![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Step-Ladder-03.jpg)
Today’s post covers a couple of IKEA projects I did back in December. Just a little step-by-step, and nothing super fancy just some stain and paint.
This is my first time buying and using furniture from IKEA, and while it’s relatively small and minor stuff, I appreciate that it’s made from real wood, giving it so much potential.
The first project is a Bekväm Step Ladder I bought in the scratch and dent section of IKEA for around $25. It was already assembled so I used an allen wrench to remove the metal cross brace and stained it a dark walnut. I actually beat it up a little first in my best Adam Savage impersonation, but the stain covered up all those dings and scratches, and it ended up almost looking like fine furniture.
![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Step-Ladder-01.jpg)
![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Step-Ladder-02.jpg)
Maybe after using it awhile on this house remodel, it will look like a ladder someone actually uses.
The second project is a pair of Bekväm Step Stools that my sister and I each bought. I volunteered to “finish” them both, since I was already doing mine and duplicating the setup and materials would be excessive.
![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Stepstools-01.jpg)
![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Stepstools-04.jpg)
Here is the original image from IKEA. I laid out all the side and support pieces, keeping track of tops and exposed sides, and painted them white. Just a standard interior latex my parents had leftover from another project.
![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Stepstools-02.jpg)
![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Stepstools-03.jpg)
Then for the steps I used the same dark stain from the stepladder, with a light sanding first to make sure it didn’t go quite as dark.
![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Stepstools-05.jpg)
![](http://www.drakesbrewhouse.com/images/ikea-projects/Stepstools-06.jpg)
After that I simply followed the assembly instructions.
People have done all kinds of fancy artistic stuff with these step stools, but I’m really happy with the way this simple finishing turned out.