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The Endlessly Hackable KURA Bed: Ideas for Getting a Whole New Look

Carrie McBride
Carrie McBride
Carrie is a former Apartment Therapy editor and the original editor of Apartment Therapy Media's first site for kids: Ohdeedoh. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two kids..
published Jul 20, 2015
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(Image credit: Lizzie Ford)

Thinking about getting a Kura bed? Think about all the possibilities. Whether in the low position, shown above, or as a lofted bed, this is one IKEA product that parents have hacked, tweaked and customized to their hearts’ content. Check out all these ideas for giving the Kura a new look or making it work better in your space.

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Judah’s Bright & Bold Room of Fun on Apartment Therapy (Image credit: Lizzie Ford)

This bed, covered in bold black and white striped fabric, has the feel of a grown-up circus tent. A fun, cozy spot for a child and easy on the eyes for parents.

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Ashley kept the frame of the Kura natural and applied Panyl (an adhesive product) to the side and end panels for a pop of color. I love the palette she choose with the darker taupes grounding the pink and purple.

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IKEA’s own bed tent with new fabric (a crochet blanket made by the child’s grandmother) is ingenious because it solves a few problems: First, this version is so much more attractive than IKEA’s bright blue Frakta bag-esque tent. Secondly, the loose crochet allows much more visibility for both the child and the parents. And, lastly, much greater air flow.
Want more Kura-goodness?

→ 10 Ways to Customize the Kura Loft Bed
→ 20 Ways to Customize the IKEA KURA Loft Bed & Make It Your Own

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Here’s a classy version of the Kura with tufted fabric panels attached with Command strips. It gives this budget bed an upscale, upholstered look.

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This family elevated the Kura to add a second, off-the-floor, mattress for a sibling which also left room for pull-out drawers and some stow-away spots on the end.

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A similar configuration as above, but in this version the storage drawers extend the full width of the bed.

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Here’s another take on a circus-like feel with a “big top” tent and a fabric window on the end.

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There’s a lot going on with this project so pay attention: not wanting to put a mattress directly on the floor, these parents took an IKEA Kritter bed and cut the legs down to fit in the bottom bunk spot. They also used the Trofast as stairs and, brilliantly, adapted the side rails of a no-longer-needed crib as a stair railing.

→ 20 Ways to Hack, Tweak, Repurpose & Reimagine IKEA’s Trofast

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Babils & Chuchotis, the bed was configured in the low position and changed so the mattress rested on the floor for a very young child. Many of the panels were covered with adhesive paper and the mother created a darling Totoro motif.
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This is not a hack, but a clever way to use the Kura in a room for multiple kids. Two were put together in a corner to make three beds and one playspace. The mother reports that the siblings love sleeping so close together.

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This is a KURA upgrade most kids will be on board with! The parents attached a climbing wall to the bed with a changeable route up.

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