You’ve probably seen the Pinterest boards. A perfectly tousled duvet, a neutral rug, and that one long, sleek piece of furniture sitting right at the foot of the mattress. It looks effortless. But then you try to recreate it with an end of bed bench Ikea offers and suddenly your bedroom feels like an obstacle course. Or worse, a waiting room.
The truth is, most people treat the foot-of-the-bed bench as an afterthought. They grab whatever is cheap or whatever matches the dresser. Big mistake. This piece of furniture is basically the bridge between your sleeping zone and the rest of your life. It's where you put on your socks. It’s where the "decorative" pillows go to die at 11:00 PM. It’s a luggage rack for your weekend bag. If you pick the wrong one, it’s just a $150 trip hazard.
I’ve spent years looking at how small-space design actually functions in real homes, not just showrooms. Ikea is the king of this niche, but they don't exactly give you a manual on which bench fits which lifestyle. You have to figure out if you're a "storage person" or a "minimalist aesthetic person." You can't usually be both.
Why the End of Bed Bench Ikea Selection is Deceptive
Walk into an Ikea and you’ll see the PERJOHAN or the TOLKNING. They look great under those studio lights. But here’s the thing: scale is everything. If you have a King-sized bed and you slap a tiny 24-inch bench at the end of it, it looks like a tooth missing from a smile. It’s awkward.
The classic move is the MALM or the HEMNES series, but those aren't always benches. People often repurpose the TV units or the low storage chests. This is where the real "Ikea hacking" starts. But you have to be careful with weight limits. A TV stand isn't designed for a 200-pound human to sit on while struggling with a pair of tight boots. I've seen more than one particle-board top bow under the pressure of a morning routine.
Honestly, the height matters more than the width. If your bench is taller than your mattress, it creates a visual wall. It cuts the room in half. You want that bench to sit about two inches below the top of your duvet. This keeps the sightline clear and makes the room feel bigger. Most Ikea benches sit around 17 to 19 inches high, which is the "Goldilocks" zone for standard mattresses.
The Storage vs. Seating Debate
Do you actually need to sit on it? Or do you just need a place to hide the extra blankets that your partner insists on buying every winter?
If you're in a tiny apartment, the KISTEN or any of the trunk-style options are your best friends. They are bulky. They are a bit heavy. But they swallow clutter like nothing else. On the flip side, something like the BJÖRKSNÄS is all about those airy, Scandinavian vibes. It’s got the leather straps. It’s got the solid birch. It looks expensive. But you can't hide a single thing under it. It’s a trade-off. You’re trading utility for "the look."
Real-World Choices: Beyond the Catalog
Let's talk about the NORDLI. It’s technically a chest of drawers. But because it’s modular, people love to line up two or three of them at the foot of the bed. It’s a genius move for anyone lacking a closet. You get the flat surface for your robe and the drawers for your gym gear.
However, there’s a comfort factor people ignore.
Wood is hard. If you’re actually sitting there every morning to meditate or put on makeup, your backside is going to complain. This is why the upholstered options, like the DANDERYD or even some of the dining benches they sell, are secretly better for the bedroom. The EKEDALEN bench is technically for a kitchen table, but it’s sturdy as a rock and comes with a padded top. It’s understated. It doesn't scream "I'm a bedroom bench," which is exactly why it works so well.
Materials That Actually Last
Ikea uses a lot of foil finish and particle board. We know this. But for an end of bed bench Ikea makes, you should try to aim for solid wood or metal if your budget allows. The FJÄLLBO is a great example. It’s industrial, it’s metal and pine, and it can take a beating. If you have kids or a dog that uses the bench as a launching pad to get onto the bed, don't buy the fabric-covered stuff. You’ll be scrubbing paw prints out of it for the next three years.
- Solid Wood (Birch/Pine): Ages better. You can sand it down and repaint it when the scuffs get too bad.
- Metal: Practically indestructible but feels cold on the legs in the winter.
- Upholstery: Looks cozy, but it's a magnet for dust mites and pet hair.
The "Invisible" Utility of the Ikea Bench
There is a psychological component to having a bench at the end of the bed. It defines the sleeping area. In large, open-concept bedrooms, the bed can feel like it's floating in space. The bench acts as an anchor. It says, "The bed ends here, and the rest of the room begins there."
It’s also a safety net for your bedding. Have you ever woken up at 3:00 AM because your heavy comforter slid off the foot of the bed? A bench catches it. It’s a small detail, but it’s one of those things you don't realize you need until you have it.
I once worked with a client who used two LACK side tables pushed together because they were $15 each. It worked... for about a week. Then they put a heavy suitcase on it and the "honeycomb paper filling" inside the table gave up the ghost. Don't be that person. Spend the extra $40 for a piece of furniture that is actually rated for weight.
The Best Ikea Benches by Bed Size
- Twin Beds: Look at the PERJOHAN. It’s narrow, has a little cubby for shoes, and doesn't overwhelm a small room.
- Queen Beds: The SIGGERUD or the SKOGSTA acacia bench. Acacia is surprisingly dense and has a beautiful grain that makes the room feel "expensive" without the West Elm price tag.
- King Beds: This is the tricky one. Most Ikea benches are too short. Your best bet is to buy two identical smaller benches and butt them up against each other. Two MOLGER benches (the ones people usually put in bathrooms) actually look incredibly chic when paired together under a King quilt. It gives you a slatted, spa-like look.
Maintenance and the "Ikea Smell"
We have to talk about the off-gassing. New Ikea furniture, especially the pressed wood stuff, has a distinct scent. If you’re sensitive to smells, don't put that bench in your bedroom the day you buy it. Assemble it in a garage or a spare room and let it breathe for 48 hours. Your sleep quality will thank you.
Also, tighten the screws. Then tighten them again a month later. Ikea furniture "settles," and because a bench takes lateral force (the shimmying you do when putting on jeans), the bolts loosen faster than a bookshelf's would. A wobbly bench is a sad bench.
Making It Look Less Like a Catalog
To make an end of bed bench Ikea piece look high-end, you have to style it. Don't just leave it bare.
- Throw a sheepskin (the LUDDE or ULLERSLEV) over one side.
- Place a wooden tray on the other side for your TV remote or a carafe of water.
- Stack two or three oversized art books on it.
The goal is to break up the mass of the furniture. If it’s just a flat plane of wood, it looks cheap. If it has layers, it looks like a curated piece of a home.
Actionable Steps for Your Bedroom Upgrade
Ready to actually do this? Don't just drive to the blue-and-yellow warehouse yet.
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First, take a measuring tape and measure the width of your mattress. Your bench should be between 65% and 80% of that total width. Anything less looks dinky; anything more looks crowded.
Next, check your floor clearance. If you have a robot vacuum, you need a bench with legs at least 4 inches high. If you buy a solid-to-the-floor trunk like the HOL, that Roomba is going to spend all day bumping into it.
Finally, consider the "toe stub" factor. If your bedroom is tight, avoid benches with sharp, protruding corners. The STOLTSAN has softer edges and a more forgiving profile for those midnight trips to the bathroom.
Go for the solid wood if you can swing it. It’s a few extra bucks now, but it’s the difference between a piece of furniture you keep for ten years and one you leave on the curb next July. Focus on the height relative to your mattress, pick a material that matches your "mess level," and don't be afraid to look in the bathroom or hallway sections of the store. Some of the best bedroom benches weren't actually meant for the bedroom at all.