Give A Basic IKEA Step Stool The Cutest Custom Makeover With A Budget-Friendly DIY

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

For homeowners who struggle to reach the top shelf or higher cabinets within their homes, step stools are a must-have item. Step stools, however, are not always the most visually pleasing items. Often made to collapse or hide within a closet or cabinet, foot stools are concealed until they're needed. Frequent foot stool users may find it inconvenient to constantly have to pull out the item from whichever spot it's stowed in. Finding the right step stool for your home that can blend in with the rest of your decor is ideal for those who need the extra height of a step stool but don't want to sacrifice visual appeal. Selling for $29.99, the IKEA furniture piece is easy to assemble and looks great once put together. While it does come in two colors, white or Rubberwood, the assembled stool can look rather plain. Spruce up the design of the basic step stool by giving it the cutest custom makeover with a budget-friendly DIY.

To elevate IKEA's BEKVÄM Stool, all you'll need is some wood trim, hot glue, and glue sticks with heavy-duty adhesive power, like these Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks. On top of that, you'll want to grab some Scalloped Wood Trim from Hobby Lobby, which is perfect for a cute, cottagecore motif. You'll also need to have measuring tools and a utility knife to measure and cut your wood trim to fit on the step stool. Always use caution and safe methods when cutting wood, even if it's just with a utility knife.

First, assemble your step stool with the provided instructions and tools. Once assembled, take your scalloped trim and measure it to fit beneath the top and bottom steps of the step stool. Cut off the excess and adhere the trim to the steps. Make sure it's secured and the glue is given ample time to dry. If you purchased the Rubberwood colored stool, the scalloped trim should already match the stool as-is. However, if you opted for the white stool, you might have to paint the scalloped trim to match the rest of the furniture piece for more of a cohesive look.

With the scalloped trim attached and dried, you can take your DIY a step further by painting the entire stool in a color of your choosing. You can also use different patterns of trim if the cottagecore aesthetic does not match your tastes or home design. Alternatively, instead of a full wood trim underneath the stool's steps, you can add wood-carved corner on lays or wood appliques to the stool to spruce it up. MUXSAM's Furniture Applique corner on lays would add a hint of sophistication and elegance to the otherwise basic step stool.