How to Update a Headboard

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Updated 1/14/2018

We’ve been doing a little spruce up in our upstairs bedroom. We had a headboard for years that Mike has built but were feeling like it was time for a change. We wanted to update an older piece to make it more modern. It took a little bit of scouring at our local used furniture stores to come up with some that would work. Finding a queen headboard was harder than we originally thought. We found this headboard at out new favorite furniture thrift shop for $40. It was definitely feeling very dated but it was solid and had lots of potential. We decided to go with a farmhouse style makeover using paint to update this headboard.

Supplies:

Annie Sloane Old White Chalk Paint

220 grit sandpaper

Annie Sloane Clear Wax

Large Screws

Washers

The first step was to clean the whole piece with some Mrs. Myers all purpose spray to get off the thrift store grime.

Next, we started by painting it with Annie Sloane Old White Chalk Paint. We weren’t trying for an exact perfect finish but did put two coats of paint on it over two days to allow for a good drying time. I actually kind of liked it like this but Mike had bigger plans for it.

After the paint was dry, Mike lightly distressed it with fine grade sandpaper. He focused on the edges to give it a naturally worn look. Next, he wiped the piece down with a soft cloth to remove all the dust. To finish it off and seal in the chalk paint he went over the entire piece with Annie Sloane clear wax and then buffed it with a soft cloth.
We moved the headboard into the room and Mike screwed it into our existing metal bed frame with some large screws and washers to keep it secure to the bed.

It completely transformed the look of our room. I have to admit I was bit skeptical about how it would turn out but I really like it now. Another confession is that I am not 100% sold on the distressed look but Mike has been experimenting with it and has been having fun working with that paint technique so I don’t mind trying something new for a little while. The farmhouse style is so popular right now I do see ways in which I like it.

Update 1/14/18: I’ve embraced a rustic modern farmhouse style since I learned it’s not just about distressed painted wood pieces. We’ve since moved from this house but still are using this headboard.