IKEA PAX Wardrobe Guide: Best Models for Small Rooms

Anyone who has tried to fit a wardrobe into a small Irish bedroom knows the puzzle: the ceiling slopes, the door swing eats the floor, and nothing seems to leave room for the bed. IKEA’s PAX system exists precisely to solve that puzzle — a modular frame-and-component set that lets you build storage around the space, not the other way around, and it walks through the PAX range, its real-world dimensions, and how to plan a configuration that actually works for tight floor plans.

Number of PAX combinations available online: Over 100 pre-designed combinations in the Dublin market alone ·
Width range for PAX frames: 50 cm to 100 cm per frame section ·
Height options for PAX frames: 201 cm and 236 cm, fitting standard and taller ceilings ·
Depth of PAX frames: 35 cm for shallow rooms, 58 cm for standard hanging storage ·
Door styles available for PAX: Sliding, hinged, and open front options in multiple colours

The table below summarises the key facts about PAX frame options.

What is the best IKEA wardrobe for a small room?

For a typical Dublin rental bedroom — often 3.5 m by 3 m — the best IKEA wardrobe is not a single model but a PAX combination sized to the wall. The sliding-door version is the most common recommendation because it eliminates the 40 cm of floor clearance that hinged doors need. IKEA Ireland’s clearance guidance states that a 201 cm PAX with hinged doors requires at least 202 cm ceiling height and floor space for the door swing, while sliding doors can fit into tighter footprints — minimum ceiling 205 cm for the 236 cm frame, but no swing radius needed.

Choosing between PAX sliding and hinged doors for tight spaces

Sliding doors run on a top track and leave the entire front accessible. Hinged doors open fully, giving you a wider view inside, but they demand that you keep the area in front clear. On platforms like Houzz (homeowner discussion forum), users regularly describe the trade-off: two 100 cm sliding-door frames fit side by side without compromising the bed position, whereas the same width with hinged doors would block the room’s circulation path. The catch is that sliding doors reduce the usable opening width by about 10 cm per door because the panels overlap.

Recommended frame sizes for small rooms: 50 cm and 75 cm widths

IKEA Ireland sells PAX frames in three widths: 50, 75, and 100 cm. For a very narrow wall — say a 90 cm alcove — a 75 cm frame plus a 15 cm filler piece can squeeze in. ItemFits (third-party dimension reference) confirms the 50 cm frame is the smallest stand-alone option. When space is really tight, two 50 cm frames side by side (100 cm total) can hold more than a single 100 cm unit because you can split the interior between hanging and shelving.

The implication: for an Irish bedroom under 12 m², the sliding-door PAX in 50 or 75 cm widths — combined with a shallow 35 cm frame if the room is narrow — gives you the most storage per square metre without making the room feel closed in.

The bottom line is that PAX adapts to the room, not the other way around.

How does IKEA PAX compare to JYSK wardrobes?

PAX frames use particleboard with a foil finish, while JYSK wardrobes often use melamine-faced chipboard. PAX offers significantly more interior configuration choices, including shelves, drawers, and hanging rods in multiple width-specific sizes.

What IKEA wardrobe ideas work for small bedrooms?

Using full-height PAX maximises vertical space, incorporating a sliding door saves floor clearance, and interior organisers like double hanging rods and pull-out trouser hangers double storage efficiency.

How does the IKEA PAX wardrobe system work?

PAX is not a pre-built wardrobe; it is a modular system of frames, interior organisers, and doors that you combine yourself. Thinking of it as a kit of parts — each part has fixed dimensions and a defined role — makes planning straightforward. IKEA Ireland’s product knowledge article explains that every PAX frame shares the same depth and height for its category, and the width determines which interior components fit.

Frame components: widths, heights, and depths

You pick a frame first. The three width options (50, 75, 100 cm) each come in two heights (201 cm, 236 cm) and two depths (35 cm, 58 cm). The product page for the white PAX frame specifies 75×58×236 cm as an example, and the material is particleboard with a foil finish. The shallower 35 cm depth is meant for shelves and folded clothes, not for hanging adult jackets.

Interior organisers: shelves, drawers, and hanging rods

Once you have a frame, you choose what goes inside: shelves, drawers, wire baskets, pull-out trouser hangers, tie racks, and shoe storage. Each component has a width range (e.g. the 50 cm frame accepts only 50 cm-wide components; 75 cm and 100 cm frames accept corresponding widths). According to IKEA Ireland’s PAX planner guide, you can mix two hanging rods (one high, one low) to double the hanging space — a trick that many small-room renters use to get a full-length and a half-length section in the same 201 cm frame.

Door and front options: sliding, hinged, and open

The final component is the door set. Sliding doors come as a pair or triple, hinged doors as single panels. A Reddit discussion on PAX configurations notes that sliding doors are offered in wider combination widths (up to 200 cm total) than hinged, which reflects a practical difference: hinged doors are better for single 100 cm frames because you can open both doors fully and see everything. Open-front (no door) is the cheapest option and works well in walk-in closets or rooms where dust isn’t a concern.

Why this matters: the modularity means you aren’t locked into a single design. A tenant planning a layout can start with a 201 cm frame, add sliding doors for space efficiency, and later swap the interior to add drawers or a mirror — all without changing the frame.

The modularity ensures you never pay for space you don’t need.

What are the dimensions of IKEA PAX frames?

Every PAX frame is built to a strict dimension grid. Once you know the three width options, two height options, and two depth options, you can predict exactly how much floor and wall space a configuration will take.

Width options: 50, 75, and 100 cm

• 50 cm — ideal for a single row of folded clothes or a narrow alcove. Fits in spaces as tight as 55 cm wall length.
• 75 cm — the most versatile. Can hold a hanging rod for shirts and one for trousers (when using a double rod).
• 100 cm — best for heavy hanging items like coats or long dresses. Requires a wall at least 105 cm long.

Height options: 201 cm and 236 cm

• 201 cm — fits under standard Irish ceiling height (240 cm). Minimum ceiling height for assembly upright: 202 cm for hinged doors, 205 cm for sliding doors (IKEA Ireland clearance guide).
• 236 cm — for rooms with higher ceilings, such as older Victorian houses in Dublin with 3 m ceilings. Provides an extra shelf row at the top.

Depth options: 35 cm (shallow) and 58 cm (standard)

• 35 cm — shallow enough to fit in a hall or behind a door. Holds shelves, folded jeans, and small items. Not deep enough for adult hangers (which need about 50 cm).
• 58 cm — the standard depth. Accommodates adult coat hangers with the rod centred. Also fits shoe racks and pull-out trouser hangers.

The pattern: all PAX frames within a height/depth group share the same footprint. A 100×58×201 cm frame and a 50×58×201 cm frame have the same depth and height — only the width changes. This means you can align multiple frames side by side to create a seamless bank of storage, as long as the total width fits your wall.

The catch: the 201 cm frame, while easier to install, leaves a 39 cm gap to a 240 cm ceiling — wasted vertical space unless you build a plinth base to raise it. Taller frames (236 cm) use that space but require careful assembly: you must tilt the frame upright, so the ceiling height must be at least 205 cm for a 201 cm frame with sliding doors, and at least 240 cm for a 236 cm frame.

Knowing these dimensions precisely is the difference between a perfect fit and a costly mistake.

How to design your IKEA wardrobe with the PAX Planner

IKEA Ireland’s PAX planner is a free browser-based tool that lets you build a 3D model of your wardrobe before you buy. The process takes about 15 minutes and produces a complete shopping list.

1. Choose your space. Enter the width, height, and depth of the wall space. The planner automatically suggests frame combinations that fit.
2. Select a frame. Pick from 50, 75, or 100 cm widths and 201 or 236 cm heights. The tool shows the frame’s footprint in 3D.
3. Add interior fittings. Drag shelves, hanging rods, drawers, and accessories into the frame. The planner checks compatibility — a 50 cm frame can’t take a 75 cm drawer.
4. Choose doors. Select sliding, hinged, or open front. The tool updates the price in real time.
5. Save and buy. The design can be saved to your IKEA account, printed as a shopping list, or shared with a friend. Purchasing directly from the planner ensures all parts are compatible. IKEA Ireland’s PAX design page shows a complete example configuration: a 150×66×236 cm wardrobe priced at €496.

What this means: the planner removes the guesswork. A user in Cork can design a wardrobe that fits a 3 m wall, see exactly how many shelves and drawers it will hold, and know the total cost before stepping into the store.

The planner ensures all selected parts work together, making it an invaluable tool for anyone looking to maximise storage.

“PAX is the go-to solution for renters who want to maximise storage without permanent fixtures. The modular nature means you can take it with you when you move.”

— IKEA Ireland product page description of the PAX system

“Design your wardrobe in 3D — choose the frame, interior, and doors you like. The planner ensures all your selected parts work together.”

— IKEA PAX Planner tool interface instructions

“The assembly took about 6 hours with two people. The instructions were clear, but you need a battery drill and a spirit level. The result is rock solid.”

— IKEA customer review on a 100×58×236 cm PAX wardrobe

The bottom line for anyone shopping for a wardrobe in Ireland: PAX is what it actually is — a modular building system, not a single product. For tenants in Dublin or Galway with small bedrooms, the sliding-door version in 75 cm width, 201 cm height, and 58 cm depth offers the best compromise between storage volume and floor footprint. For homeowners with higher ceilings, the 236 cm frame adds a top shelf that holds luggage or off-season clothes. The PAX Planner is the simplest way to avoid buying parts that don’t fit. The decision is clear: measure your space, use the planner, and invest in a configuration that matches your clothes — not a generic wardrobe that wastes room.

Related reading: IKEA PAX wardrobe ceiling height and clearance guide · IKEA Ireland wardrobe collection overview

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