Becks and the Cities

We live in a small city apartment in Baltimore, MD and are always short on space. This will be our fourth apartment together and we (I) have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years. I take full responsibility for hoarding unnecessary clothes, furniture and craft supplies. I just like pretty things!

We recently extended our lease for another year, which means we need to find solutions before we completely outgrow the space! I set out to find an affordable (under $2000) closet solution we could integrate into our place, without skimping on style. We are fortunate enough to have tall ceilings, so I knew I needed to take advantage of the height when planning.

I stumbled across PAX wardrobes, which provided the storage we desperately needed at the right price, but lacked the luxurious aesthetic. Luckily, I consider myself a crafty gal and saw the wardrobes as the perfect canvas!

IKEA ITEMS USED:

• PAX wardrobe frame
• FORSAND door
• KOMPLEMENT shelf
• KOMPLEMENT drawer
• KOMPLEMENT glass shelf
• KOMPLEMENT pull-out tray
• KOMPLEMENT clothes rail
• KOMPLEMENT tray insert
• KOMPLEMENT soft-close hinges
• BILLSBRO handle

OTHER MATERIALS AND TOOLS:

• Trim Option 1 or Trim Option 2
• Trim Sealant
• Liquid Nails Adhesive
• Paint
• Caulk Gun
• Miter box and saw

BUILT-IN MATERIALS (OPTIONAL):

• Crown Moulding
• Baseboard
• Panel Moulding
• Elmer’s Wood Filler
• Drywall

Note: if you wanted to make the PAX wardrobes look like custom built-ins, check out the “optional” materials section above and instructions below. Since I’m in an apartment, I went the renter-friendly route and skipped these for this build.

PAX CLOSET:

1. Order and assemble your PAX system: IKEA has several ready-made PAX combinations to choose from or you can design your own to make it perfect for your space! I measured the wall, put the dimensions into IKEA’s design page, and they recommended frames I could start with- easy as that! You then customize the frames with shelves, rods, and drawers.

2. Play around with the design: I used painter’s tape to visualize the box trim.

3. Measure, cut, & sand trim: I used a miter box and saw to cut 45° angles in the trim. Note: If you have an electric saw, I highly recommend you use that unless you want a good arm workout (I literally made 64 cuts by hand in one afternoon 😭)! Then, I sanded down the edges for a smooth finish before painting.

4. Paint trim: I added two coats of Benjamin Moore White Dove to the trim, since it was a close match to IKEA’s white paint on the wardrobe.

5. Measure & attach trim to the PAX doors: To avoid damaging the wardrobe with nail holes, I used a strong adhesive to add trim. I took off the doors when applying the trim, so the trim did not move while the adhesive cured overnight. I gave second life to Tristan’s law school textbooks, this time as weights. 😂

6. Install doors: Tristan helped me attach the doors (and I could see the finish line in sight!)

7. Install handles: I choose a subtle white handle from IKEA (literally $6 for a 2 pack) and it was exactly what I envisioned! You could easily incorporate statement hardware for a larger impact.

8. Add trim sealant: I used a caulk gun to distribute trim sealant between the trim and the door. I used my finger (very professional, I know) to smear the sealant into place. This created a seamless transition from trim to door, which elevated the entire look.

9. Done! Move your clothes into their new home!

HOW MUCH DID IT COST?

I spent ~$1800, which included all IKEA items, moulding, and paint. I’m so happy with how the project turned out and know it will accompany us to our future homes (let’s ignore the fact that I have to take it apart to move in 12 months!)!  

Built-in Option:

1. Build a base: Use 2x4s and wood screws to create a base that will lift your PAX off the ground. This will create a space for the baseboard moulding to create the built-in appearance. Lift PAX onto the base and secure with wood screws. Holes can be filled in with wood filler.
2. Add MDF: use MDF 1×4 pieces to frame the sides of the wardrobe and cover any gaps between the PAX and the wall. You’ll be able to adhere the crown moulding and baseboards to it later on.
3. Attach crown moulding & baseboards: Try to match the moulding and baseboards to existing moulding and baseboards in your home for a seamless integration.

Stay tuned to see how I organized the inside of our wardrobes!