Is it just me, or do toys seem to multiply when you’re not looking? It’s like I wake up, go into my son’s room, and I swear there’s more in there.
I will be the first to admit that even when you have the best intentions of keeping your kid’s room organized, the toys can get out of hand. At one point, my son’s room had a dinosaur jungle, a superhero headquarters, and some kind of police garage. All of these individual pieces took up space that we simply didn’t have.
For children who love playsets, the multitude of plastic dollhouses, racetracks, and fire stations adds up quickly.
Luckily, one clever dad came up with a solution.
Michael Levesley, a graphics designer by trade, created Funserts to give his daughter a variety of play scenes without compromising precious floor space.
What Are Funserts Play Scenes?
Funserts are double-sided play scene displays that slide perfectly into the IKEA KALLAX shelves. Instead of filling the room with individual plastic playsets, you get multiple options built into your existing storage unit.
The backdrop displays are made from recycled cardboard, making them eco-friendly, and with a different picture on each side, you get two playsets in one. Michael’s site also features various bases that slide into place to create a floor that complements the display.
How Funserts Transitioned from a Personal Project to a Business
It all started with a bedtime story.
One night, Mike was reading Maisy Goes to the Museum to his daughter when he noticed a dollhouse in the pictures. “I immediately thought that she was getting to the age that she would be asking for a dollhouse to go with her Barbies.”
Unfortunately, there just wasn’t enough space. But then, he caught himself staring at the KALLAX cubbies they used in her room for storage. As Mike put it, “The penny suddenly dropped.”
He came up with a way to jazz up the, in his words, “soulless” KALLAX, and give his daughter a dollhouse without taking up any additional space in her bedroom. And so, Funserts was born.
Thanks to his graphic design skills, Mike knew he could easily print on cardboard; he just had to figure out the right approach. He started designing, prototyping, and tweaking different options as he searched for the perfect print partner.
He shared his idea with others to get feedback, and everyone responded positively. But the biggest clue to how successful this idea could be was watching his daughter play with the Funserts. He decided it was time to try and sell them, so he started a side hustle.
Expanding the Vision With Double-Sided Displays
It was at this time that Funserts decided to make the displays double-sided, literally doubling the play experience and value. Mike started thinking up all sorts of ideas for scenes, dreaming about all of the playsets he would have loved as a kid.
That same week, he had a space series ready to go. He also shared that “being a lifelong Star Wars nerd certainly helped.”
But the option of two displays in one is really brilliant. Kids can change things up in a pinch with a quick flip, and parents get to save a few bucks. (Always appreciated!)
From Kids’ Playroom to Collector Display
When asked about the response from other IKEA hackers, Mike said, “We’ve had great responses from the IKEA hacking community and from pretty much anyone who comes across Funserts, mostly saying it’s a great idea.”
The dollhouses are the most popular by far, with the Dinosaurs, Farm, and Star Wars-inspired ones coming in a close second. The ease of sliding the displays in and out effortlessly is also a big positive. Instead of a KALLAX dollhouse 24/7, you can change things up within seconds.
But it isn’t just kids getting in on the action. Mike says that a lot of adults have been buying the inserts to use as backdrops for their collections. People also appreciate the product’s flexibility and how it allows them to keep their options open.
The displays are super easy to slide in or pull out. Therefore, once you need to use the shelves for storage, you can revert in seconds. This makes the idea even more appealing, since you’re not sacrificing storage long-term.
An Eco-Friendly Solution
The inserts are printed on partially recycled cardboard. Moreover, people can easily recycle them in most locations once they no longer need the display.
Plus, the cardboard packaging that Mike receives the Funserts in also gets a second life. He sends it all to his in-laws’ company, which shreds it and reuses it as packing material for stair parts.
What’s on the Horizon for Funserts?
It’s easy to see why KALLAX was the starting point for Funserts. The cubby-style shelves are already popular in kids’ rooms because they combine accessible storage with a relatively small footprint.
Instead of asking parents to find somewhere else for another large playset, the idea works within furniture they may already own. It’s a simple example of getting more functionality out of something you already have—a concept that feels very much at home in the world of IKEA hacking.
But Mike isn’t stopping with the KALLAX. The company started eyeing up other IKEA products, offering Billybacks for IKEA’s BILLY bookcases.
This idea makes perfect sense, since many IKEA fans already use the BILLY shelves for collections, LEGO sets, and other displays. The Billybacks are images that stick to the rear wall of the shelf, creating a fun visual backdrop.
Funserts also tends to expand its available ranges to feature additional options for dolls, space, racetracks, and more.
Why Funserts Feel So At Home in the IKEA Ecosystem
The interesting thing about this hack is that Mike isn’t modifying the KALLAX at all. He’s essentially hacking what the KALLAX can be used for.
IKEA furniture is often valued for its adaptability, and Funserts takes advantage of this. The KALLAX remains storage one minute and becomes a dollhouse, farm, dinosaur world, or display cabinet the next.
There’s also an interesting story in the fact that Mike didn’t start with a plan to build a business. He solved a problem in his own home first, which, when you think about it, isn’t that how a lot of successful businesses begin? Someone recognizes a problem and finds a way to solve it.
How Can You Get Funserts for Your KALLAX?
You can learn more about Funserts and order your own directly from the website. A typical display starts at roughly $10.85 (£7.95), but remember, you get two for that price since they’re double-sided! The company also offers bundles that feature displays with matching bases at a lower price. Those who prefer shopping on Etsy can also find the Funserts Etsy store here.
