Easy IKEA Bekvam Stool Hack

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I’m a little embarrassed to show you this project… only because it’s been sitting in the to-do pile for since Christmas. I’ve been meaning to post it, but hadn’t gotten around to writing the copy, editing the photos, and creating a pin (blogging is work, y’all!). But I am EXCITED to show this super easy IKEA hack that you can do literally today! Let’s get to it….

This crazy easy ikea bekvam hack is the perfect way to create a personalized step stool for your kiddos to use!

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Jordan wanted to build step stools for the kids all last fall, but never got around to actually make them. Then Christmas Eve Eve, he decided he was going for it. Luckily I was able to convince him that rather than build his own, maybe we should semi-DIY it. Thankfully he agreed. I remembered that I had seen a super cute IKEA hack that Lauren from Bless’er House did years ago and thought, “WE NEED TO VISIT IKEA. Right now.”  <<It’s about 15 minutes from our house. Whew.

So, we picked up two of these IKEA Bekvam stools for $20 apiece. And then Jordan could continue on with his DIY plans, minus the fact that we wouldn’t be looking at straightness of wood at Lowe’s… on December 23rd.

Did we pay more than if we DIY’d it ourselves?  Probably, but time is money at Christmas and it saved us hours of effort.  So definitely worth every penny!

This ikea bekvam stool hack is so easy, and it makes a great step stool for the kids around the house

Links to ALP

IKEA Bekvam Step Stool Hack

Here is what you need:

  • An IKEA Bekvam Stool (or any unfinished wood stool)
  • Paint of your choice (We used a bright white leftover from wall trim)
  • Fine Sandpaper
  • Stain of your choice ( We used this one )
  • Stencils (We used these)
  • Painter’s Tape for the Stencils
  • Sealer (We used this poly)

We spruced up these ikea bekvam step stools for the kids! Here's what the step stools looked like before their makeover

While we had to purchase the stools, everything else was on-hand. So this IKEA hack cost us virtually nothing.

First we assembled the stools. Then we quickly learned, that it would be much quicker to line up the pieces assembly line style. So they came apart.

The step portions of the ikea bekvam stool were much easier to stain separate from the legs

 

The legs took two coats of bright white paint. Jordan sanded in-between the coats to ensure a smooth finish.

We painted the legs of the ikea bekvam stools white, but you can choose any paint color you like!

Jordan sanded down the ikea bekvam step stool legs between each coat of paint for a smooth finish

Links to ALP

The treads also took two coats of stain to achieve the high contrast look we wanted.

The ikea bekvam step stool threads took two coats of wood stain to get the color we wanted.

Once the treads were fully dried, Jordan stenciled on the kids’ names. By this point we were well into Christmas Eve and we couldn’t wait to share them with Aubrey & Owen.

Jordan stenciled on the kids' names to make these IKEA bekvam step stools more personalized

In order to seal everything, Jordan added two coats of matte poly. Like the paint, Jordan sanded in between coats of poly.

We used this polycrylic protective finish to seal the finish of the step stools

Do you think she liked her new step stool on Christmas morning?

Aubrey really loved her new personalized step stool!

 

 

While the stools are housed in their bathroom, the lighting is absolutely horrendous. And let’s be honest, you don’t want to see that builder grade bathroom. 😉 So I pulled the stools out in the loft to snap a better picture. And before you ask, the kids were not home… so no ideas were created!

This easy IKEA bekvam step stool hack was perfect for our kids! We made them personalized step stools for Christmas!

 

What is your favorite IKEA hack? Tell me in the comments!

 

An easy IKEA hack! This step stool is perfect for kids and looks nice in the house!

Easy IKEA Bekvam Stool Hack

Active Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy

This easy IKEA bekvam step stool hack is great for kids to use around the house! It's a simple way to upgrade a kid-friendly step stool into something they'll love to use.

Materials

  • An IKEA Bekvam Stool (or any unfinished wood stool)
  • Paint of your choice (We used a bright white leftover from wall trim)
  • Fine Sandpaper
  • Stain of your choice
  • Stencils
  • Painter's Tape for the Stencils
  • Sealer

Instructions

    1. First we assembled the stools. Then we quickly learned, that it would be much quicker to line up the pieces assembly line style. So they came apart.
    2. The legs took two coats of bright white paint. Jordan sanded in-between the coats to ensure a smooth finish.
    3. The treads also took two coats of stain to achieve the high contrast look we wanted.
    4. Once the treads were fully dried, Jordan stenciled on the kids' names.
    5. In order to seal everything, Jordan added two coats of matte poly. Like the paint, Jordan sanded in between coats of poly.

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