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Homeowner and DIY creator Laura Deller adapted IKEA PAX units into a built-in-style corner cabinet for her family’s hallway. The project combines coat and shoe storage with space for sports equipment, using added cabinets, moulding, panelling and paint to make the units fit the room.
Homeowner and DIY creator Laura Deller has turned IKEA PAX units into a built-in-style corner cabinet in her family’s hallway, adding storage for coats, shoes, bags and sports equipment. The project, reported by Ideal Home, shows how standard wardrobe units can be adapted to a particular layout, though the final result also involved building work and custom finishing.
Deller said she wanted each family member to have their own storage. She planned hanging space for coats, shelves for shoes and storage boxes for bags and accessories. The hallway also needed to accommodate the family’s sports gear, including football boot bags, tennis racquets, helmets and bicycles.
To make the PAX units read as part of the room, Deller added two TV cabinets above them to bring the storage closer to the ceiling. She then used moulding, panelling and stick-on beading, and painted the cabinetry green. Ideal Home identifies the paint as B&Q’s Limerick shade; Deller said she used the retailer’s Brilliant White tough and durable paint on the walls.
The hallway’s other finishes include Retro tiles from Metro Tiles, a bench and peg area, and a gallery wall with black frames. Deller said she later painted the skirting boards green and attached a bike rack to the cabinetry, spraying it brushed gold to match the handles. The report does not provide a total project cost or a full materials list.
How the Hallway Storage Works
The project addresses a common practical problem: hallways must hold everyday belongings without making the entrance difficult to use. Deller’s design separates items into hanging, shelving and boxed storage, while leaving additional places for bulky sports equipment. For households with active hobbies, planning around those items can make the difference between storage that looks tidy in photographs and storage that works day to day.
The makeover also illustrates the trade-off in using flat-pack units for a built-in effect. PAX provides the main storage structure, but Deller’s ceiling-height additions and decorative trim help integrate it with the room. That can offer a route to a tailored look, but it is not simply a matter of assembling a wardrobe: the room’s layout, finishing work and any building changes all shape the result.
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The Renovation Behind the Cabinet
The storage was part of a broader hallway renovation in a 1970s home, rather than a stand-alone cabinet installation. Deller said the space was a small extension and that the front door was repositioned. A skylight was also added, which she said brought in more natural light and opened up usable floor area for storage.
According to Deller’s account in Ideal Home, the building work took eight weeks. The space was then replastered and tiled before decoration. She said she built the PAX storage first, then added panelling and worked around the space to construct the bench and peg area. The reported sequence helps explain why the finished hallway combines cabinetry with changes to the room itself.
Deller is a DIY and interiors content creator and author of Nailed It! The Essential Guide to DIY. She told Ideal Home that she has used several IKEA hacks in her home. The publication’s report also notes that she chose an abstract, contemporary patterned tile to bring character to a renovated 1970s property.
“I wanted each family member to have their own storage unit for coats and shoes, so I designed an IKEA PAX Hack with hanging storage for coats, shelves for shoes and storage boxes for bags and accessories.”
— Laura Deller, speaking to Ideal Home
Costs and Build Details Unreported
Ideal Home’s report does not state the total cost, the dimensions of the hallway or the exact PAX configuration used. It also does not give a complete list of materials, explain how the upper cabinets were fixed, or say whether any parts of the work required professional help. The report describes the renovation and Deller’s design choices, but it does not independently verify costs or assess how the installation would suit other homes.
It is also unclear how much time the cabinetry and finishing took, separate from the eight-week building phase, or whether the result could be replicated at the same cost in a hallway without the same extension and layout changes. Those factors matter for readers weighing a similar project.
What Readers Should Check First
The report does not announce a further renovation milestone. Anyone considering a comparable design would need to check the available wall and ceiling space, the storage needs of everyone in the household and the cost of both the units and finishing materials. They would also need to account for any building work before treating the cabinet as a like-for-like budget alternative to fitted storage.
Deller’s example suggests a practical sequence: plan the contents first, fit the main storage, then coordinate the surrounding bench, pegs and decorative details. The specific installation requirements will depend on the room and products used; the report does not provide construction instructions or confirm that every detail will work in other homes.
Key Questions
What is the hallway cabinet made from?
The main storage uses IKEA PAX units. Deller added two TV cabinets above them and used moulding, panelling and stick-on beading to create a built-in-style finish.
What does the storage hold?
Deller designed it for coats, shoes, bags and accessories, with additional space and fittings for sports equipment such as bicycles, racquets and helmets.
Did the project involve work beyond assembling furniture?
Yes. Deller described a larger renovation that included repositioning the front door, adding a skylight, replastering and tiling, as well as building the storage and surrounding features.
How much did the hallway renovation cost?
The report does not give a total cost. It also does not provide a complete materials list, so readers cannot calculate the project’s full price from the published details alone.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
