How to Hack an Ikea Bekvam Step Stool

Sharing is caring!

If you’re looking for an Ikea Bekvam step stool hack, you’ve come to the right place! Learn how you can quickly and easily paint this IKEA stool to give it a worn look. This simple DIY is easily adaptable and you can change your step stool to any color you want.

IKEA Stool Upcycle

It’s always a good day when I go to visit Ikea. I have never come back empty handed. Last time I had gone I bought me a Bekvam step stool. It was a necessity because I’m on the short side, 5 foot 2 inches and needed it to reach all of my upper cabinets in the kitchen.

I let it sit there for a few months mulling over what I would do with it. Until this week when I had a brilliant idea. 

I didn’t want it to look new, because you know I’d mess it up anyway with all the use. Instead I’d speed up the process and make it look old.  But with a little help from my paints. And so today I will show you how to get an easy worn look for an Ikea Bekvam step stool.

Materials I Used to Hack This Ikea Bekvam Step Stool

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  If you purchase any of these products through the links, we receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. You can find our full disclosure here.

• DecoArt Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Everlasting
• DecoArt Acrylic paint in black and yellow
• DecoArt Americana Decor Cream Wax
• Daddy Van’s Decorative Wax in cafe Noir
• Round paint brush
• Clean rags for rubbing and buffing
• Sandpaper​​

How to Hack an Ikea Bekvam Step Stool

It’s made of solid birch, but I wanted to paint it with something so it would be easy to clean but at the same time have an old worn look to it. You know I use it all the time. Before starting on this project I gave it a good wipe down with a vinegar and water solution. ​​

Disclosure: I was compensated for doing this post with product.  However, all the opinions stated here are my own. I only use products I love and would recommend to my viewers. 

I had Americana Chalky Finish in Everlasting white but wanted to go with a different color.  So I added a tiny bit of black acrylic paint to make a gray color.

I was not happy and wanted to warm it up a bit so I added a tiny bit of yellow for good measure.

I then painted the whole Ikea bekvam step stool. I was really very pleased with the warm grayish color.

​The whole thing was painted and then sanded down so it would be nice and smooth and the wax would go on nicely. The color looks a bit blue here because of the light but you can see that the entire Ikea Bekvam stool was painted.

At this point I was indecisive about how to finish off my Ikea step stool makeover.

Should I use a wax?  Should I use a varnish to give it a hard finish?  Which should I apply first?

I knew that I wanted to add a bit more warmth to it with a dark colored wax.  But I had no idea if I could add varnish as well.

This went on in my mind for a while, till finally after speaking with a few friends – it’s always good to have blogger friends , I decided I would play it safe this time and not mess with the varnish.

So I applied some Cream Wax first.

​And then I added the darker wax, Daddy Van’s Cafe Noir. The cream wax serves to create a base for the Cafe Noir wax so that it will go on smoother and not penetrate as much. You can also not use the cream wax and just go with the darker wax, but I was so afraid I’d mess up I wanted as much control as I could get.

Below you can see how it has warmed up the left side of the stool step.

​Next I used one of these round brushes which really helps to get the wax in all the nooks and crannies. Then I used the clean towel to rub the excess off.

I even added some distressing along the way.  I’m kind of sloppy like that.  I know I should do the distressing first and then add the waxes, but things have a way of going the other way sometimes. That’s okay!

And here is my “old” new Ikea Bekvam stool.

I wish you could see it in person. The gray is really warm and along with the distressing it gives the wooden stool a cozy worn look that I love.

​Now I’ll be able to reach the top cabinets in the kitchen in style!

Sometimes I like to put things on there too, because I have too much stuff right now and no place to put them.

In the future I will be trying out the other method with the varnish first and then the wax to see how it turns out.  You all know I can’t help myself, I just have to try new to me techniques and products.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this easy Ikea bekvam step stool hack.

Doing things like this makes me learn a lot about myself. When I first started blogging I never liked this distressed look, but since then I have come to embrace these old worn pieces. And if you don’t have them, why not create your own? This is why I wanted to show you how to get an easy worn look for your Ikea stool, or any piece of furniture.

Now I need your help.  Do you ever add varnish first and then the wax?

More Paint Projects: