ALLBIDS Blog

Ways to Transform Your Basic Ikea Bed

Monday, 22 October 2018 | Mike Leano

We have a thing for Ikea beds; they're affordable, easy to assemble, solidly built and quite comfortable. Their only drawback is that they're a little basic. But that's not really a problem because we've got a few ideas on how you can upgrade your basic Ikea bed and transform it into an absolute boss of bedroom bliss. You can start with these:

Install a mirror as a headboard

Mirrors aren't just for checking out how you look; you can also use them to make any room appear brighter. When positioned correctly, a mirror can catch natural light and reflect it around the room. Likewise, it can create the illusion of space.

To give your basic Ikea bed more oomph, install a mirror as a headboard. Basically, you can use a large mirror - ideally one that's about as wide as your bed (like this one). Otherwise, you can also go for several identical, portrait-angled mirrors (here's an example), or even a number of smaller ones.

It'll still work even if your bed already has a headboard (like Ikea's MALM or TRYSIL). Simply install the mirror above the headboard.

For more mirror options, check out our Homeware & Decorations section.

Use satin sheets

Another way to upgrade your basic bed (and feel like royalty while sleeping) is by using satin sheets. They're cool to the touch, super comfortable and perfect for summer nights. Plus, silk is:

• Good for your skin. Because silk slides easily, it won't cause creases, especially on your face.
• A natural fibre that lets your skin breathe, minimising sweat and irritation.
• Good for your hair. It doesn't tangle your locks or cause split ends.
• Much easier to iron.

For best value, get satin sheet sets which also come with matching pillowcases. Our manchester section is chock-full of options, which you can filter by size.

Hang curtains from the ceiling

Add some mystique to your plain-looking bed with curtains. Fortunately, you don't need a canopy or four-poster bed to pull this off. Simply install curtain rods, hooks or brackets on the ceiling around the bed - provided that they match your bed's length and width.

You may also leave a bit of room between the bed and curtains, it's up to you.

With curtains around the bed, you get this canopy-like effect. During warm nights, you can use sheer curtains, which you can also leave open to let some breeze in. At winter, install heavy/insulating curtains to help keep you warm.

For rods, hooks, brackets and other installation options, check out our Tools & Hardware section. If you're looking for curtains, explore our Curtains and Blinds category.

Repaint the headboard

Tired of your basic headboard? Repaint it. The hue is up to you: quirky, solid, patterned - as long as you can carry it out to your liking, and the results go with your room's overall theme and colour palette.

Have a look at our Paint sub-category for more options.

Place an ottoman with storage the foot of the bed

There's no such thing as having too many storage options. Thus, placing an ottoman at the foot of your Ikea bed should - at the very least:

• Add character and visual interest to your bed's overall look.
• Help make your room less cluttered.

Just make sure the ottoman matches your bed's colour. For more ottoman options, check out our Household Furniture section.

Add a bedside table

If you like to read, place a table on either/both sides of the bed. That way, your books will be within easy reach; the bedside table will also double as storage. And don't forget to throw in a lamp, which you can use as a night light or reading light.

Yes, we have more bedside table and lamp options over at Household Furniture. Have fun browsing!

Arrange some seats at the end of the bed

Instead of an ottoman, you can also place a couch or bench at the foot of the bed. If you prefer having a bench, look for one with a storage option underneath, which will provide you an additional place to store books, magazines and such.

Should you opt for a couch, you can choose one that seats at least two people, or a couple of matching recliners. Either way, this route will give the room more seating options.

Browse the Household Furniture section for more bedroom seating options.

Class it up with an upholstered headboard

Another way to add visual interest to your bed is installing a padded headboard, ideally one that matches the bed's design and colour, and your room's décor. There are a number of fabrics available out there, and your pick would depend on a) what material you prefer, and b) how much you're willing to spend.

For example, cotton fabrics are resistant to fading and wear; leather is luxurious and tough but pricey; wool is durable and easy to clean; while vinyl is cheap and sturdy.

For more upholstered headboard choices, look around our Household Furniture sub-category.

Go for a high-contrast black/grey/white combo

Sometimes, you don't need to do a major do-it-yourself project to embellish your bed. Here's a more inexpensive but eye-catching upgrade: use a classic, high-contrast colour combination of blacks, whites, and/or greys for your manchester. It's modern, stylish and looks absolutely sharp.

You can go about this a couple of ways. For instance, you can use matching black and white patterns for each piece. You can also try solid colours for your bedsheets, and then using its opposite hue for the pillowcases and other parts of the bedding ensemble (e.g. white pillowslips, black bedding).

For more pillowcase, comforter and all types of bedding options, explore our manchester sub-category.

Absolute confidence

ALLBIDS runs countless auctions that will help transform the most basic of beds. More importantly, we provide layers of protection on every auction, which means you can bid with absolute confidence. So smarten up your Ikea bed today at ALLBIDS.

You can also sell your bedroom items through ALLBIDS, but without the hassle. Simply get in touch with us through chat, email or phone to find out how you can be an ALLBIDS vendor.