For week seven of The One Room Challenge® – I’m still chipping away at building out my dream closet & taking it from basic to luxe one DIY at a time.
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Catch up on my previous ORC posts here:
If you’re investing in an IKEA closet system, you’re probably tempted to add their Komplement clothing rods to your cart for ease and compatibility. They integrate seamlessly into all three Pax wardrobe widths and function perfectly well, but the white, round design has always felt a bit low-end to me. Once I added pine face frames, paint & wallpaper backing to my closet – seeing those rods against all of my thoughtful upgrades really made them stand out in the worst way.
I’ve had other closet systems in the past & I absolutely loved the look of the oval shaped, silver, metal closet rods that came with it. I always felt like they seemed very luxe, but it was impossible to find ones that would seamlessly integrate into the Ikea Pax System, so I decided to DIY them myself.
To elevate the look, I swapped the ikea rods for oval-shaped chrome metal rods with matching chrome end supports. The oval profile instantly feels more custom and high-end, and the metal brackets are a major step up from the standard white plastic. I ordered a simple, inexpensive, hacksaw to trim each rod to size & installed them into my closet.
Cost Savings
It’s not every day you come across an Ikea Pax upgrade that actually saves you money – but this one certainly does. Each of these metal rods, with hardware, costs less than it’s ikea counterpart.
For my closet I bought seven rods, plus a hack saw. It ended up saving me $20 and taking less than an hour to install. It’s not a huge amount, but absolutely a win especially considering how much more intentional and elevated the closet now feels.
What I Ordered
Each rod includes metal end supports that fit perfectly into the pre drilled holes of the IKEA Pax system & can support up to 100 pounds. The supports anchor into two holes, and the included center screw can be drilled directly into the cabinet for extra stability.
Chrome Oval Closet Rods with End Supports:
• 48″ space — $17.50 ($7.50 less than the Ikea counterpart)
• 30″ space — $15.99 ($4.01 less than the Ikea counterpart)
• 24″ space — $14.99 ($0.01 less than the Ikea counterpart)
These rods also come in additional finishes if you wanted ones that are black, matte aluminum, matte brass, oil rubbed bronze or satin nickel finish to match the rest of your hardware.
Installation Process
To determine your cut length, measure the interior width of your cabinet and subtract 1/4″ to account for the hardware.
My Cut Measurements based on the three widths of the Ikea Pax System:
• 37 7/8″ – 1/4″ = 37 5/8″
• 28″ – 1/4″ = 27 3/4″
• 18 1/8″ – 1/4″ = 17 7/8″
Once marked, wrap the rod with painter’s tape at your cut line, mark the exact measurement, and trim using a hacksaw (or a metal-cutting power tool, if you prefer). If the edges aren’t perfect, it’s okay, as most of it will be covered by the bracket, so any imperfections likely won’t be visible. Lightly sand the cut edge, then press the two mounting supports into the pre-drilled holes. For my painted wardrobes, I gently tapped the supports in with a hammer. Once secured with the center screw, slide the rod into place and you’re ready to hang clothes.
Fit & Review
I absolutely love how much glam these added to my closet. The chrome rods seamlessly tie in with the metal detail on the doors and the round drawer pulls, which I think is a really pretty touch.
From a spacing perspective, I was able to install the rods on the top most holes of the Ikea system (we have the shorter version), and I had plenty of room to navigate my hangers in and out & can comfortably reach the top.
I also have an area where I wanted to maximize my vertical hanging space, so I installed a rod the same row as the shelf supports. I removed the center shelf pins, and replaced those with the brackets, and the remaining 4 pegs held the shelf above in place. It was a snug fit, but I was able to get my wood & metal hangers in & out just fine (a thicker plastic hanger would be even more snug). As my interiors are painted, I figured the slight rubbing of the hanger making contact with the shelf could wear the paint off, so I shifted the bars to be one peg below the shelf. If you have unpainted interiors, the Ikea finish can easily withstand that sort of contact, so knowing that little tid bit could help if you need extra vertical space.
Still to Come
Be sure to follow along next week for the last installment of this season’s one room challenge where I’ll be sharing the final reveal of my finished closet.
