DIY Blog - A Dabbled Dwelling

How to DIY Built In Bunkbeds

January 31, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

It was so exciting to make over my middle daughter’s room. I had big plans to DIY built in bunkbeds. I would love if my two youngest daughters could share this room when the littlest is old enough. We already had a bunkbed frame in the room that we were using. My plans included utilizing that frame as a base for the DIY built in bunkbeds.

The Process for Built In Bunkbeds

I was given a bunkbed frame a while back and my daughter had been using it. She has been waiting for her room to be redone, so I wanted it to be something special. First, I made sure the frame was level before I screwed it into the studs. Once it was secured well to the wall I began to build a frame for the bottom bunk. I built a rectangle in the size for a full sized mattress out of 2x4s. Then added cross supports to hold the mattress while allowing it to breathe.

I wanted to include some shelf space on the bottom bunk and make them look truly built in. For the bottom I built a little frame for a shelf to go between the mattress and the bed frame. I added extra framing at the top to close in one end a bit to make it more cozy. Next I started on the stairs by putting stair stringers against the wall and the bed. Once those were in I added the treads and then the risers. At this point it’s almost done!

Time for paint! I have three daughters so the obvious choice in paint color here is… PINK. My trusty Wagner Pro paint sprayer has never let me down. I suited up and sprayed the built in bunkbed pink. The paint sprayer gives it a very smooth and clean finish. After paint I built a railing and sealed it, I love the way that little bit of natural wood looks with the paint. Then I used caulk to bring it all together. It gives the whole thing a seamless and built in look.

Woman sprays pink paint onto bunkbed frame

And Done

When it was all said and done the only thing left was to make sure the mattresses fit! I held my breath as I put them in and they fit like a glove. It was so exciting to finish this project and then style and decorate the rest of her room. She loves her new bed and is so excited about her bedroom.

How To Refinish Your Tub and Tile With Paint

January 19, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

We live in a 1970’s fixer upper and there is so much potential in this house. At some point the previous owners updated the finishes in the house but I think they did it in the late 90’s or early 2000’s. Cue a lot of dark and dingy looking tile and paint. When renovating spaces, it can get expensive very quickly, so I wanted to update the tub and tile surround as inexpensively as possible in my daughters’ bathroom.

An Inexpensive DIY Tub Update

I began the renovations on my daughters’ bathroom and initially was only going to renovate the vanity area. Well, when you give a mouse a cookie, Kelsey updates the tub and tile surround. Rustoleum makes a tub and tile refinishing kit that is about $50 instead of $$$ for new tile. This is a great way to refinish your tub and tile with paint, and I was so excited to try it!

It’s a good idea to clean the tile well before you paint to make sure that the paint adheres well. You can use a scrub brush or scouring pad with any bathroom cleaner to make sure to get all the gunk off the tile. Once that is done prep the area by covering and taping off anything that you don’t want to get painted. Then you’ll use a foam roller and a brush to paint the tile. The paint was runnier than I expected and I realized partway in that I needed a respirator or I was going to be high as a kite from paint fumes.

Another thing I realized partway through is that the paint eats the foam rollers! I made sure to change the foam roller often to avoid getting foam in the paint. After the first coat I was still a little skeptical, but once the second coat was on I was convinced!

The Finished Product

It’s done and I love the way it turned out! The tile looks so clean and the whole room looks and feels bigger. There is always a gamble when my projects snowball, but I am so happy I went with this one. The girls’ bathroom is finally done. Click here to see the whole thing.

How to DIY a Striped Accent Wall

January 15, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

While I was renovating my girls’ bathroom I wanted to give it a really girly touch. What’s a better girly touch than pink stripes? Since all of my kids are girls I figured that there wasn’t a better color for them than pink. So I added a DIY striped accent wall.

The Process of a Striped Accent Wall

I started with the blank wall and my laser level. Then I taped off stripes with Frog Tape. You can use any width you would like to create your preferred stripe pattern. I wanted even stripes with the pink and white being every other stripe, so I taped accordingly. Once it was taped I painted the wall the base color again, doing that helps to get crisp, clean paint lines. The next coat of paint to go on the wall was… PINK!!! I painted it right over the stripes and when it was still a little wet, I pulled the tape off the wall. To remove the tape I started at the top and pulled straight away from the wall. I couldn’t believe my eyes, it turned out so well!

Woman is excitedly peeling tape off painted wall

DIY Striped Accent Wall Done!

It is so cute!!! I absolutely love the way that it turned out and it is so darling and whimisical. The entire renovation is coming together and I love the softness that this accent wall provides. My girls are going to love their new bathroom. Click here if you would like to see the reveal for this whole space!