Featured Photo: IKEA TARVA Bed (TARVA bed frame, pine/Luröy, Queen – IKEA)
For my upcycling project, I will be creating a custom bed frame for the inside of a shuttle bus that I have been building out. I will be upcycling bed slats and beam components from an IKEA bed and turning them into a new frame that suspends between the walls of the bus. My goal is to maintain the minimalist aesthetic of the original IKEA bed and add a rustic vibe to help it match the overall design of my bus interior.
For background, I have been building out an old Ford Econoline transit bus into a campervan for road trips and outdoor adventures. I have completed most of the functional components of this build, such as the structural, thermal, and electrical systems. Now, I am getting into the fun part, as I focus on the interior design and aesthetics that bring this build to life. Since this is an outdoor-focused rig, I have been trying to create a natural/rustic feel that I can pair with a clean and simple aesthetic.

Photo: my current space in the shuttle bus I intend to mold the bedframe to
I believe that Scandinavian design work, specifically that seen in much of IKEA’s furniture, accomplishes this perfectly. I really like the look of a clean wood finish, so I will be using sanded wood as my primary building material. Additionally, I will be color-matching the wood supports that I use in this build to match the color of my ceiling paneling, which is a dark brown slatwood. Hopefully, this uniformity will help my interior feel less crowded.
My overall plan for this bed frame build is to place 6 vertical legs around the perimeter of my bed frame, sitting flush with the walls. I will have two runners (wood 2x4s) going across at the head and the foot of the bed, and each of these runners will be supported by 3 legs. This way, the bed frame can be suspended from wall to wall with no legs in the middle, and I will gain storage space underneath the entirety of the bed.


Photos: SKORVA and LUROY bed frame components from IKEA (http://ikea.com)
For the upcycled components of this design, I will be using the SKORVA center support beams from IKEA (SKORVA center support beam, galvanized – IKEA). I will be purchasing metal mounting plates that screw into the wood runners that I build, and the beams will go lengthwise from runner to runner, such that the head and foot of the bed are both touching opposite side walls. I will then fix the LUROY bed slats from IKEA (LURÖY slatted bed base, Twin – IKEA) to the top of the SKORVA beams, and I will have a solid frame to place my bed! I hope that the end result replicates a real IKEA bed frame—with the iconic minimalist wood slats—but customized to be an integrated part of my bus.

Photo: Inspiration Design by @TheGraeEscape ((725) TheGraeEscape – YouTube)
I do want to note that I have seen other van lifers implement a similar bed frame build into their builds. They also upcycle the SKORVA and LUROY bedframe components from IKEA, and this helped me gain my inspiration. This mainly came from the following youtube video: Shuttlebus conversion – Episode 15 – Building A Bed!. However, I believe that every bus/van conversion is unique, and although I gained inspiration from these other designers, I intend to make my own modifications to curate this design to fit my personal desires.
Sources
- IKEA. TARVA Bed Frame, Pine, LURÖY. IKEA, Retrieved 29 Jan. 2025, https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/tarva-bed-frame-pine-luroey-s29007794/.
- IKEA. LURÖY Slatted Bed Base. IKEA, Retrieved 29 Jan. 2025, https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/luroey-slatted-bed-base-60160217/.
- IKEA. SKORVA Center Support Beam, Galvanized. IKEA, Retrieved 29 Jan. 2025, https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/skorva-center-support-beam-galvanized-90124534/.
- YouTube. Shuttlebus conversion – Episode 15 – Building A Bed!. YouTube, 15 Feb. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a313_Zb1ZBw.
4 Comments. Leave new
I really like that you chose to use this upcycling project to get further in your van design. I think van life is so cool and its really awesome how far you’ve already come along. I like the idea of painting the wood to make it fit better within your aesthetic. Excited to see how this turns out!
Thanks Ellyse,I am very excited to see this come to life! I think the bedframe and the painting will start to make the space start to feel more like a home.
I love seeing different camper and van builds they are a great expression of aesthetic design with personal functionality. It looks like it will turn out great and help you get out to go on adventures! Good work I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Thanks Greg! My main intention with this build was to get out and explore. I can’t wait to give more progress updates as I start getting some use out of it!