Can IKEA PAX be combined with Billy shelves?

Good morning,

I am currently planning a wardrobe/bookcase combination in white for my combined living/sleeping area.

My favorite option at the moment is the following solution:
A Pax unit (100x58 cm) with closed Tyssedal doors for clothes, and on each side a Pax unit 50x35 cm with Tyssedal glass doors for books. (Height 2 m each)
I think that the shallower depth and the glass doors for the bookcases give the whole thing a more open look, and it doesn’t look like a compact, closed "block" that visually overwhelms you.

Now I am considering using Billy shelves with glass doors (Oxberg) for the books instead of the Pax units. These are narrower and a bit less deep, which would save even more space. The 28 cm depth is more than enough for books, and it would probably be a bit cheaper as well.

Do you think this would look harmonious together when placed as an ensemble in the room?

And my second question: I want to align the shallower units on the sides flush with the Pax back panel of the deeper unit. Will the doors still open then, or might they possibly rub against the deeper carcass?

Thanks in advance for your opinions,
Best regards,
Doityourselfie

Hello!

This will certainly work. However, you would have to use the white carcasses, because otherwise the colors of Billy and PAX would not match. At least not the carcasses.
However, the height must be taken into account, PAX is 201.2cm and Billy 202cm. That is an 8mm height difference.

Personally, I prefer a flush front. Otherwise, in my opinion, it would look too chaotic if the middle element protrudes and the two Billy shelves are set back.
And pushing the Billy elements forward so that they are flush on the front would be absolutely pointless, then you would have a gap at the back and a "dirty corner." Unless you want to "hide" a vacuum cleaner or something similar there.

Personally, I would build everything in PAX, unless you cannot look from the side (if you choose Billy and install it flush on the front) or if you can look from the side, maybe still install a Billy sideways. So the attached element is flush and then a 40cm Billy placed crosswise. For that, you might have to pull the PAX element a little away from the wall (a few centimeters), which you should do anyway for ventilation if it is an exterior wall.

However, note the different heights of PAX and Billy. These should definitely be flush, otherwise, in my opinion, everything just looks "cobbled together." But compensating for those 8mm should not be a big problem.

Hello Alsk1,

Thank you for your assessment.

Hm, I will probably take everything from PAX after all, that way everything definitely fits and doesn’t look so pieced together, you’re right about that.
I’m just still considering whether to have everything at the same depth, or whether the bookshelf elements should be less deep...
Maybe I’ll just buy the large element first and place one of my old Billys next to it as a test to see roughly how it could look. That would also be an option.

I would also prefer to use PAX. If shallower corpses are to be added, they would all be placed on one side with me, otherwise it looks like a 90s wall unit. Ultimately, the overall size and the furnishing also play a role. It should also be considered that it is easy not to utilize too much storage space, but difficult to store something in non-existent space.