: choose light-colored fronts (white or pale shades) to avoid visually shrinking the hallway. If possible, you can also integrate a mirror into the front – this visually expands the space.

If you like, I can also give you an example of how I implemented this in one of my hallways, including all the measurements, so you can better assess it.

Ianlau schrieb:
Sliding doors are actually a great choice because they don’t require extra space to open, which is invaluable in a narrow hallway.

Thanks for the quick and helpful reply!

The idea of sliding doors really makes sense—I would have probably preferred regular hinged doors otherwise, but in my hallway there is practically no clearance on the side to open them.

Ianlau schrieb:
One more tip: Choose front panels in light colors (white or light shades) to avoid visually shrinking the hallway.

I hadn’t consciously considered that point, but I will definitely keep it in mind.

I would really appreciate your example. Maybe you could briefly describe the exact dimensions of your Pax combination, how the interior fittings were arranged, and how the hallway looked afterward—that would be very insightful for me.

Gladly, here is a brief description of my Pax solution in a small hallway that is about 1.20 m (4 feet) wide and just over 2 m (6.5 feet) long:

I chose a wardrobe measuring 100 cm (39 inches) wide, 201 cm (79 inches) high, and 35 cm (14 inches) deep. The shallower depth allows enough space to pass by comfortably without feeling cramped.

Inside, the wardrobe is arranged as follows:

- At the top, a clothes rail (for jackets and coats) about 80 cm (31 inches) wide
- Below that, a few pull-out baskets for shoes and small items
- At the bottom, some shelves for frequently used items like bags

The front has sliding doors with a mirror surface, which adds optical depth.

It is also important that I avoided handles and instead used handle strips — this makes the whole look cleaner and more modern.

Additionally, I fixed a narrow coat rack rail on the wall next to the wardrobe to make the best use of the vertical space.

This solution keeps the hallway well organized, not overcrowded, yet everything is within easy reach.

If you want, I can share a few tips on the interior design with additional accessories.