This easy IKEA Bekvam stool hack turns a basic wood step stool into a personalized piece with paint, stain and stencils. See the simple DIY tutorial.

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This IKEA Bekvam stool hack started because Jordan wanted to build wooden step stools for the kids from scratch. Two days before Christmas.

I had a slightly easier idea.

Instead of starting with lumber, we picked up two unfinished IKEA Bekvam step stools and gave them a simple makeover with paint, stain, and personalized stencils. We got the custom look Jordan wanted without building the stools ourselves.

The finished stools turned out so cute, and the project itself is surprisingly simple. If you can paint, stain and use a stencil, you can make one too.

Why This IKEA Bekvam Hack Works So Well

START WITH AN UNFINISHED STOOL – The simple wood surface makes it easy to customize with paint and stain.
SKIP BUILDING FROM SCRATCH – You get the look of a custom wooden step stool without cutting and assembling all the lumber yourself.
MAKE IT PERSONAL – Add a name, monogram or simple design to make the stool completely your own.

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.

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!

IKEA Bekvam Step Stool Hack

What You’ll Need

IKEA Bekvam Step Stool – Or another unfinished wood step stool with a similar design.
Paint – We used leftover bright white trim paint for the legs.
Wood Stain – Choose a color that gives you the amount of contrast you want against the painted base.
Fine-Grit Sandpaper – For smoothing the wood and lightly sanding between coats.
Letter Stencils – We personalized ours with Aubrey and Owen’s names.
Painter’s Tape – Helps hold the stencils securely in place.
Clear Protective Finish – We used a matte finish to protect the paint, stain and lettering.

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

We had to purchase the stools, but everything else was on hand. So this IKEA hack cost us virtually nothing, other than the stools.

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.

Do I Need to Sand the IKEA Bekvam Before Painting or Staining?

Check the unfinished wood before you begin. If you notice any rough spots, lightly sand them smooth and remove the dust before adding paint or stain. We also lightly sanded between our coats of paint and protective finish to keep the final surface smooth.

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

SHOP THE SUPPLIES

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

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

To seal everything, Jordan added two coats of matt e 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!

Tips for a Smooth Finish

WORK ON THE PIECES BEFORE FINAL ASSEMBLY – It’s much easier to paint and stain flat pieces than work around an assembled stool.
LET EACH COAT DRY – Don’t rush from stain to stencil or from paint to sealer.
USE LIGHT COATS – Two lighter coats will usually give you a smoother finish than trying to get full coverage in one heavy coat.
SECURE YOUR STENCIL – Painter’s tape helps keep letters from shifting while you’re working.
PROTECT THE FINISHED STOOL – A clear topcoat helps protect the painted and stained surfaces from everyday use.

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

Can You Paint an IKEA Bekvam Stool?

Yes. That’s literally what your tutorial demonstrates.

Can I Customize the Stool Without Adding a Name?

Absolutely. Leave the stained top plain or use a simple stencil, monogram or design instead.

Should I Customize the Bekvam Before or After Assembly?

Before.

Easy IKEA Bekvam Step Stool Hack

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: easy

Turn an unfinished IKEA Bekvam step stool into a personalized piece with paint, wood stain and stencils. This easy IKEA hack gives you a custom-looking wooden step stool without building one from scratch.

No Ratings

Materials

IKEA Bekvam Step Stool
White Paint
Wood Stain
Letter Stencils
Painter's Tape
Clear Matte Protective Finish

Tools

Fine-Grit Sandpaper
Paintbrushes
Stain Applicator or Rag

Instructions

1. Prep the Stool Pieces -Before final assembly, lay out the unfinished stool pieces. Lightly sand any rough areas and wipe away all dust.

2. Paint the Base - Apply two light coats of white paint to the pieces that will make up the base and legs. Allow the paint to dry between coats, lightly sanding as needed for a smooth finish.

3. Stain the Steps - Apply wood stain to the step and top pieces. We used two coats to get the deeper contrast shown on our stools. Let the stain dry completely.

4. Add the Name - Position the letter stencils on the top step and secure them with painter's tape. Carefully paint the letters, then remove the stencil and allow the paint to dry.

5. Protect the Finish - Apply two coats of clear matte protective finish to the painted and stained pieces. Allow each coat to dry and lightly sand between coats as needed.

6. Assemble the Stool - Once everything is completely dry, assemble the Bekvam stool according to IKEA's instructions.

Notes

Customize Before Assembly: We originally assembled our stools first and quickly realized it was much easier to paint, stain and stencil the individual pieces before final assembly.
Let Everything Dry: Don't rush from stain to stencil or from paint to protective finish. Allow each layer to dry before moving on.
Make It Your Own: Skip the name for a simpler look, or use a monogram or another stencil design instead.

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3 Comments

Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled says:

February 10, 2017 at 7:24 am

Cute stools! Love the stain with the white paint. I have a couple of these stools as well. Have only DIY-d one so far. You’ve inspired me to conquer the second! Visiting from Remodelaholic.

1. Brittany says:
  
  February 10, 2017 at 12:06 pm
  
  Thanks Veronica! We couldn’t have just one 😉 -Brit
  
Abigail says:

December 17, 2018 at 4:16 pm

Looks good! Did you sand before you stained the treads?