We bought our first Bekvam stool six years ago and it's still going strong. It's one of my favorite purchases from IKEA for its style, function, and value. Most of us probably use it for what it's meant for - as a step stool.
But for little ones, the Bekvam makes for a cute little table and chair set all in one. That's exactly how Hanne's daughter uses their Bekvam. Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen kids use the IKEA step stool this way. Check it out being used as a mini artist's station right here.
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Turn the wrong way and the plates fly everywhere. Great idea!
I must have been raised in the stone age, but I was required to eat meals at the table with the rest of my family. Yes, it was very quaint.
Hey! Cheers to letting your kid have a special table/chair dragged too close to the darn TV every once in a while. Sometimes you just need to break the rules and let loose.
Cute paint job! I'm going to have to pick one of these up!
i have been using mine as a (really sturdy and reliable) step stool for years, and funny - even though i am near 60 i've never turned the wrong way on it to send the plates flying :-P sometimes it really makes sense to trust a grown person to know what they are doing …
love the idea to use it as a table and chair set for children.
@spacesha: agree! I allmost never watched tv as a kid & we ate most our meals as a family- but those people who are freaking out by a photo on a blog make me want to set my imaginary kid to near to the tv with dinner just in spite. It doesn't even look like a proper meal! More as if she has something to drink & a snack. The horror!
Makes for a good side table/nightstand too. I have 2 of these and absolutely LOVE them.
oh my gosh and that's a PLASTIC place setting! it's going to POLLUTE the earth and I bet it has BPA in it! She's going to get CANCER! And those highlights in her hair must be from letting her in the SUN too much! More CANCER! And her arms are in a REVEALING shirt. And I bet she's watching a VIOLENT cartoon. And the milk in her bowl probably isn't from ORGANIC GRASSFED cows.
Can we just focus on the idea of using this stool as a little table for kids and leave all the sanctamonious judging for some other website?
I love this! I am going to have to think about getting one of these next time I am at IKEA. I let my two year old stand right in front of the TV every morning and eat breakfast while I nurse her baby sister. But then, I don't really care about my kids.
This is such a cute idea! This child looks well old enough to avoid sending her plates flying everywhere. I think parents can figure out when their child is in enough control of her limbs to safely use a cute little set-up like this. There are lots of times during the day when it's completely appropriate for a child to eat at his or her own little table.
Aaaaugh! You'll ruin your eyes! Come back here and eat Cheez Balls on the couch with me.
LOL @JNS.
As almost everybody has in one way or another mentioned, best to not get our knickers in a twist over a photo like this, which was probably carefully staged to show the kid, the stool, and the TV in one shot and very possibly has no bearing on how close the child normally sits to the TV.
Two stools top edges together would make a teeny-tiny picnic table!
I am a big fan of this stepstool. We have several; my kids, especially my older daughter, used to use them all the time as little work stations for drawing and playing school, and even doing homework (alas, they have grown). We have been using them as bedside tables, tiered shelves for books from different libraries, guest seating, supports for a board to make a kids' party table and, yes, for stepping up. Ikea has changed the height, now they are a little taller.
Hadn't considered this as a bedside table for my son's toddler bed, and we have been looking for one for months. Might have to give this a look. And my son uses our single step stool and a folding chair we keep in the kitchen for having a snack or coloring while I cook. He loves it, and I bet he'd love this too.
"Then again, I don't really care about my kids" lol
haha @JNS - so true! Case #58723 of AT commenter's believing one picture tells them everything about a person/family. Oh, to be so wise.
The little boy I nanny took it upon himself to use the stool for this purpose. He never eats there, just loves sitting on the little step and playing with his trains (or using it to catapult on to the lounge when he thinks no one is watching).
Gorgeous paint job on this stool - love the two different patterns on each level.
*Commenters. Smart phones have the WORST grammar skills.
GREAT idea!!! Thanks for sharing! Didn't know I had a bedside table AND little table for the wee ones right in my own home! Again, thanks!
lol funny ladies in this post. JNS & Nellymom I'm looken at you.
I want an ikea near me... booo.... this would be so perfect for my house.
Laughing and laughing at JNS's comment. :D
It's a cool idea, and a very pretty paint job.
such a cute idea!
Sheesh people. If you click through to the original post, you'll find the kid is eating in front of the tv because mom is sick. I love the paint job on the stool. Ours is used every day, but not as a table--my three toddlers fight over who gets to stand on it to help me cook. When my oldest was about 18 months he started to eat every meal standing on this stool at the counter. We couldn't get him to eat anywhere else.
Love this stool. Bought it two years back and painted it bright orange. Has been a permanent fixture in my kitchen since then, as my son stands on it to help/watch as I cook.
My 2.5 year old daughter did this a few months ago. I left the room and she had moved her snack bowl and cup to the stool and was just sitting there eating. If it had occurred to her to move it in front of the TV she probably would have!
I bought one a couple of months ago and I was surprised to see on the label you're supposed to stick on it (the safety measures) that you can't paint it. Any idea as of why ???
When I was a kid I would get up before the rest of the fam on Saturday mornings and drag out the step stool to eat breakfast on and watch TV. Also for cookies and milk after school. Yay memories! And jeez, so much with the judging.
I clicked on this JUST to see how many comments there were about how close she is to the tv. Oh negative commenters, you're so predictable. Didn't see the the "plates flying everywhere" arguement coming though, good one.
Actually love this post though, I think I'm going to get one as a bedside table for my son and one for the kitchen. Smart idea to use two to make a picnic table, and to use a board for a longer table. So versatile!
That is awesome! I have two of these from my previous house that I have been considering donating because they're kinda big and taking up too much room, but drawing tables or even a picnic table (great idea) are kinda genius. Thanks for the inspo!!
And as far as the comments go, people are so brave behind a keyboard. Good grief. My girls watch TV every morning and again in the afternoon and they even have sweet cereal sometimes. THE HORROR! You do it your way, I'll do it mine.
@JNS @NELLYMOM you ladies are hilarious. this is so perfect as a picnic table, side table, snacktime table {gasp} and a larger top would make it the perfect drawing table. i will definitely be getting two of those for my twins the next time i'm around an ikea!
thanks AT for the post! :)
Welcome to AT, Username26!! ;)
Yup, the photo portrays what is, in our house, the "Snack Station"!
haha..I didn't see this until now. It's so funny with all the comments. I wish you all had read my post first before you came with judging comments. But I'm not going to comment all the untrue assumption. But don't worry she's a healthy girl and are good taken care of:) And she love her step stool, both as a stool to stand on when she's helping me cooking and as a table when she's eating or drawing. The table was her idea.