The huge range of IKEA products means you can furnish your entire home by shopping anywhere else but IKEA. It also means you can find something for everyone in the family, from sophisticated decor for adults to whimsical kid-friendly picks. If you’ve ever shopped for a child, you may be familiar with IKEA’s KURA bed, the Swedish retailer’s customizable box-shaped bunk bed that’s beloved for its adaptability and undeniably fun fort-like shape.
As the IKEA website explains, you can keep the mattress low for younger children, but you can also arrange it to create a high bed with a little nook underneath that can be used as a play area or storage as the kids get older. IKEA offers accessories like space tents and tiny cottage curtains made for imagination, but you don’t have to stop there. Some clever DIY can help you turn the KURU into a total children’s wonderland. Below, find 10 inspiring hacks from DIYers for the IKEA KURA bed.
1. The painted rounded edge creates a more interesting silhouette.
Light pink trim softens the edges of the IKEA KURA in daughter Iris (@my.sweet.lil.three’s) room. The rounded detail actually runs all the way down the wall and wraps around the corner, so it can create a cute accent wall even if the bed goes, but it’s the perfect height for a HEN at only about 4 feet tall.
2. Canopy and curtains raise pleasant vibrations.
Adding a few extra textures can also soften the look of the IKEA KURA and make it cozy to hang out with. For example, Greet van der Veen (@StyleandSugar) hung a canopy over her daughter’s KURA bed for extra whimsy (if beige isn’t your thing, you can find tons of color options on Amazon in different sizes), and she placed cute Etsy curtains under the bed for ” a place to play, draw and dress up,” as she says on Instagram. Van der Veen also added dark brown stained wood slats to the sides of the bed.
3. The climbing wall is a bedroom and playroom in one.
Jules Yap, the founder of IKEA Hackers, designed this IKEA KURA climbing frame for her son. It has evenly spaced holes and T-nuts for stability, plus a fun colorful climbing hold from Custom Holds. This hack offers a fun way to climb into bed at night or to keep a child occupied on a rainy day.
4. Netting adds a nautical vibe.
Adventurous kids will also appreciate this IKEA KURA bed that looks more like a pirate ship with a nautical net on the side. Not only will the net help eliminate the worry of it disappearing in the middle of the night, but it’s also a nice decoration for those beach or boat rooms where details really matter. A secure installation requires some effort; DIYer Gizem Erbirer did it with the right tools, including heavy-duty ceiling hooks.
5. Peel-and-stick cladding adds a terrazzo look.
If you want to make the white IKEA KURA slats a little more elegant, add some decorative peel-and-stick trim to the bunk bed. TikTok user Brittany (@BriWatson19) used an under $7 terrazzo tile from Walmart to line her son’s bed. The upgrade added some retro flair to match the green bedding. “It was so easy to do,” says Brittany on TikTok. Just make sure to smooth out any air bubbles if you choose this approach.
6. Lower level maximizes space.
Instagrammer and mom Tegan Jean used the bottom of the bed to add another mattress for more sleeping space. This is great for families with lots of kids or those who take on a lot of household or sleeping responsibilities! Tegan used a MALFORS mattress for both beds, and added IKEA LURÖY double-sized slats to the bottom of the bed to raise the bottom a bit off the ground. “They just help lift the mattress off the floor a little bit and just air it out under there because obviously otherwise it would just sit flat on the carpet,” she explains on Instagram. Tegan also added rattan panels to the sides of the bed for a boho look.
7. Written letters bring a personal touch.
Whether it’s on a backpack, lunch box, piece of clothing or, yes, even on the bed, kids love to see their names written in big bold letters. In a heroic mom move, Instagram user Maria @Lifeby.Maria personalized her son’s bed with Spider Man-inspired lettering and matching bedding, of course. Take inspiration from Maria and imagine the white surfaces on KURA as a canvas for artwork or large block letters – whether you, your child, or an Etsy craftsman. You have about 9 inches of height to work with and about 79 inches of width.
8. Additional accessories can create a tree house atmosphere.
Instagram user, DIYer and dad Dave Evans created a bona fide cabin out of IKEA KURA. Starting at the base of the bunk bed, he added a “roof” on top and green and brown striped lumber on the sides to match. Think of it as a treehouse minus the wood—perfect for an “adventure bedroom,” as Dave calls it on Instagram.
9. Comfortable pillows create a reading corner below.
Create a cozy zone under the IKEA KURA á la Audrey by @audreyetcharlie. Audrey has the perfect ingredients for her child’s reading zone: pillows, a rug, a lamp, a low bookshelf, and plenty of reading material. Diary of a Skinny Kidanyone?
10. DIY ball pit brings fun.
Harlem-based interior designer Chinasa Cooper has come up with the funnest use of the IKEA KURA bed top bed perhaps ever. (And, as you can see, there are some pretty fun hacks!) She made a ball at the top using balls from Amazon. It’s fun but keeps the mess down with toys hidden on top, while the lower area has an egg chair, cozy rug and plush seats.