Ikea Kura bed makeover with chalkboard paint

Wednesday, June 6, 2012


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A unique bunk bed that cost only about $150. First bought an Ikea Kura bed off craigslist for $125. Bought painting supplies for about $25. Disassembled, then painted the frame with white paint. Painted side panels with chalkboard paint (leaving the other side the original white) so that the boys could color on them. Used stencils to chalk their names on the side of the bed.

You may want to replace the side panels with actual wood (as opposed to particle board). You can get pieces cut to the right size at Home Depot - they are extremely inexpensive. Solid wood stands up to wear and feels nicer than the particle board. We only replaced one of the side panels, which is the big one with the boys' names on it. The others are still the original particle board which came with the bed.

You can purchase stencils to chalk your kids' names on the bed at an arts/craft supply store. For a nice, inexpensive but brightly colored chalk, this 64 piece set is cheap and beautiful. If you want your lettering to be unique you can also custom-make it with a silhouette die cut machine. I LOVE my silhouette machine! Designers and scrapbook-makers use them to cut out any shape they want to, from paper, card stock, vinyl, T-shirt transfer material, etc... I can use it to make stencils in any font that I choose, in any size up to 12 inches high. The machine is particularly useful when used with design software such as Adobe Illustrator, but it comes with its own software, which I've heard is great too!

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20 comments :

  1. This looks great! Did you prime the furniture first? What kind of paints did you use? I want to do something similar for my daughter but have no clue how to paint it, lol.

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  2. I didn't prime it, but I did use three coats of white on the frame, and 3 coats of chalkboard paint on the sideboards. One side of the sideboards was already white, so I only had to paint the other side (the chalkboard side). I did this outside on my deck, with old bed sheets underneath to catch the drips. I used Rustoleum brand chalk board paint and Behr pure white satin enamel (1 quart each) After I painted all the pieces we put the bed together.

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  3. I am in LOVE! Our little Ralphie is about to get his first big boy bed. Would it be ok if I stole your idea? I promise to credit you to everyone who compliments us on it when I do! :) Bravo on a great idea! Thanks for sharing it and inspiring other moms like us! :)

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  4. Thanks! Of course I don't mind you using this idea too. The only part that was difficult at all was stenciling the letters on the side of the bed. (and that has mostly rubbed off so I have to redo it soon)

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  5. Great! Where did you get those stencils? I am so excited to do this. I promise to tell all of my friends that I got the idea from you, and to show them your website! Are you an interior designer? You really do have such terrific taste. Thanks again!

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  6. Thanks!! Sorry I didn't see your comment until now. I am a graphic designer, but not an interior designer. I know you can buy stencils online, but I made mine using my silhouette die cut machine - it's an amazing tool that scrapbookers/designers use, you can cut any shape or letterform out of paper - you can see them here (check out the "what can it make" section) After I made the stencils I held each up against the bed one at a time and drew over them with artist's chalk. I have to redo it because it's rubbed off, but it stuck around for a while.

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  7. Oops, here is the link mentioned above... http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/

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  8. Hi Sarah,

    I love what you've done with bed! I was wondering what colour paint you used for the walls?

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  10. How has this been going? We are looking to do the same soon with our 2 and 4 year olds. Is the bed ok just being on the floor like that? How have the kids taken to it?

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    1. The boys are now 5 and 7 and still loving their Kura bed! It has plenty of room so that if I want to lie down with them, I am able to do that too. The only issue is that my younger one sometimes bumps his head on the upper bunk when he's getting in. But I still feel it's much safer than some of the higher bunk bed options.

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    2. Hi, do you need to have a slated base under the lower mattress? Thanks.

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  11. Hi Sarah!

    It has been a while since you posted this so it may be a long shot but do you remember at all how you got the ladder and panels on the same side like you have it? This is not the layout that is in the instructions and we just can't seem to figure it out! Help! Thanks :)

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    1. Hi Kristen, Sorry, I just noticed your comment now. I suspect that in the past few years Ikea may have changed the bed's design slightly - ours was set up according to the instructions, but painted while disassembled. I bought the bed used, so this bed is, I'm guessing, about 8 years old or so. Hope this helps!

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  12. this is a really great idea i am totally going to use it but except painting it white im going paint it blue

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  13. What kind of mattresses did you use?

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  14. We have the Ikea mattresses - sorry, I can't remember which model they are. They have mattresses in this size in various prices depending on the thickness/quality and we got whatever the better ones are.

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  15. How did you make this bed into two? What did you put under the floor mattress?

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  16. You bed looks beautiful! I recently want to buy a new bed from this mattress in a box online store.I may do some makeover on my new bed.

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