IKEA Wardrobe Guide: PAX, Doors & Small Room Ideas

Most small bedroom wardrobes either swallow the room or offer too little storage, but IKEA’s PAX system solves that with modular frames from 50 cm wide. This guide walks through the practical choices—from measuring your alcove to picking the right door style—so you can plan a wardrobe that actually fits.

IKEA PAX wardrobe configurations: over 1000 possible combinations · IKEA wardrobe sizes: widths from 50 cm to 200 cm · IKEA wardrobe doors available: sliding, hinged, and folding · IKEA wardrobe price range (Ireland): €45 to €1,200 · IKEA wardrobe styles: modern, rustic, minimalist

Six frame widths, two heights, and two depths — the IKEA PAX system offers more combinations than most people need, but the real choice boils down to what fits your room.

The pattern: more frames than you think, but the shallow 35 cm depth is a lifesaver for narrow hallways or tight alcoves — something many Irish homes with small bedrooms will appreciate.

What Are the Best IKEA Wardrobes for Small Rooms?

Measuring your space

Before looking at any wardrobe, measure the floor-to-ceiling height and wall-to-wall width. IKEA Ireland recommends an extra 4 cm of height clearance if you plan to build the frame upright, or 10 cm if you build it on the floor (IKEA Ireland (official PAX design guide)). That extra space matters: a 236 cm frame won’t fit a 235 cm ceiling.

IKEA wardrobe width options for small rooms

• The smallest PAX frame is 50 cm wide — enough for a single shelf and rail.
• 75 cm and 100 cm frames are the standard singles and doubles.
• You can combine frames to reach any width up to 200 cm (two 100 cm frames side by side).

All widths are confirmed by IKEA Ireland’s customer service knowledge article (IKEA Ireland customer service knowledge article).

Best PAX configurations for tight spaces

For a typical Irish box room (approx. 2.5 m × 3 m), a 100 cm wide × 58 cm deep × 201 cm tall frame with sliding doors makes the most of the floor space. Sliding doors eliminate the need for clearance in front, so you can push the wardrobe against a wall without blocking access to the bed. The 35 cm depth option is worth considering if the room is especially narrow — it holds folded clothes and shoes well, though hanging space is limited.

How Do I Plan an IKEA PAX Wardrobe?

IKEA Ireland’s online PAX Planner runs in your browser with no download needed (IKEA Ireland (PAX Planner)). Here’s how to use it effectively.

Step 1: Choose the frames

Start with the width you need. If your alcove is 150 cm exactly, you can use three 50 cm frames or a 100 cm plus a 75 cm (total 175 cm — too wide). The system works best when you plan in multiples of 25 cm (50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200).

• Select the depth: 35 cm for narrow spaces, 58 cm for full hanging depth.
• Select the height: 201 cm for standard ceilings, 236 cm for taller rooms.

IKEA Ireland confirms that frames are sold separately from doors (IKEA Ireland PAX wardrobe frame product page).

Step 2: Select doors and handles

Doors are chosen after the frame. Hinged doors need at least 50 cm of clearance in front to open fully. Sliding doors need only a few centimetres — they slide along a track. IKEA Ireland offers multiple door styles in Ireland, including white, wood-effect, and mirrored finishes (IKEA Ireland wardrobe category page).

Step 3: Organise the interior with shelves and rails

Interior organisers are fully modular: shelves, hanging rails, pull-out racks, drawers, and shoe grids. The PAX system lets you move them anywhere along the 2.5 cm hole pattern. For a small bedroom, maximise vertical space with a double hanging rail (one low, one high) and add a shelf for folded jumpers.

What this means: the PAX system is less a wardrobe and more a kit of parts — you assemble the exact storage you need, not a pre-determined layout.

What IKEA Wardrobe Doors Are Available in Ireland?

Sliding doors

Sliding doors are the top choice for small bedrooms. They require no floor clearance, and the soft-closing mechanism prevents slamming. IKEA Ireland’s sliding doors come in pairs that cover a 100 cm or 150 cm frame width. The downside: only one door is open at a time, so access is limited to half the width.

Hinged doors

Hinged doors open fully, giving you a clear view of the entire wardrobe. They are generally cheaper per door than sliding versions. But they need at least 50 cm of space in front of the wardrobe — a dealbreaker in a tight room. IKEA Ireland offers hinged doors in several styles, including the popular FJÄLLBO and BRIMNES ranges.

Folding doors

Folding doors (also called bi-fold doors) are a middle ground. They fold in half, so they need less clearance than hinged doors but still give access to the whole width. IKEA Ireland’s PAX system supports folding doors for certain frame widths, though availability in Irish stores may vary.

The catch: folding doors add complexity and cost, and the folding mechanism can be less durable than sliding or hinged over years of use.

What Is the Difference Between Hinged and Sliding IKEA Wardrobes?

Space requirements

Sliding doors need only 2–3 cm of clearance in front of the wardrobe. Hinged doors need at least 50 cm to open fully. In a room where the bed is less than 50 cm from the wardrobe, sliding doors are the only practical option.

Cost comparison

IKEA Ireland’s sliding door sets tend to be more expensive than hinged doors of similar size. For example, a pair of sliding doors for a 100 cm frame costs around €150–€200, while hinged doors for the same width start at about €80–€120. The trade-off: you pay more for the space-saving benefit.

Ease of access

With hinged doors, you can open both doors and see everything at once. With sliding doors, you can only see half at a time. For someone who wants to see all their clothes at a glance, hinged doors are better — if the room allows them.

Why this matters: the choice between hinged and sliding is not just about style — it’s about how you use the wardrobe daily. If you’re the type who pulls out everything to find a shirt, sliding doors will frustrate you.

What IKEA Wardrobe Ideas Work for Master Bedrooms?

Built-in look with PAX

PAX frames can be built into alcoves or recessed areas to create a custom built-in look. By adding a filler panel (MDF or plywood) between the frame and the wall, you eliminate the gap and make it look like a fitted wardrobe. IKEA Ireland’s planning guide recommends measuring the alcove precisely and choosing frames that leave no more than 5 cm of gap on each side.

Combining multiple frames

For a master bedroom, a run of three 100 cm frames (total 300 cm) with sliding doors can replace an entire wall. The IKEA Ireland PAX category page shows pre-designed combinations for the Dublin store that include mirrored doors and interior drawers.

Adding lighting and accessories

IKEA Ireland sells LED lighting kits specifically for the PAX system, including strip lights and motion-sensor lights. Adding a top light and a shelf light makes a big difference in a dark room. The IKEA Ireland website also lists drawers, shoe racks, and tie belts as add-ons.

The trade-off: accessories add up quickly — a full interior lighting setup can cost €100–€200 extra, but it transforms a dark wardrobe into a usable dressing space.

Spec Table: IKEA PAX Frame Sizes

Six frame dimensions, each with a specific use case. The shallow 35 cm depth is often overlooked but works brilliantly for small entryways or narrow bedrooms.

The pattern: more frames than you think, but the shallow 35 cm depth is a lifesaver for narrow hallways or tight alcoves — something many Irish homes with small bedrooms will appreciate.

Steps to Design Your IKEA Wardrobe

1. Measure your space — note height, width, and depth of the alcove or wall.
2. Choose the frame width — pick 50, 75, or 100 cm widths that add up to your total width.
3. Select frame depth — 35 cm for shallow, 58 cm for full hanging.
4. Pick the height — 201 cm or 236 cm depending on ceiling height.
5. Add interior fittings — shelves, rails, drawers, shoe racks.
6. Choose door type — sliding, hinged, or folding.
7. Order — use the online PAX Planner to generate a parts list.

IKEA Ireland recommends building the frame upright on the floor to avoid wall damage, and leaving a 10 cm clearance if you build it on the ground.

The upshot: planning in the right order saves time and avoids costly mistakes.

Clarity: What We Know and What We Don’t

The implication: stick to verified data and treat uncertainties as caveats.

Quotes from the Experts

“The PAX system is one of the most flexible wardrobe systems on the market — you can basically build a wardrobe that fits any space.”

— IKEA Ireland (official PAX design guide) (IKEA Ireland (official PAX design guide))

“We have a wide range of wardrobes, from the simple and affordable to the more elaborate, all designed to make the most of your space.”

— IKEA Ireland (wardrobe category page) (IKEA Ireland (wardrobe category page))

These quotes reinforce the key message: PAX is flexible and space-efficient.

Summary

IKEA’s PAX system is the most versatile wardrobe option for small bedrooms in Ireland, but only if you plan carefully. Sliding doors save space but cost more; hinged doors offer full access but need room to open; the 35 cm depth is a hidden gem for narrow rooms. For anyone in a Dublin apartment or a Galway cottage with a tight bedroom, the choice is clear: measure twice, use the PAX Planner, and prioritise the frame depth that matches your storage needs — or you’ll end up with a wardrobe that doesn’t quite fit.

For a deeper dive into PAX frames and door options, check out this complete guide to IKEA wardrobes tailored for small Irish bedrooms.

Frequently asked questions