What's in the Checklist

24 checks across four stages of your PAX build.

Measure & Plan

Measure usable space. Check width and height in several places; use the smallest measurements.
Check top clearance. Allow for your frame, door hardware, crown molding and ceiling fixtures.
Choose frame depth. Confirm the exact dimensions and compatible interior components.
Plan trim and gaps. Account for baseboards, crown molding, fillers and the finished look.
Check the room. Identify floors that slope and walls that are not plumb or square.
Plan wall fixing. Locate studs and identify wall material before finalizing the layout.

Test Your Layout

Map utilities. Keep outlets, switches, thermostats and vents accessible and unobstructed.
Test door paths. Check conflicts with walls, room doors, fans and lights.
Choose doors before ordering. Verify hinged or sliding door clearances for your combination.
Check corners. Follow current corner instructions for spacing and compatible hinges.
Test daily use. Allow room for long clothes, reachable shelves and fully opening drawers.
Match every accessory. Verify drawers, rails and shelves suit the frame width and depth.

Prepare Your Build

Plan handles. Confirm orientation, placement and clearance before drilling any holes.
Plan lighting early. Decide fixture locations, power supply and safe cable routes.
Keep drivers accessible. Leave access for servicing lighting and replacing components.
Check the delivery. Match article numbers, quantities, sizes and colors; report damage.
Protect the parts. Open packaging carefully; stage panels, doors and glass on padding.
Read and sort. Use exact-article instructions; keep hardware grouped by component.

Install & Finish

Follow the sequence. Review frame, corner, lighting and interior steps before starting.
Protect the frame structure. Do not cut or modify structural frame parts.
Level and align. Follow the instructions for leveling, support and joining adjacent frames.
Secure every frame. Use the specified restraints and fixings suitable for your wall.
Check orientation. Confirm left/right positions of rods, hinges and rails before fitting.
Inspect the result. Check doors, drawers, gaps, trim and secure fixing before use.

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Why We Made This Checklist

After assembling hundreds of IKEA PAX wardrobes across Pasco and Hillsborough Counties, we've seen the same planning mistakes come up again and again — frames ordered before the ceiling height was checked, doors chosen after the corner configuration was set, wall anchors skipped because finding studs felt complicated. Any one of these can turn a weekend project into a costly do-over.

This checklist distills everything we walk through before starting every PAX job into 24 plain-language checks you can work through on your own. It covers measuring, layout planning, door selection, accessory compatibility, installation sequence, and the final safety check.

It's completely free — no strings attached. If you'd rather have us handle the whole thing, we're one call or text away.

Free IKEA PAX Planning Checklist