PAX Door Alternative – Custom Fronts for Your IKEA Wardrobe

IKEA's standard doors come in a handful of colors and finishes – which isn't enough for many interior styles. Our alternative PAX doors offer over 30 colors, two material lines, and a quality you won't find at IKEA. Whether it's subtle Linen, warm Sand, vibrant Moss, or elegant Graphite: Each door is individually manufactured in our family carpentry shop in Gelsenkirchen – Made in Germany. And the biggest difference from IKEA: Our doors extend all the way to the floor. The typical IKEA plinth, which remains visible with standard PAX doors, completely disappears.

Why do floor-to-ceiling PAX doors make such a big difference?

Anyone who assembles an IKEA PAX wardrobe knows the problem: a gap of several centimeters remains between the bottom edge of the door and the floor – the plinth area of the carcass is visible. This detail immediately reveals that it's an IKEA wardrobe. Our PAX doors extend to the floor and cover the entire plinth. The door closes flush with the floor, making the wardrobe appear as a continuous, room-height surface. Together with our side panels and wall fillers, this creates a seamless look that completely disguises its IKEA origin.

This detail makes an enormous visual difference – especially in open living rooms and bedrooms, where the wardrobe is a central piece of furniture. What looks like a system wardrobe from IKEA becomes an elegant built-in wardrobe with floor-to-ceiling doors.

What materials and colors are available?

Our PAX doors are available in two material lines: Aurora for color and Dendro for wood. Both lines are available in Pure and Signature quality levels. Aurora Pure offers a decorative-coated chipboard – robust, easy to clean, and available in bright, modern colors such as Cloud, Linen, Dune, Pistachio, and Blush. Aurora Signature goes a step further: Here, the surface is lacquered on one side and offers a velvety-matte feel with deeper tones like Frost, Ivory, Sand, Ash, Mink, Clay, Stone, and Graphite.

If you prefer a natural wood look, opt for the Dendro line. Dendro Pure is a decorative-coated panel with a wood look – an attractively priced option with an authentic appearance. Dendro Signature uses real wood veneer and offers the natural grain and feel of real wood, for example in Heritage Oak, Core Walnut, or Shadow Walnut. In total, over 30 colors and surfaces are available. All can be ordered in advance as samples – so you can check the color and feel in your own space before making a decision.

Which PAX carcass widths do our doors fit?

Our alternative PAX doors are available for the three standard IKEA carcass widths: 50 cm, 75 cm, and 100 cm. The hinge positions are exactly identical to IKEA's drill holes – so you use the existing hinge holes in your PAX carcass. Important: Due to the higher material quality, our doors weigh around 17 kg on average – an IKEA standard door weighs only 3 to 5 kg. Therefore, we supply special Select Living hinges that are designed for the heavier weight and ensure that the door opens and closes smoothly and durably. We have suitable door sizes for PAX heights of 201 cm and 236 cm.

If you plan a combination of different carcass widths – for example, one 100 cm and two 50 cm side by side – our doors work on each individual carcass. With our 3D PAX Planner, you can digitally assemble the entire wardrobe combination beforehand and immediately see how the colors and proportions interact.

What else contributes to a harmonious overall look besides the doors?

A door alone doesn't make a built-in wardrobe. For a truly seamless look, we also offer side panels, wall fillers, and corner doors to match every color and material line. The side panels clad the visible sides of the PAX carcass in the same finish as the doors. The wall fillers neatly close the gap between the wardrobe and the wall. And with corner doors, even awkward room situations can be elegantly resolved.

All additions are precisely color-matched to the doors – they are manufactured in the same production run in our carpentry shop. This ensures there are no color deviations between the door and the side cladding. In the 3D PAX Planner, you can assemble all these elements directly and see the result in real time.

How do our doors differ from IKEA standard doors?

IKEA PAX doors are solid mass-produced goods – they serve their purpose, but offer little flexibility in terms of color, material, and appearance. The selection is limited to a few finishes like Bergsbo (white), Forsand, or the high-gloss Fardal variant. None of them extend to the floor; all show the plinth. Our doors differ in four key aspects: They are floor-to-ceiling and completely cover the carcass plinth. They are available in over 30 colors and two material lines – from decorative-coated surfaces to lacquered fronts to real wood veneer. At around 17 kg per door, they weigh many times more than an IKEA door (3-5 kg) – you immediately feel the quality when opening and closing. And they are individually manufactured in Germany instead of industrially mass-produced.

Another difference: Our doors can be perfectly combined with our top cabinets. This creates a wardrobe that extends from floor to ceiling – floor-to-ceiling doors at the bottom, top cabinet at the top, no gaps, no visible carcass. This is the built-in wardrobe look that is not possible with IKEA alone.

Can I only replace the doors and keep the rest of the PAX?

Yes, that's exactly the principle. Your existing IKEA PAX carcass remains – with its interior, shelves, clothes rails, and everything you already have. You only replace the visible parts: the doors and, if necessary, the side panels. The hinge positions are identical to IKEA, but we supply our own hinges that are designed for the heavier weight of our doors (approx. 17 kg). Installation takes only a few minutes per door – insert hinges, hang door, adjust, done.

This also makes our doors the perfect solution if you want to visually refresh your PAX wardrobe without buying everything new. New color scheme in the bedroom? Simply replace the fronts – the carcass remains, the look is completely new. This is more sustainable and cheaper than a new wardrobe.

What do alternative PAX doors from Select Living cost?

The price depends on the size, material line, and number of doors. A single PAX door in the Aurora Pure line starts from around 200 Euros, depending on the carcass width. For a complete PAX wardrobe with four doors and side panels, you can expect to pay between 1,000 and 2,000 Euros for the Select Living parts, depending on the configuration – plus the IKEA carcasses and interior fittings. In comparison, a custom-made built-in wardrobe from a carpenter can easily cost three to five times as much.

On our inspiration page, you will find real customer examples with detailed price information. You can also request a free, no-obligation quote for your specific configuration at any time using our inquiry form.

Frequently Asked Questions about Alternative PAX Doors

Do your doors fit every IKEA PAX carcass?
Yes, the hinge positions are identical to IKEA. Our doors fit all current PAX carcasses in widths 50, 75, and 100 cm and heights 201 and 236 cm. We supply our own hinges that are designed for the heavier weight of our doors (approx. 17 kg vs. 3–5 kg for IKEA).

Are the doors really floor-to-ceiling?
Yes, our doors extend to the floor and cover the entire plinth area of the PAX carcass. The typical IKEA gap between the door and the floor is completely eliminated.

How do I order the correct size?
Simply choose the carcass width (50, 75, or 100 cm) and the height of your PAX wardrobe. Our 3D PAX Planner helps you put together the entire configuration.

How long does delivery take?
As each door is custom-made, delivery typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.

Can I install the doors myself?
Yes, installation is easy and requires no special tools. The hinge positions are identical to IKEA – you use the existing drill holes. Our special hinges for the heavier door weight must be purchased separately.