Ikea Pax Wardrobes

[ben2579]

Just bought three single Pax ikea wardrobes. they are the 201cm high ones. We have a ceiling height of 208cm. I think we could stand them up the ikea website says 208cm in one place and 210 in another. A quick google revealed that some people have built them standing up where ceiling height was tight. Has anyone ever done this on here? Any tips. Also having new carpet put down before we build them anyone know how they sit on carpet or would it be better to carpet around them (hopefully won't want to move them).

Thanks Ben

 

[gam]

before building you can check how much space you have by using one of the sides to check the height as the top and bottom attach on the inside of them if memory serves correctly..... just set it down and lift it up the way you would be lifting the fully made one in place, if it touches the ceiling on its way then go the build upright route

If you carpet around them would there not be a chance of the carpet lifting over time, I just put them on the carpet and not had any issues.... you attach them to the wall from the inside so they arent going anywhere

 

[Chadford]

If you carpet around them would there not be a chance of the carpet lifting over time, I just put them on the carpet and not had any issues.... you attach them to the wall from the inside so they arent going anywhere

Also put my units on top of the carpet. I would definitely do this again as it makes for a very tidy looking base to carpet without small gaps or lifting carpet. The only issue is that if you subsequently move the wardrobes you will no doubt get a permanent indentation in the carpet pile that will probably not recover over time.

 

[andrew24]

I have the ikea pax wardrobes floor to ceiling and had to build them standing up took two of us one holding the uprights while the other holds the sides and screws together.

 

[RBZ5416]

If Ikea's measurements of the side panels is accurate (201x37cm), then Pythagoras tells us the maximum height when lifting into position is just under 204.5cm. So you should be fine. But Gam's suggestion of simulating the lift with an end panel will confirm.

As for sitting on carpet, depends how thick it & the underlay is. Thin or easily compressed stuff will leave the possibility of the gripper tilting the wardrobe forward. Cabinet wedges can counteract that, or maybe hardboard the exact area of the wardrobes inside the gripper before putting the underlay down. But as Chadford suggested, that could limit your options should you want to move them around in future.

 

[amcluesent]

Yes, building flat then tilting upright does seem tomake the top of the arc higher than the final height!

 

[ben2579]

Good old Pythagoras - That is really helpful everyone - will double check the clearance then store them until the carpet is put down (but sounds like we will be ok) - fix and wedge as necessary. We probably won't move them but it is nice to have the option and if we move can take with us and leave the new owners to worry about any carpet indent.

 

[muppetman74]

We had the 201cm PAX wardrobes in every room in our old house. Even in the rooms with the highest ceilings, I found it easier to build them standing up, pretty much in place of where they were going to be. I thought that pivoting them up on one edge once built was only going to make them weaker.

 

[KelvinS1965]

FWIW I built my PAX wardrobes in the upright position as they were literally a whisker less than the ceiling height. We bought the taller 236(?)cm high ones and I fitted them into a space directly on the floorboards and filled the end with a cut down section made from a spare side panel (I bought one extra cabinet without the door to use as packing/filling material). The carpet was fitted up to the front of the wardrobes since we have no intention of moving them and they wouldn't fit if raised by carpet anyway.

I think it turned out pretty well, especially with some different (non Ikea) handles:

 

[Papcx]

That's a nice tidy job!

 

[soupdragon]

FWIW I built my PAX wardrobes in the upright position as they were literally a whisker less than the ceiling height. We bought the taller 236(?)cm high ones and I fitted them into a space directly on the floorboards and filled the end with a cut down section made from a spare side panel (I bought one extra cabinet without the door to use as packing/filling material). The carpet was fitted up to the front of the wardrobes since we have no intention of moving them and they wouldn't fit if raised by carpet anyway.

I think it turned out pretty well, especially with some different (non Ikea) handles:

Nice work Kelvin - did something similar myself. Didn't need to use any of this 2nd helper nonsense either - thats like admitting you wear your wifes knickers

 

[ben2579]

Does look good kelvin!! might go the upright option - I have a 38cm gap to fill at one end to give it that fitted look although Ikea do do some smaller upright cabinets that might slot in and look ok.

 

[ben2579]

Kelvin - do you have 5 wardrobes - just trying to see the fill in part?

 

[jenam93]

Kelvin - do you have 5 wardrobes - just trying to see the fill in part?

It could be 2*1m + 1*0.5m. So 5 doors but only 3 carcasses.

This is how we did it too.

 

[KelvinS1965]

gbcasual is correct: 2 x 1 metre each end with a 50cm wide one in the middle. The packing is just about 10-12cm on the left edge, but not really visible from that picture. I also doubled up on the side panel on the right hand end as this gives a bit of extra clearance for the right hand door to open without catching the wall.

Since the extra carcass was only about £30 it seemed easier than trying to find a supplier of material that would match. In fact the whole wardrobe was a cheaper version of a Hulsta one we originally looked at which was about £4.5K. As the whole bedroom project was creeping towards 5 figures we thought it better to use the Pax wardrobes since we already had some other Ikea wardrobes that we bought 15 years ago in another room and they have lasted really well.

This was our inspiration...I don't think the cheaper version worked out too bad in comparison: