The IKEA Bunk Bed Hack You Should Think Twice Before Doing (And What To Do Instead)

Bunk beds are a great space-saving solution for bedrooms. While they are common for creating comfortable shared children's rooms, they are also great in guest rooms. If bunk beds only make you think of cabins, dorms, or messy kids' rooms, it is time to learn about some great DIY options to make bunk beds stylish and storage-friendly. Instagram user the.wisdom.family shows how to create a chic DIY bunk bed with the addition of IKEA KALLAX units for built-in storage. However, you might want to think twice before trusting this DIY with your sleeping children because the KALLAX unit is not built to hold too much weight. If you choose to try this DIY or a similar one, you should add additional support to ensure that it is safe for use.

In this DIY, the Instagram user lifts an assembled bunk bed and attaches it on top of three KALLAX units using screws. The base seems to consist of two horizontal KALLAX units with eight squares and one KALLAX unit with four squares. Then, the user measures and cuts two by fours to create a frame that appears to attach the legs of the bunk bed to the ground and add some stability, though the video does not show details. She uses plywood to cover the bed frame and sides of the units before painting it for a built-in look. Some wallpaper, reading lights, and KALLAX bins complete the look. Overall, it creates a very functional and stylish space with extensive storage space.

The result looks great, but commenters express some safety concerns. Both the KALLAX units with eight squares and the KALLAX unit with four squares are built to hold only 55 pounds of weight. With the weight of the bunk bed plus two sleeping children, it is hard to determine the safety of this hack. Once children start bouncing around or playing on the beds, the safety concern grows. Plus, stacking the bunk bed on top of the units means the beds may not be the right height. Elevating the beds increases potential fall distance and the likelihood of a child bumping their head on the ceiling, which can be dangerous. 

Using furniture in unintended ways is risky. Furniture companies are legally required to produce furniture that is reasonably safe, but once the products are used outside of their intended purposes, such as being used as a base for a bunk bed, the furniture companies are not typically liable. To improve safety for this DIY, understand how much weight you are putting on the units and make sure it is acceptable. Additional supports that take weight off of the units are a good idea to add more stability. It is also good to take steps to secure the bunk bed to the wall to prevent excessive shaking. If you do decide to try this DIY, KALLAX units are available on IKEA's website. They are a great versatile storage piece, and there are endless KALLAX DIY ideas out there to try.

A good way to improve safety while achieving a very similar result is to find a solid wood alternative to the KALLAX units, which are made of particleboard, fiberboard, honeycomb structure paper filling, and plastic. Although IKEA does not offer a similar unit made of solid wood, you can find something that could work from other furniture retailers or even build one yourself. Solid wood is stronger and more durable, making it a better base option. You should still attempt to calculate how much weight a solid wood alternative can bear, though.

There are a few more tips you need to know to keep children safe in bunk beds. A top bunk should have guardrails that measure at least five inches from the top of the mattress and continue all around the bed. There also should not be any gaps in the guardrails large enough for a child's head or torso to squeeze through. As a final precaution, you should also teach children about the dangers of playing on a bunk bed, especially the top bunk.