DIY Project: A Fabulous Headboard from an Antique Door

Making a fabulous headboard from an antique door is a fun, unique, and inexpensive way to add an interesting and unusual element to your bedroom. Whether your bedroom decor is contemporary or shabby chic, a headboard made from an old antique door can really create a focal point and add interest to any bedroom.

You can find antique doors at flea markets, antique stores, auction houses, estate sales, yard sales, or even junk yards. Look for an antique door that has interesting details or unusual accents to it. You can choose a solid door or one that has window panes. Just look for something that appeals to you. It doesn’t really matter what shape it’s in, aside from being broken into pieces, because you’re going to give that old antique door new life as a fabulous headboard.

Once you choose the perfect antique door for your headboard, remove all of the hardware and prepare it for painting. If there are any small holes that you want to cover up, fill them with wood filler, smooth it down, and let dry. Imperfections in an antique door are what give it character, so don’t try to hide them all. If you want the perfect door for your headboard, buy a new one! Also, make sure there aren’t any splinters sticking out that might poke you when you’re leaning against it in bed.

If the door’s dirty, give it a good soap bath with the hose to remove any loose dirt or chipped paint. Next, lightly sand the door to allow a new coat of paint to adhere to it more easily. If the door needs a more vigorous sanding, use an electric hand sander with a tip that will get into tiny grooves better. Wipe the door down with a cloth to remove any dust and you’re ready to paint.

For the shabby chic look, paint the door white and once the paint is dry, try distressing it with sandpaper to remove some of the layers of paint to reveal the wood door underneath. Focus on sanding the corners, grooves, and around any decorative elements of the door. If you want a more eclectic look, try painting the panels’ different colors or use a stencil to add a patterned design to your headboard. If you’re going for a more contemporary look, paint the door a dark solid color. You can also stain your antique door headboard to match your other furniture in the room.

Mount your headboard horizontally on the wall behind the bed, just above the mattress. Make sure you attach the door securely to the studs of the wall, especially if the door is very heavy, to prevent it from falling on you in the middle of the night!

There you have it, your very own fabulous antique door headboard that is unique, fun, and interesting to look at.

©2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard. All Rights Reserved.