This IKEA wardrobe hack brings a hint of Bohemianism to the bedroom

When sweeping arches meet Scandinavia, it’s a match made in interior heaven

IKEA Pax makeover with paint
(Image credit: Hayley Stuart / @iamhayleystuart)
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The allure of an arch is one that has remained timeless for centuries – but our latest furniture crush has given the shape a Swedish twist. 

Enter the painted PAX – the latest piece at the top of our IKEA hack lust list, and the makeover process is refreshingly simple. But how can you recreate this Bohemiam-style statement piece in your home? Here, interior designer Hayley Stuart (@iamhayleystuart) reveals the process behind the continental-inspired focal point. 

Armed with an untouched IKEA PAX, Hayley decided to makeover her units using only one simple tool: color.

IKEA Pax makeover with paint

(Image credit: Hayley Stuart / @iamhayleystuart)

The designer turned to Dulux  – as she had done for her entire bedroom makeover.  'On the inside of the arches and on the doors I’ve used a gorgeous neutral called Shifting Sands in eggshell,' Hayley shared whilst revealing her makeover via Instagram. 

The arches pay homage to an overriding escapist aesthetic that Hayley hoped to portray throughout her entire room. 'The wall color and the outside of the arches is Dulux's Folk Tales which is a beautiful muted terracotta.'

Meanwhile, Hayley used the label's former color of the year Brave Ground on her roof. This neutral, almost-rustic choice, allows the PAX and the azulejos-style wall tiles to create the statement they deserve without rivalry. 

'I love the warmth that this palette produces which I think is essential in a bedroom. Brave Ground is a beautiful shade that encourages change and creativity, something that I have completely embraced in this room,' Hayley adds. 

IKEA Pax makeover with paint

(Image credit: Hayley Stuart / @iamhayleystuart)

'I’m absolutely thrilled with how this room has turned out and I genuinely feel like I’m on holiday when I go to bed every night,' Hayley adds. 

With a nod to Morocco, Portugal, and a Scandi-cool powerhouse in one frame, Hayley's modern bedroom idea encapsulates escapism – without having to invest in an airplane ticket. Plus, perhaps unsurprisingly this hack has similarly made waves globally, with other design enthusiasts rushing to admire Hayley's modern decorating idea virtually. 

So, if you can't make it to the airport anytime soon, a trip to IKEA is the next best alternative. Remember, you only need to add paint. 

Megan Slack
Megan Slack
Contributor

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team.

Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US whilst studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site.

Megan currently lives in London, where she relocated from her hometown in Yorkshire. In her home, she experiments with interior design trends and draws inspiration from the home decor ideas she observes in her everyday work life. Her favorite pieces include her antique typewriter and her expansive collection of houseplants. When she isn’t writing, she is browsing London’s coffee shops and bookstores to add to her ever-growing library, taking over the open shelving in her apartment.