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      DIY & How-To

      Ikea Hacks

      jenny komenda hacks the ikea pax wardrobe

      Orange and Gray Closet
      pax
      an ode
      to the
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      photographs and text by Jenny Komenda
      domino contributing editor—and
      resident DIY expert—Jenny Komenda
      shows us 6 steps for transforming IKEA’s
      modular pax wardrobe closet into a custom
      wardrobe and vanity.
      We recently moved across the country, trading our cozy
      Brooklyn home for a house in the desert, with nearly
      triple the square footage. When we first arrived in
      Arizona, I told myself that all my storage woes were
      behind me—and then we unpacked our clothes and
      shoes. Despite the fact that we have ample closets now,
      we were still having trouble making everything fit. Piles
      were accumulating. Clothes and shoes were buried and
      lost to memory.

      Then one day a few weeks ago, I decided enough was
      enough, and I did what any self-respecting DIYer does—
      I went to IKEA.

      The funny thing is, when we moved into this new house, I
      vowed never to buy a major piece of furniture from IKEA
      again. But there I was, purchasing three “Pax” wardrobes
      for our bedroom. These units are pretty irresistible as far
      as customizable closet systems go. With all the drawers,
      shelves, and components I needed, I knew the custom
      route was going to be too expensive (my carpenter
      estimated it would be at least $5,000, whereas each of the
      Pax wardrobes rang in at about $300).
      Here are a few ways to upgrade your
      Pax wardrobe to help make it a little
      less big-box and a little more bespoke.
      1
      Paint, paint, paint.
      The superslick surface of IKEA’s furniture is notoriously
      difficult to paint, but Zinsser’s shellac-based primer works
      like a charm. Apply it with a miniroller, and follow
      up with your topcoat of choice. I like Benjamin Moore's
      Advance line for painting furniture. I often paint my
      wardrobes the same color as my walls to help them blend
      into the room and feel unobtrusive. For this project, I used
      Benjamin Moore’s Knoxville Gray, a dark, moody blue-gray
      with plenty of green undertones. This color is one of my
      favorites, so I knew I wouldn’t tire of seeing it day
      in and day out.
      2
      Trim it out.
      It’s amazing what a few inches of molding can
      do. I added dentil trim to the top of my wardrobes,
      and the crown made a huge difference.
      Green Portrait
      Gray and Yellow Bedroom
      Gray Vignette
      Gray Vignette
      Square Lacquer Dish by The Lacquer Company
      Square Lacquer Dish
      The Lacquer Company
      Buy Now
       
      before
       
      after
      Gray Vignette
      Gray Vignette
      3
      Mirror the doors.
      The Bergsbo-style doors are one of the
      least-expensive Pax options. And if you
      choose this model, you can use the
      money you've saved to have mirrors cut
      to fit by a glass shop. They can be safely
      secured to the doors with mirror glue.
      Bacall Earrings by Elizabeth Cole
      Bacall Earrings
      Elizabeth Cole
      Buy Now
      Gray Vignette
      Gray Vignette
      Gray Vignette
      White and Gray Closet
      Gray Vignette
      4
      Personalize the hardware.
      Most Pax wardrobes don’t have door hardware,
      but adding a few simple pulls can give the piece
      a whole new look. I found these chunky pulls at
      the hardware store and spray-painted them gold
      to provide a luxe touch.
      5
      Wallpaper the inside of the wardrobe.
      One thing I don’t love about the Pax is the
      exposed holes for the adjustable shelves.
      Wallpapering the interior surfaces solves that
      problem. I used an inexpensive roll of grass
      cloth from Lowe’s and painted it the same color
      (Benjamin Moore’s Knoxville Gray) as the
      wardrobe for a seamless look.
      6
      Create a vanity area
      for jewelry storage.

      To keep my accessories organized, I created a
      vanity by installing one of the IKEA shelves at
      counter height above a series of drawers used for
      clothing storage and adhering a mirror to the
      back of the wardrobe. Then, I affixed 40 small
      brass hooks to a scrap piece of wood and hung it
      inside for necklace storage.
      Since investing some time and money in these
      wardrobes, I’m feeling about a million times more
      organized. And that vanity? I’m loving it! Today,
      I’m wearing a pair of earrings I thought were
      long lost. But the best part of being organized
      is the time it frees up for tackling other things
      around our house.

      Next up: a big upholstery project . . .
      View Photos (19 photos) View: Grid | Slideshow
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