A Righteous Closet Transformation

Jenny Komenda: An Ode to the Pax

domino contributing editor — and resident DIY expert—Jenny Komenda shows us 6 steps for transforming IKEA’s modular closet system 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 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.

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.

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.

Photographs and text by Jenny Komenda