Unlocking the Power of Customization
You know, when I first started thinking about how I wanted my dream closet to look, I got a little stuck. I kept coming back to this gorgeous blue custom cabinetry that I had seen in one of my design inspirations, and I just knew that was the look I had to recreate. But there was one big problem – my budget was anything but custom.
At first, I assumed we’d just have to build everything from scratch. But my husband, Cory, quickly brought me back to reality. “We’ve never built a cabinet in our lives,” he reminded me. “And it would take forever.” Not to mention, the costs would probably be way out of our range.
So I set out on a mission to find a closet system that I could customize and make my own. And that’s when the IKEA Pax system kept popping up. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first. IKEA furniture has a reputation for looking, well, a little basic. But after doing some serious research, I realized that the Pax was actually the perfect starting point for my dream closet.
The key was finding ways to upgrade and personalize it. Things like recessed lighting, custom drawer fronts, and even built-in crown molding could really transform the look from cookie-cutter to high-end custom. And the best part? It was all totally doable, even for a couple of DIY newbies like us.
Finding the Right Fit
Now, before we got started, Cory and I had to make sure the Pax system was going to work for our specific needs. We sat down and made a detailed spreadsheet cataloging exactly how much space we each needed for our clothes, based on categories like “high,” “medium,” and “low” storage. That way, we could make sure we had enough room for everything.
One thing we decided early on was that we didn’t want to rely too much on those IKEA accessories, like the pants hangers or shoe trees. While they can be helpful for maximizing storage, they just didn’t fit the elevated, custom look we were going for. Instead, we stuck to the classic closet staples – hanging rods, drawers, and shelves.
Building a Sturdy Foundation
Now, our room wasn’t exactly huge – it’s only about 14 feet long by 6 and a half feet wide. But we still wanted to make the most of the space. So we opted for the deeper Pax units on one wall (23 inches deep) and the shallower ones on the other side (just 13 inches deep). That gave us a nice, wide walkway in between.
One important detail we had to work around was our standard 8-foot ceilings. Since we couldn’t build a platform to lift the units off the floor, we had to get a little creative. We ended up shimming under the units to make sure everything was perfectly level, top to bottom. That way, when we added the baseboards, it all looked seamless and built-in.
Shedding Some Light on the Situation
Once the units were in place, it was time to start customizing. One of the first things we tackled was the lighting. We ordered some puck lights from Amazon and hardwired them right into the electrical boxes. That way, we could have them all connected to a switch and control the lighting with the flip of a switch.
To make it look extra high-end, we even recessed the lights into the front of the top shelf in each unit. It took a little router work, but the final result was totally worth it. Those flush-mounted puck lights give the whole closet such a polished, custom vibe.
Laying the Groundwork
With the lighting taken care of, we moved on to the baseboards. Now, this was a critical step in making the Pax units look truly built-in. We ran the baseboards all the way around the room, creating a seamless, custom look. And to make sure everything was perfectly level, we leaned on our trusty laser level – that thing has been a total game-changer for all our home projects.
Oh, and speaking of level, we also had to add some scrap shelves to the bottom of the units to bring them up flush with the baseboards. That way, the whole thing looked like it was one cohesive, integrated system.
Framing the Future
Next up, it was time to start adding all that gorgeous wood trim. We used 1/2-inch thick Poplar boards, cutting them down to size on the table saw. These vertical strips covered the gaps between the Pax units and the walls, giving the whole thing a built-in feel.
We also added horizontal Poplar strips that lined up with the bottom of the crown molding we were going to install later. That way, the crown would look like it was flowing right into the units, not just sitting on top of them.
To finish off the sides, we added even more Poplar strips, just to give everything a super polished, finished look. And let me tell you, sanding those edges and faces made a huge difference in the overall quality.
Capping it Off
With the wood trim in place, it was time to tackle the crown molding. We used the same Metrie Fashion Forward collection that we’d used for the baseboards, and it was the perfect finishing touch. That crown molding just elevated the whole thing to a whole new level of custom.
Now, to be honest, caulking all those seams was a bit of a tedious process. But it was so crucial for that seamless, built-in look we were going for. We used Bondo to fill in any gaps and holes, and then carefully caulked every single seam. It was a labor of love, for sure, but the end result was totally worth it.
Drawer Dilemmas Solved
One of the trickiest parts of this whole project was figuring out the drawer fronts. See, the standard Pax drawers have a very modern, modular look that just didn’t fit the vibe we were going for in our 1940s home. Most people just hide them behind cabinet doors, but we didn’t have the space or the desire to do that.
So we came up with the idea of adding custom drawer fronts made from that same Poplar wood. We left an 18-inch gap around the drawers, which gave us the perfect inset, built-in look we were after. And to make sure everything lined up seamlessly, we used a laser level to ensure the drawer fronts were perfectly level across the whole room.
Hiding the Seams
Now, one of the biggest giveaways that these were IKEA Pax units was that unsightly seam running down the back wall. I just couldn’t stomach the idea of putting all this work into making them look custom, only to have that cheap-looking seam give the game away.
So I tracked down some paintable faux grasscloth wallpaper and covered the entire back wall. Not only did it completely hide that seam, but it also added a really beautiful, subtle texture to the whole thing. It was the perfect finishing touch.
Plugging the Holes
Another telltale sign of an IKEA hack is all those pesky little holes left behind from the adjustable shelving. I mean, there are hundreds of them! But luckily, IKEA actually sells these little plastic plugs that are designed to fill them in. It was a bit of a tedious process, but so worth it to create that flawless, custom look.
Conquering the Paintwork
Now, I know a lot of people get nervous about painting over that shiny IKEA laminate finish. But I can assure you, it’s totally doable. The key is using a high-quality, shellac-based primer like Zinsser BIN. It’s a little bit tricky to work with – it’s super runny and has a pretty intense smell. But with a good respirator and a little patience, you can get a perfectly smooth, professional-looking finish.
We ended up doing two full coats of primer, just to be extra sure we had the best possible base for the paint. And when it came time to actually paint, we pulled out the ol’ spray gun. Now, that took some practice, but once we got the hang of it, the results were unbelievable. Those thin, even coats gave us a finish that looked like it was straight out of a furniture showroom.
Pulling it All Together
With the painting done, it was time to start putting all the pieces together. We installed the custom drawer fronts, using washers to make sure they were perfectly flush with the trim. And for the hardware, we went with some gorgeous, unlacquered brass cup pulls from Emtek. The weight and quality of those pulls just added so much elegant detail.
For the hanging rods, we ditched the standard IKEA ones and went with custom-cut wooden rods instead. We stained them to match the floors, and the whole thing just looked so much more elevated and refined.
The Finishing Touches
At long last, the closet was starting to come together. We added those rattan baskets to the top shelf for a little extra storage and style. And to really drive home that custom, built-in look, we capped it all off with some gorgeous crown molding.
I have to say, standing back and looking at the final result, I’m still in awe. What started as a basic IKEA Pax system has been transformed into a truly unique, personalized closet that looks like it was custom-built for our home. It’s the perfect blend of function and fashion, and it just makes me smile every time I walk in.
So if you’re looking to take your bespoke furniture dreams to the next level, don’t be afraid to get a little creative. With a little elbow grease and a whole lot of custom touches, you can turn even the most basic IKEA pieces into a true work of art. And who knows, maybe your dream closet will be the talk of the neighborhood, just like ours is.
