Our bedroom started life as a living space, so it had no built-in closets at all. That was a definite downgrade from the walk-in closet we had in our last house. We solved it by running floor-to-ceiling Ikea Pax wardrobes along one wall to create the same amount of storage—and make them appear as if they’ve always been part of the room.
For comparison, our previous walk-in closet measured roughly 8′ x 6′ with wardrobes arranged along both sides: a 29″ wardrobe in the center flanked by 19″ wardrobes on either side. That added up to about 67″ of linear storage along each wall, or 134″ total. In this house we used three 39″ Pax wardrobes plus a 19″ unit, giving us 136″—two inches more than before—running across a single bedroom wall.
It’s surprising that our prior home needed a dedicated 48-square-foot room to store what we now fit along one bedroom wall. This approach let us keep the generous storage while downsizing the house. In this post I’ll show how we added that extra wardrobe and, more importantly, how we made the Pax look like a built-in unit that belongs in the room.
Why Use Ikea Pax?
Ikea Pax wardrobes are an affordable and highly customizable closet solution. They offer many interior fittings, door styles, and configurations, making them adaptable to different needs. We first used Pax years ago to add clothing storage and even create a sleeping nook, and we keep returning to them because they balance cost, flexibility, and functionality.
There are lots of resources and guides showing different Pax installs and organization ideas. Later in this series we’ll share a closet organization post that dives into the specific interior components and how we’ve arranged ours.
Why Add Another Wardrobe?
When we originally installed Pax wardrobes in this bedroom in 2021, we purposely left a gap at one end for a potential future doorway. That plan got postponed, so the empty space became an opportunity: rather than a dresser and mirror, adding one more Pax unit made the wall read as a complete, continuous storage solution.
We debated whether to use thick filler pieces on the ends to make the system flush with the door wall, but ultimately preferred the cleaner look without bulky end panels. The added unit completes the run and improves the visual balance of the wall.
Below I’ll walk through the steps we used to make the Pax look built-in, including the simple trim techniques that create a floor-to-ceiling, custom appearance.
Making Pax Look Built-In
Pax wardrobes are among the easier Ikea systems to convert into a built-in when you want that seamless, custom look. The key is adding a trim or molding system to bridge the top of the Pax boxes to the ceiling, and to tidy up the sides where needed.
Pax units come in two heights, so with standard 8′ ceilings you typically need to fill a roughly 3″ gap. You may also need small shims or filler pieces on the sides if you want the installation to run wall-to-wall. The steps below assume the wardrobes are already assembled and secured to the wall.
We documented the build process on video to capture the full sequence—from unboxing to painting—and condensed the footage into a short timelapse. In real time the project took about four afternoons: two for assembly and framing, and two mostly for drying time for caulk and paint.
Tools & Materials
Beyond the Pax wardrobe components (boxes, doors, hinges, interior fittings), gather these tools and materials:
- Miter saw
- Nail gun
- Power drill/driver
- Clamps
- Measuring tape
- 1×3 scrap wood for backer pieces
- 1×2 or 1×3 primed trim boards (choose based on ceiling gap)
- Quarter-round molding
- Paintable caulk and caulk gun
- Paint and painting supplies
- Stepstool or small ladder
- Table saw or circular saw (optional)
Ikea’s assembly instructions cover the wardrobe box assembly and anchoring, so I’ll focus on the trim work that transforms the Pax into a built-in.
Step 1: Plan Your Trim
The main goal is to bridge the gap from the top of the wardrobe box to the ceiling with trim that reads like crown molding. Because Pax doors reach the top of the box, you need a “backer” piece attached to the top edge of the unit so the visible molding has something to fasten into.
We used spare 1×3 boards as backers nailed from underneath the top lip of the wardrobe box. The visible trim then gets attached to the 1″ edge of that backer, creating a clean, continuous crown-like profile that looks factory-built.
Step 2: Position and Attach the Backer
Cut the backer pieces to length and mock up their placement before fastening. Because the trim must sit flush with the door face once installed, hold a sample trim piece against the front of the backer while you position it. This ensures the finished trim aligns correctly with neighboring units and with the door faces.
Once positioned, secure the backer with nails from underneath or into the wardrobe top. Check alignment on both ends so everything reads straight and consistent across the run.
Step 3: Cut and Attach Trim
With the backer in place, cut your visible trim pieces to length—mitered joints at corners look the most polished. Nail the trim into the backer so the profile overhangs the wardrobe box as needed; when the doors are closed the trim will read flush with the door face.
Step 4: Add Quarter-Round
If your selected trim doesn’t completely bridge the gap to the ceiling, add a small piece of quarter-round or another skinny molding to finish the seam. Depending on your ceiling height and trim choices, you may need to combine moldings or rip a larger board to size.
Step 5: Caulk and Paint
Fill nail holes and seams with paintable caulk or wood filler, then paint the trim to match the room. Finding an exact match for Ikea’s finish can be tricky, but matching the surrounding wall and ceiling color will visually tie everything together and make the installation read as intentional and integrated.
The Finished Result
We completed this project recently and the extra storage has been a real upgrade. The wall now reads as a complete built-in run rather than a half-finished corner, and the room feels more resolved. We’re planning a follow-up post and video that detail how we organized the interiors of these Pax wardrobes.
The main takeaway is that with a bit of planning and some simple trim work, you can achieve the storage capacity of a walk-in closet without dedicating an entire room to it. That’s made a big difference for us while living in a smaller house—storage that feels custom-made without the custom price tag.
Other Ikea Customizations
If you like Ikea hacks, we’ve done a number of other custom projects over the years, including wood-wrapped bookcases, painted kitchen cabinets, built-in cabinets with a window seat, and more. These projects all use the same principle: thoughtful detailing and trim make affordable flat-pack pieces feel intentional and tailored to the room.
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