The IKEA Closet DIY That's Pure Dopamine Decor

For DIYers, IKEA furniture is great. While the pieces may not be the highest quality, they are often affordable and serve as beautiful blank canvases that can be customized with minimal effort. For example, adding real wood elements, vintage knobs, and a little paint is an easy way to make your standard IKEA furniture look stunningly vintage. If you prefer something modern, bright, and dopamine-fueling, then this floral IKEA closet DIY by Instagram user @ahouseonashbank is probably right up your alley. This charming upgrade was made by adding doors and statement door handles to the IKEA PAX wardrobe closet. 

If you've noticed the dopamine decor trend taking over TikTok and want to nail the look yourself, then this DIY is an excellent (although advanced) way to try it out. By crafting DIY flower handles for your custom IKEA PAX closet doors, you'll add color and whimsy to any room. While flowers are the example used in this article, any shape should work. Don't hesitate to go for a star, heart, clover, or any other shape that suits your style.

To DIY the custom closet of your dreams using IKEA products, you will first need to find a PAX closet that you like. Some PAX wardrobe configurations have doors, but if you already own one of the doorless varieties and want to add simple doors with custom-made handles, you can. IKEA's individually-sold FORSAND door will work, or you can make your own doors using a table saw, hinges, and some sheets of melamine (MDF or plywood can work, too). Instead of buying everything brand new, be sure to check online marketplaces or the as-is section at your local IKEA first to hunt for a deal on supplies.

Using a table saw, cut each piece of melamine to 19 ½ inches by 90 ⅜ inches. Attach hinges to the closet, then use a pencil to mark where the hinges will hit on your homemade doors. Drill holes for the hinges, as well as some pilot holes on the markings you've made, then use screws to attach your new doors to the PAX structure. Now you're free to prime and paint the doors in a color of your choice. To make the flower handles pop, choose a neutral shade like white or cream.

It's time to create and add the dopamine aspect to your IKEA closet via the colorful flower handles. Start by drawing your flowers onto a piece of wood. For a four-door closet you will need three flowers: two small ones and one large one that will be cut in half. To mimic @ahouseonashbank's design, opt for four-petal flowers and large, circular pistils. You will also need four scrap pieces of wood — one for the back of each door handle to elevate it off the closet door.

When you're happy with the design, cut the flowers and the flower pistils out using a saw with a spiral blade. If this feels too advanced, pre-made wooden craft flowers could work, too. Once cut out, vertically cut your largest flower and pistil down the center. Then, prime and paint the petals and pistils in the colors of your choice. The DIY from @ahouseonashbank opts for white flowers with reddish pink or mustard yellow pistils. Next, use a strong wood glue to adhere the scrap wood directly to the closet door where you want the middle of your flower door handles to sit, or to the center of the back of each flower handle (once the paint has fully dried), then glue them to the door. Finally, glue the pistil to the center of each flower, and your handles are complete.