Our girls were ready to move into a bunk bed, but we ran across a couple of issues with them. First, we cringed at the thought of getting rid of the really nice traditional mattress they already had- just to buy a cheap, thin & less comfortable bunk bed mattress. Secondly, am I the only mama who gets nervous looking at the short safety rails on the top bunks of ALL bunk beds? Well, worry no longer. This Ikea Mydal bunk bed hack will both: Fit a traditional twin mattress/box spring set & add a fort to the top bunk. Here is how to do the Ikea Bunk Bed Hack..
Bottom Bunk Modifications
The Mydal Bunk Bed comes with slats that are meant to go across the bottom bunk to rest the thin bunk bed mattress on. I omitted those slats on the bottom bunk and set the box spring & traditional mattress inside that space, resting directly on the ground.
Top Bunk Modifications
The wood pieces you see going vertically inside the top bunk are those slats that we didn’t use on the bottom bunk. I purchased the 3 horizontal pieces on the very top separately. (Make sure to buy clean wood, not chemically treated lumber that is to be used outdoors only… I learned that lesson the hard way on a previous project;)
The bottom bunk has no weight limit, since the mattress & box spring rest on the ground. This big regular mattress is crazy comfortable! My girls and I all lay in there together and read books, or listen to a song together, chill, & snuggle.
With the modification to the top bunk, I purchased the thicker (more comfortable) of the bunk bed mattresses without it being right up there near the top of the rails… eek!!
Different Paint/Finish Ideas
The nice thing abut this bunk bed is that it is completely made from untreated pinewood. Therefore there is so much potential to get any look you want! A dark wax finish would look great in a boys room. White would also be nice in a girl’s room because your options would be wide open for bedding. We went with a bold color, which adds a lot of personality to the space.
If you have a bunk bed, chances are you have 2 kiddos in the same space like us! If so, check out this easy solution to give them each their ‘own space.’ This functional & adorable Curtain Room Divider is made up of a ceiling cable kit, tulle curtain, and clips from Ikea.
Lastly, check out the stripped wall I did in the girls’ room, HERE. You will also see an honest review of the Rustoleum glitter paint and some tips I learned while using it.
Above all, I love working on the kids’ rooms! Their reactions are priceless! ..Now if only hubby got that excited about my projects throughout the rest of the house;) Happy decorating!!