At the end of a long day, nothing beats crawling into a big comfy bed. That bed feels even better when it’s beautiful too. But if you have priced furniture lately, you know how expensive even the simplest headboard can be. Many of those pricey headboards aren’t even solid wood either. With a little DIY magic, you can have a unique and affordable headboard – one that tells its own bedtime story!
Finding the right headboard is just the beginning of the story. Like Goldilocks herself, you can explore some shopping options till you find one that’s just right. If you need to purchase a headboard on a budget, head to your local thrift stores. I would bet for under $20, you can get a solid wood headboard that just needs love and a little paint.
Other discount stores include Big Lots and American Signature Furniture but it is hard to find solid woods at really low prices for new items. But, being a big supporter of the re-purpose/re-cycle lifestyle, I say explore the thrift and vintage markets first for solid pieces at a real steal. Plus, the second-hand pieces are bound to have more character and style variety. Who knows, it may have you dreaming about the good old days too.
Maybe you have to look no further than your own basement for the perfect headboard. Or you have one attached to your bed right now that just needs a new look. The challenge for you is to find one that has the right style and look for your room.
Once you have the best style, size and look, you can always change the color or finish. When refinishing a headboard, apply the same basic rules for painting trim in your home.
- Thoroughly sand and wipe away traces of sanding dust, dirt, grease and grime
- Prime all woods to be painted. If your piece has a glossy topcoat, you do not necessarily have to sand all the sheen and paint/stain layers away. There are several primers available that prep glossy surfaces for better adhesion. Look for Kilz, Stix and Gripper at home stores.
- Apply paint and stain according to directions on the can. Temperature, direct sun exposure and humidity are key factors is getting a great finish.
- If staining, apply stain in thin even coats, until desired color is achieved. When applying polyurethane top coat, sand very lightly between coats using tack cloth to remove all the dust.
- Be patient and mindful of drying times, knowing that refinishing wood doesn’t happen overnight!
For a classic look, the wooden headboard is the most popular choice and offers endless creative possibilities with paint colors, stencils and custom artistic designs. Yet, the upholstered headboard can be an equally fun and easy DIY project.
Fabric upholstered headboards are only limited by your taste in color, texture and pattern. They can be mounted on legs to attach to the back of the metal bed frame or can be a free style slab that gets secured flush to the wall. For this project, you will need some basic carpentry skills and tools – a jigsaw or circular saw and staple gun. Batting or padding is wrapped around the wood form. Your fabric is then applied over the batting and held in place by staples. Fabric trims, tassels, and monograms can be added for real customization. Use Google Images to get ideas on shapes and styles.
So to make your bedtime headboard dreams a reality, just tell those three bears to get lost then grab your tool box.
