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Step-by-step: find your perfect clothes storage system

Our wardrobes come in a huge range of styles, sizes, and configurations. So how do you settle on the ideal clothes storage system for you? Well, here are three steps to help you narrow your options.

1. Measure your space | 2. Estimate capacity | 3. Explore types of wardrobes | Small wardrobe closets | Wardrobes with doors | Open wardrobes

Behind a bed is a dark grey PAX/MEHAMN wardrobe with the left sliding door slightly open, showing clothes hanging on a rail.
Behind a bed is a dark grey PAX/MEHAMN wardrobe with the left sliding door slightly open, showing clothes hanging on a rail.

1. Measure the available space

Before anything else, you should look at where you want to place your wardrobe closet or clothes storage system and figure out exactly how much space you have.

  • Remember to measure all dimensions – height, width and depth – so that you know which wardrobes will fit.
  • Take into account any structural features – such as a recess or a slanting ceiling – as well as wall obstructions such as radiators and pipes.
  • If you want a wardrobe closet with hinged doors, make sure that there’s enough space for them to open out fully.
  • You can use painter’s tape to make an outline on the wall, which will help you to visualize the placement and size of the wardrobe that you want.

2. Estimate capacity with these numbers

The interior organization and capacity of your wardrobe closet is very much an individual decision. Only you know what type of clothes you have a lot of and how you’d like to store them. If you’re mainly a t-shirts-and-jeans person, your needs may be quite different to someone who wears a lot of long flowing robes or dresses. To maximize space in your new wardrobe, you might want to first get rid of old clothes that you no longer wear.

The illustration above gives a rough idea of how much space you need for different types of clothes:

  1. Storage boxes – 19 cm
  2. Coats – 100 cm
  3. Shirts and blouses – 80 cm
  4. Short dresses – 120 cm
  5. Very long clothes – 190 cm
  6. Shoe rack – 33 cm (allow more space for boots; never place above clothes)
  7. Ten folded t-shirts – 25 cm
  8. Ten folded sweaters – 30 cm
  9. Hanging trousers – 60–70 cm

3. Explore types of wardrobes to see what you like: closed, open, mixed?

For a more seamless looking interior, choose a closed wardrobe with either hinged or sliding doors. Knobs and handles add the finishing touch. To make your clothes a display feature – and easy to pick out – you can opt for an open wardrobe without doors. What colour, finish and material do you prefer?

White PAX corner wardrobe that holds hanging shirts and shelves of shoes, folded clothes and dark grey TJOG storage boxes.
White PAX/GRIMO wardrobe closet combinations with YTBERG/TRÅDFRI lighting behind a Gunnared beige VIMLE two-seat sofa bed.
A grey HAUGA wardrobe with sliding doors, partially open, TVÄRDRAG LED dimmable cabinet lighting and woven baskets on top.
Bamboo NORDKISA wardrobe with sliding door, folded and hanging clothes inside, beside a black TOFTBYN mirror on the wall.
A white JONAXEL wardrobe combination with clothes hanging on the rails and folded up in the wire baskets.

Small wardrobe closets

A small wardrobe closet is ideal when you simply want a self-contained, single piece of storage furniture. You can choose between models with sliding, hinged, or no doors at all in different sizes and looks. Many IKEA solitaire wardrobes are part of a furniture series, so you can easily find a matching bed frame or bedside table.

See all small wardrobe closets
White IDANÄS open wardrobe and a white IDANÄS wardrobe with bifolding doors are on a wall behind an upholstered bed.
See all small wardrobe closets

PAX wardrobes with doors

A PAX wardrobe closets with doors adds sleek calm to a room while keeping dust away. For a look that blends in, choose colours, finishes and details that complement the rest of your décor. Sliding doors use space efficiently; hinged ones need space to open but offer all-at-once access.

With a wide choice of frames, doors and interior organizers, you can easily customize a PAX system wardrobe for your bedroom or hallway. Main dimensions: 50, 75 or 100 cm wide; 201 or 236 cm tall; 35 or 58 cm deep. (Door type will affect total size.)

Open wardrobe systems

When you have a wardrobe without doors, you’re never likely to forget what outfits are ready to wear. An open closet system lets you organize and maximize a reach-in or walk-in space. Plus, if you want, you can make a display feature of your clothes and accessories.

A white BOAXEL wardrobe combination, with hanging and folded clothes, in a recess of a room with a green door and walls.

BOAXEL system

Versatile, durable, and affordable wall-mounted storage that can adapt to sloped or high ceilings. Suitable for indoor wet rooms (bathroom, laundry room) and has wire shelves and drying racks. Main dimensions: 60 or 80 cm wide; 100 or 200 cm tall; 40 cm deep. Mounting rails are 62, 82, or 182 cm wide.

A white JONAXEL wardrobe combination, two white JONAXEL storage combinations, shelves and baskets behind light brown doors.

JONAXEL system

Affordable, flexible, sturdy floor-standing storage that’s easy to add to bedrooms, reach-in closets or hallways. Suitable for indoor wet rooms. Some frames/units can be stacked or have castors added. Main dimensions: 25 or 50 cm wide; 70 cm tall (one frame is 104 cm); 51 cm deep.

A white, floor-to-ceiling ELVARLI wardrobe combination, with folded and hanging clothes, placed as a room divider.

ELVARLI system

Lightweight, yet durable storage that lets you create a stylish room divider or walk-in closet using ceiling posts or side units. Tailor it with sleek interior options like solid drawers and shelves (there’s bamboo, too). Main dimensions: 40 or 80 cm wide; 222-350 cm tall (post); 216 cm tall (side unit); 36 or 51 cm deep.

Clothes hang on the rails of a dark grey AURDAL wardrobe combination in a recess behind open beige curtains in a bedroom.

AURDAL system without doors

Elegant and easily assembled open storage. Ideal in small or tricky spaces like narrow reach-in closets. Uses wall-mounted suspension rails and long-legged side panels. Main dimensions: 56 cm wide; 221 cm tall; 40 cm deep. Suspension rails are 65 or 125 cm wide. Available in white or dark grey.

A white PAX wardrobe combination with several sections and without doors, filled with clothes, acting as a walk-in closet.

PAX wardrobes without doors

Features frames in different finishes, built-in plinths, and corner solutions. Has numerous clever interior organizers – pull-out trays, trouser hangers, glass shelves, and glass-front drawers – so you can create an organized dream wardrobe. Main dimensions: 50, 75, or 100 cm wide; 201 or 236 cm tall; 35 or 58 cm deep.

See the SKYTTA sliding door system

For a sliding door wardrobe in any space

Fancy your own reach-in or walk-in? The floor-to-ceiling SKYTTA sliding door system uses rails and a choice of doors. Pair it with any IKEA storage system for more room in the same space, even under sloped spots.

See the SKYTTA sliding door system

Assembly and mounting

Assembly is easy with Taskrabbit.

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Click and collect

Orders that you pick up yourself

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Delivery

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Exchanges and returns

365 days to return your purchase.

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Tips for a well-organized wardrobe closet

How to keep the inside of your wardrobe neat and practical? Here are some quick and easy ideas to organise your wardrobe, including those from the PAX system.