A MUM has shown off her son’s amazing pirate bed – which she built for next to nothing.
Aimee Nuttall, from Essex, said she was gobsmacked at the cost of bespoke beds when her son James, who’s nearly four, asked for one – so decided to get creative.
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She and her husband transformed an old Ikea bed using freebies and cheap accessories.
The amazing finished product shows under the sea themed stickers scattered across the wall, under a blue fishing net, and red carpeted stairs up to the bed.
While mum Aimee taught herself to paint ‘wood effect’ on YouTube for the boat, as well as painting on the waves and windows.
The boat even has its own steering wheel and telescope.
While the parents have added a single bed on the lower bunk, meaning others can sleep underneath James on the ‘lower deck’.
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Posting on Facebook, Aimee explained: “My son asked for a ‘pirate bed’ and I was horrified at the cost of bespoke beds!
“Me and my husband built this to customise an Ikea bed. I had some left over paint from the bathroom and got some cheap stickers on Amazon.
“The fishing net was courtesy of my Dad (who is a fisherman in wales) and yes, it had been used!
“The carpet was a free off cut and the wood didn’t cost too much.
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“The steering wheel and telescope are designed for an outdoor play frame and we secured them using leftover bits of timber.
“I used YouTube to learn how to paint a wood effect and quite proud of the result”.
Speaking to Fabulous Digital, Aimee said the wood cost around £80 – and she reckons they spent £150 in total including accessories.
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She said: “The bed is one that can be turned upside down and we weren’t happy he could use a ladder and be safe so that’s why we built the stairs.
“His favourite thing was when his Grandad came to stay and slept underneath (in the lower deck) – Grandad is a fisherman and inspired his love of boats.”
Aimee said she little lad was born prematurely and admitted he “does get spoilt” because of it.
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Aimee’s fellow mums were very impressed by her hard work.
Commenting on the snap, they wrote: “Outstanding!”, “Well done” and “That’s so adorable!”
Others gushed: “This is fab”, “Too cute”, “Absolutely wonderful !!” and “Amazing job! So imaginative”.
When another mum said she was considering custom-making a Pokemon bed for her eight-year-old, Aimee replied: “do it!
“It takes time and a bit of learning but so worth it (and kinder on the bank balance)!”
One woman even joked: “Fantastic job!! I’d love that bed for me”.
Yesterday, another mum transformed her son’s plain bedside table into classic VW camper van – and it even has headlights.
