What Can You Make from an IKEA Chair and a Piece of Plywood?

Parents often allow children to help in the kitchen. But for this, toddlers have to climb onto a stool or chair, which is not safe. However, it seems we've found the perfect solution.

This lifehack was inspired by the website Hunker: a regular IKEA stool has been transformed into a safe mini-ladder with railings and side walls. We explain how to make one just like it.

What you'll need:

• IKEA BEKIVAM stool;
• plywood with a thickness of 2.5–5 cm;
• wooden board of the same thickness;
• wooden dowel with a diameter of 7.6–10 cm;
• thin wooden strip;
• circular saw;
• medium-grit sandpaper;

• paint, primer and brush;
• twine tape;
• scissors;
• clear glue;
• electric drill;
• screws (12 pcs.);
• masking tape.

Preparing Materials

You can cut the boards yourself or ask a hardware store to do it for you. Here's what you should end up with:

• a piece of plywood measuring 41×24 cm (2 pcs.);
• wooden boards that are 34 cm long (2 pcs.);
• a wooden dowel that is 34 cm long;
• strips that are about 2 cm thick and 41 cm long (4 pcs.);
• strips that are about 2 cm thick and 20 cm long (4 pcs.).

Sanding the Surface

Use sandpaper to thoroughly sand the wooden surface so that children can touch it without fear of getting splinters.

Painting

Prime the wooden boards on both sides and then apply two coats of white chalk paint. Let each coat dry thoroughly.

Gluing Twine Tape

Cut two pieces of twine tape — slightly larger than the boards themselves. Glue them to the wooden surface (don't be afraid to use too much glue).

Place something heavy on top — for example, books. When the glue dries, trim off the excess.

Starting with the Stool

Remove the top step of the stool and attach wooden boards with strips using screws, as shown in the photo.

Adding Strips and Dowel

Secure the strips between two wooden plates using glue and masking tape. Once the glue dries, remove the tape and fasten the strips with screws. On the other side, secure the wooden dowel.

Gluing Strips

They should be secured all around the twine tape to form a neat frame. You can also glue them and secure with masking tape. Let them dry for about 40 minutes.

Assembling the Stool

More accurately, its bottom part. Paint the stool white. You can cover the lower step with tape and leave it untouched. Then let the stool dry.

Securing the Top Step

This can be done with standard IKEA attachments — they come with the stool. The boards that serve as railings can also be painted white. Done!

Photo by Trisha Sprouse