IKEA Wardrobe Guide: Ideas, Planner & Small Room Solutions

Anyone who’s tried to fit a winter wardrobe into a Dublin box room already knows the struggle: floor space vanishes, doors won’t open fully, and you end up with a precarious tower of folded jumpers. The IKEA PAX system has become the go-to solution for exactly this problem, offering a way to customise storage around awkward alcoves and tight corners. With frame widths starting at just 50cm and a free online planner that lets you visualise your design in 3D before buying, there’s a practical path to a clutter-free room without tearing down walls.

PAX frame widths: 50, 75, 100 cm ·
Number of door styles: over 20 ·
Wardrobe categories: 3 (PAX, hinged, sliding) ·
Price range: €50 – €800 ·
Customizable: Yes ·
Assembly required: Yes (except some flat-pack)

The table below lays out the core specifications that every Irish shopper needs to know before buying.

What are the best IKEA wardrobes for small rooms?

Which PAX frame sizes fit small bedrooms?

The PAX system is the most flexible option for tight spaces because it starts at a 50 cm width — narrow enough to slot into an alcove between a door frame and a wall. IKEA Ireland’s official design guide confirms that frames come in 50, 75, and 100 cm widths (IKEA Ireland PAX design guide (official product information)) with depths of 35 cm for shallow spaces and 58 cm for standard hanging depth (IKEA Ireland PAX design guide (official product information)). In a typical Irish bedroom measuring 3m x 3m, a 100 cm x 58 cm frame takes up roughly 0.58 m² of floor area — leaving room for a single bed and a small desk.

• Narrowest frame: 50 cm x 35 cm — fits beside a door or behind a door swing
• Medium frame: 75 cm x 58 cm — standard wardrobe depth for hanging coats and shirts
• Widest frame: 100 cm x 58 cm — best for double hanging rails

How to choose between hinged and sliding doors?

Hinged doors offer a classic look and full access to the wardrobe interior, but they swing outward, demanding about 80 cm of clear floor space in front of the frame. Sliding doors glide along a track and need only about 20 cm of clearance, making them ideal for narrow bedrooms where every centimetre counts (IKEA Ireland fitted wardrobes (brand product page)).

What are the smallest IKEA wardrobe dimensions?

The smallest complete wardrobe configuration combines a 50 cm wide PAX frame (35 cm deep) with a single hinged door, giving a total footprint of about 0.175 m² — roughly the size of a small suitcase. IKEA Ireland’s instructions for measuring a space say to first check the maximum width, height, and depth of the available area (IKEA Ireland help article (customer service guidance)). For a 201 cm high frame, you need at least that ceiling height plus room to tilt the frame upright during assembly.

IKEA wardrobe ideas: design tips and inspiration

What interior fittings maximize storage?

IKEA PAX supports a wide range of internal fittings, including shelves, pull-out trousers hangers, shoe racks, and deep drawers. JYSK Ireland also recommends using shelves and drawers to keep clothing categories organised (JYSK Ireland wardrobe advice (retailer guidance)). In a small PAX, adding a second hanging rail doubles the hanging space for shirts and folded trousers without increasing the floor footprint.

• KOMPLEMENT pull-out trouser hanger: up to 10 pairs
• KOMPLEMENT shoe shelf: holds 6 pairs per shelf
• KOMPLEMENT drawer with mesh dividers: ideal for socks and accessories

How to use the IKEA wardrobe planner?

The PAX planner is a free browser-based tool on IKEA Ireland’s website that lets you design a wardrobe in 3D (IKEA Ireland PAX Planner (official design tool)). IKEA’s guidance says to measure your space from floor to ceiling and wall to wall before planning (IKEA Ireland PAX design guide (official product information)). You start by entering those dimensions, then add frames, doors, and internal fittings. The tool shows you a realistic 3D preview from any angle.

1. Measure your available space: width, height, and depth
2. Open the PAX planner on the IKEA Ireland website
3. Choose your frame sizes and colours (white, grey, grey-beige, or white stained oak effect)
4. Add doors, shelves, drawers, and rails
5. Save your design and order online or in-store

Color and door style recommendations for small bedrooms

Light-coloured doors — white and light grey — reflect more natural light and make a small room feel larger. IKEA Ireland offers frames in white, grey, grey-beige, and white stained oak effect (IKEA Ireland PAX design guide (official product information)). Mirror doors can double a room’s sense of space, but they require careful installation because of their weight.

IKEA vs JYSK wardrobes: which is better?

Three key differences separate the two brands for Irish shoppers, one crucial trade-off.

The table below pits IKEA PAX against JYSK wardrobes across the factors that matter most to Irish buyers.

What are the key differences in quality?

IKEA PAX frames are made from particleboard with a melamine foil finish, which is durable for most domestic use. JYSK uses similar materials but with fewer reinforcement options. JYSK Ireland’s wardrobe advice focuses on matching the design of the bedroom (Gulliver’s Retail Park (Irish retail park blog)), while IKEA emphasises modular flexibility.

How do prices compare?

IKEA basic prices start lower for a single PAX frame (around €50), but once you add doors, shelves, and organisers, a complete small wardrobe can cost €200-€400. JYSK’s cheapest 1-door wardrobe starts at about €80, but options for customisation are limited to a few door colours and sizes (JYSK Ireland wardrobes (retailer product listing)). The price difference narrows when you compare fully fitted wardrobes: a JYSK 3-door wardrobe with drawers and mirror costs around €350, comparable to a similarly equipped PAX.

Which brand offers more customization?

IKEA wins this category by a wide margin. The PAX system lets you choose frame dimensions, door style, interior fittings, and colour combinations. JYSK Ireland sells wardrobes in 1-door to 4-door configurations with some options for drawers, mirrors, and sliding doors (JYSK Ireland wardrobes (retailer product listing)), but there’s no equivalent to the PAX planner.

IKEA wardrobe doors Ireland: styles and suppliers

What door styles does IKEA Ireland offer?

IKEA Ireland sells hinged, sliding, and folding doors for the PAX system. Hinged doors include classic panel designs like the TYSSDAL (white, Shaker-style) and the flat-fronted BERGSBO. Sliding doors include mirrored options (like the GLIS) and wood-effect finishes (IKEA Ireland fitted wardrobes (brand product page)). Folding doors are less common but available for narrow openings.

Can I buy third-party doors for IKEA wardrobes?

Yes, several specialists in Ireland sell doors that are compatible with the PAX frame sizes without needing to modify the frame. These doors often come in different materials (like solid wood or high-gloss) that IKEA doesn’t offer. However, IKEA Ireland does not endorse third-party doors, so warranty coverage applies only to IKEA-branded components (IKEA Ireland help article (customer service guidance)).

Where to find IKEA wardrobe doors in stock?

IKEA Ireland’s online stock checker shows real-time availability at the Ballymun, Carrickmines, and Belfast stores. White sliding doors tend to be the most consistently stocked, while specialty colours like grey-beige or white stained oak effect may have longer lead times. The online planner lets you check stock before you visit (IKEA Ireland PAX Planner (official design tool)).

The pattern: the biggest bottleneck in Dublin is glass or mirror sliding doors, which often sell out within days of a restock. Plan ahead if you need them.

How to plan an IKEA wardrobe using the planner

Step-by-step: starting a new project in the planner

IKEA Ireland’s customer-service article recommends starting by measuring the space where the wardrobe will go (IKEA Ireland help article (customer service guidance)). The planner itself is a browser-based tool that works on any device without downloading software (IKEA Ireland PAX Planner (official design tool)).

1. Go to the PAX planner page on IKEA Ireland’s website
2. Click “Start planning” — no account required
3. Enter your room dimensions (width, height, depth)
4. Choose your frame sizes and colours
5. Add doors, shelves, drawers, and rails from the KOMPLEMENT range
6. Use the 3D view to inspect the design from all angles
7. Save or print your plan, then order online or in-store

How to add frames, doors, and interiors

The planner uses a drag-and-drop interface. You first add PAX frames to your space, then choose doors that match the frame width. After that, you fill the interior with KOMPLEMENT organisers — shelves, drawers, shoe racks, and hanging rails. IKEA Ireland’s fitted wardrobe page confirms you can design a wardrobe by choosing frames, doors, and organisers (IKEA Ireland fitted wardrobes (brand product page)).

How to save and order your design

Once your design is complete, the planner generates a product list with all item numbers and prices. You can save the design online (requires an IKEA account) or print it as a PDF. The design can then be ordered online for delivery or click-and-collect. IKEA Ireland’s step-by-step fitted bedroom furniture guide walks through the same process (IKEA Ireland fitted wardrobes (brand product page)).

“IKEA Ireland says the PAX planner lets users try ideas in 3D and start immediately online — no download, no account required.”

IKEA Ireland PAX Planner (official design tool)

“JYSK Ireland recommends a full clear-out before reorganising a wardrobe, sorting contents into Keep, Store, Chuck out, and Give away or sell.”

JYSK Ireland wardrobe advice (retailer guidance)

“IKEA Ireland’s PAX design guidance says to measure the space from floor to ceiling and wall to wall before planning — getting this right removes most assembly headaches.”

IKEA Ireland PAX design guide (official product information)

“A Gulliver’s Retail Park article about JYSK says a wardrobe should match the design of the bedroom — essentially, treat the wardrobe as part of the room’s decor, not just storage.”

Gulliver’s Retail Park (Irish retail park blog)

For anyone in an Irish small bedroom, the choice between IKEA and JYSK is clear: IKEA PAX offers modularity and customization for awkward spaces, while JYSK provides simpler pre-set solutions. If you need to fit a wardrobe into an alcove less than 60 cm wide, IKEA is your only option. If you want a standard width with minimal assembly, JYSK works fine.

For the Dublin homeowner facing a 2.4m-wide alcove, the implication is straightforward: invest in a sliding-door PAX with a mirror front, use the planner to maximise interior storage, and skip the assembly headache by ordering professional installation — or save €100 by assembling it yourself over a weekend.

Frequently asked questions