Easy IKEA Closet DIY: Budget Hack with Pax Wardrobe

If you’ve ever considered an IKEA closet DIY, you know the feeling: your current setup works just fine… until suddenly it doesn’t. One day you look around your bedroom and realize you need more storage space, more organization, and a better solution that actually feels intentional. That’s exactly what happened to us, and it set us on the path to building our dream closet with the IKEA Pax wardrobe system.

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En Nuestra Casa

When we finally decided to tackle our bedroom storage space, it was a mix of excitement and chaos. We quickly learned that a project like this is never just one project—it snowballs. We started with the goal of adding a new closet in our bedroom, and before we knew it we were also dreaming about the kids’ room and even our baby’s closet.

The IKEA Pax system made it possible, but it definitely took some scouring of the IKEA website, a lot of refreshing, and a few long drives to multiple stores. (Things were constantly going in and out of stock, and they’d only stock two or three wardrobes at at time!)

In the end, though, all the effort was worth it. We love that each IKEA Pax unit is completely customizable, and while we don’t yet have custom doors, the built-in look we created makes the entire closet feel intentional and finished. And yes, it’s holding up beautifully to family life in a small NYC apartment.

First Step: Planning Your IKEA Closet DIY

The very first step in this type of project is measuring your space. Think not only about the length of the wall but also the ceiling height and how deep you want your wardrobe units to be. For us, our 9-foot ceilings gave us flexibility, but in smaller spaces you’ll need to pay close attention to square footage and proportions.

Once you’ve got your measurements, the IKEA website is your best friend. Using the Pax planning tool, you can design your entire closet online. The planner shows you how different configurations of IKEA Pax wardrobes will fit into your room and gives you a printout with every part number. This sheet becomes your shopping list—trust me, it’s a lifesaver when you’re standing in the warehouse.

Choosing the IKEA Pax System

When it comes to closet space, the IKEA Pax closet system is one of the most versatile IKEA products out there. Unlike an old closet with just a single hanging bar, Pax units allow you to create a new closet layout that fits your actual lifestyle. Whether you want drawer fronts for folded clothes, closet rods for hanging space, or pull-out trays for smaller items, the options are endless.

We originally thought we’d need seven wardrobe units, but stock availability made it an adventure. Between checking the IKEA website daily, scouring Facebook Marketplace, and even making multiple trips to different stores, we finally pieced together what we needed. It took a lot of time, but the end of the day result is a custom look without paying custom closet company prices.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: How We Built Our DIY Closet

Here’s the step-by-step tutorial version of how we made our IKEA closet DIY come to life:

1. Find the wall where you want your built-in closet.
2. Measure carefully—the length, the ceiling height, and the depth.
3. Go to the IKEA website and use the Pax planning tool to design your configuration.
4. Print out the sheet with part numbers.
5. Hunt down the pieces—you may need to visit more than one store.
6. Haul the entire unit home (ours went up five flights—thank you, Peterson!).
7. Assemble each IKEA Pax unit following the instructions.
8. When necessary, modify pieces: we cut one back of a unit to make it shallower and used a nail gun to attach the backer piece.
9. Line up all the closet units side by side in place.
10. Screw them together so there’s zero gap—this gives you a more finished look.
11. Anchor the whole thing to the wall for safety.
12. Install drawer fronts, closet rods, and pull-out trays.
13. Add trim boards or trim pieces if you want an even cleaner finish.

An important note: if your wall has oddities, like ours did, you may need to cut down particle board panels or shelves. It’s not difficult, but it does take a little help, a nail gun, and some patience.

The Built-In Look on a Budget

A built-in closet was the only option that made sense in our small apartment. We didn’t have space for a walk-in closet, so creating a clean look with floor-to-ceiling Pax units gave us the next best thing.

We cut one of our Pax units down to size to fill the side of the closet where the wall jutted out, and skipped the backer piece to save space. By screwing each unit into the next, we eliminated nail holes and gaps, creating a seamless, custom look. It’s a budget IKEA hack that gives you the more finished look of custom racks and custom doors without the price tag.

Customizing Your IKEA Pax Wardrobes

This is where the fun begins. The IKEA Pax wardrobe system comes with countless accessories to make your reach-in closet feel like a dressing room. A few of our favorites:

• Pull-out trays: Perfect for smaller items like glasses, chargers, and jewelry. We love ours so much we want to add extra drawers.
• Closet rods: IKEA’s rods fit perfectly and are sturdier than the temporary ones we picked up from Home Depot.
• Drawer fronts: A great way to hide laundry baskets or keep clutter behind closed panels.
• Shoe shelves: Even though we store most shoes in the entryway with IKEA’s Bissa system, the shoe storage options in Pax are great for a larger closet.

At the end of the day, it’s these details that take your IKEA closet makeover to the next level.

Tools and Materials We Used

While IKEA furniture is designed to be user-friendly, building an entire closet system required a little more than just the Allen key. Here’s what came in handy:

• Nail gun: We used this twice—for attaching backing and securing cut-down pieces.
• Wood filler: To patch nail holes and create a clean look before painting.
• Spray gun: Helpful if you want to paint trim boards or match your Pax units to your wall paint color.
• Tile spacers: Great way to keep trim pieces evenly aligned.
• Home Depot runs: For backup closet rods while IKEA’s were out of stock, custom doors later on, and smaller items like screws.
• IKEA boxes and baskets: For extra organization of smaller items inside the units. (Container Store baskets are also a great option here!)

Good luck with this stage—having the right tools makes the entire process smoother.

The Total Cost of our IKEA closet DIY

IKEA closet hacks aren’t free, ha! The Pax wardrobes themselves are reasonably priced, but between multiple trips, additional cost for accessories, and the long term goal of adding custom doors, this certainly wasn’t the cheapest project we’ve ever done. Still, compared to a custom closet company quote, our total cost was a fraction of the price.

Here’s what we’ve calculated in terms of cost:

• 5 Pax wardrobe frames ($160 each) = $800
• 9 drawers, large ($40 each) = $360
• 3 drawers, small ($35 each) = $105
• 2 closet rods ($20 each) = $40
• 21 shelves ($20 each) = $420
• 3 wire basket drawers, large ($20 each) = $60
• 1 wire basket drawer, small = $15
• 1 pull-out tray = $40
• 1 closet divider = $50
• TOTAL COST = $1890*

*Note that this is just the cost of IKEA materials and does not include gas/mileage for driving to multiple IKEAs, tools for constructing, or therapy bills for the dealing with the stress of IKEA products constantly going out of stock.

The important note here: think ahead about your next step. You may want to add trim boards, custom doors, or even IKEA Billy bookcase hacks alongside your Pax to extend storage. Projects like this evolve, and that’s part of the fun.

Tips for Long Term Use & Maintenance

Building the closet is only half the journey. The next level is making sure it works for you long term:

• Rotate items seasonally so your closet space always feels fresh.
• Use laundry baskets or extra drawers to keep clutter contained.
• Do a light paint touch-up when needed to keep the clean look.
• If you want a perfect match to your wall, paint trim pieces the same paint color with a spray gun.
• Leave room for upgrades—custom doors or custom racks are always an option down the road.

With a little bit of ongoing care, your new closet will continue to feel like a dream closet for years.

Lessons Learned from Our IKEA Closet DIY

Looking back, here’s what we’d share with anyone ready to take on an IKEA closet makeover:

• Expect to spend a long time tracking down IKEA Pax units—they sell out fast.
• Measure twice. Ceiling height, wall length, and the depth of each unit matter more than you think.
• Don’t skip the Pax planning tool on the IKEA website. It’s your roadmap for the entire process.
• Leave room in your budget for additional cost—extra drawers, custom doors, or even trim boards.
• Embrace imperfection. Whether it’s patching particle board with wood filler or cutting trim pieces to fit, the whole closet will come together in the end.

At the end of the day, our IKEA closet DIY project gave us so much storage in a small footprint, a clean look that feels intentional, and a long term solution for our family.

Final Thoughts: From no Closet to Dream IKEA Closet DIY

Transforming an empty closet wall into a built-in closet with IKEA Pax wardrobes has been one of our favorite projects. It turned an old closet problem into a better solution that fits our space and lifestyle.

From our baby’s closet to our master bedroom, the IKEA Pax unit has proven itself again and again. Whether you’re dealing with limited square footage or dreaming of a larger closet, this system gives you flexibility, affordability, and a custom look without custom prices.

So if you’re staring at your small closet and wondering about the next level, consider an IKEA closet DIY. With a little bit of effort, a lot of time, and maybe a nail gun or two, you can turn your entire process of storage headaches into a dressing room that feels like a perfect match for your home.