How to Make a Headboard Out of a Vintage Door

Vintage doors make a great headboard for a queen or king sized bed. Vintage doors have tons of architectural details, which add interest in a plain bedroom. Most vintage doors are also solid wood, which is perfect for creating a custom headboard.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 vintage wood door
• Jigsaw
• Pencil
• Yardstick
• Picture hanging brackets
• Screws
• Toggle bolts
• Paint
• Paint brushes
• Sand paper
• Screw driver

Preparing the Vintage Door

1. Measure how wide your bed is with a tape measure. Measure how tall the vintage door is with a tape measure.

2. Decide if the vintage door needs to be shortened to work as a headboard on your bed. Trace a straight line on the end that needs to be trimmed. Mark this with a pencil.

3. Cut the excess wood off the end with a jigsaw. Try to cut a straight line.

4. Sand the rough edge where you cut. First use a rough sand paper, then go over the end with a fine grit sand paper.

5. Unscrew the door knob from the vintage door. Take the handle apart, but reserve the front handle.

6. Use screws to reattach half of the door knob to what will be the front of the vintage headboard. Do not attach the back of the handle.

7. Sand the entire door with sand paper. Remove any lumps and bumps. You do not have to sand to the woods.

8. Paint the entire vintage door in a color to accent your bedroom as the headboard.

9. Lay the vintage door headboard face down on a work surface once the paint dries. Try to hang the door knob over the edge of your work table. This will help the door lay flat.

10. Place one picture hanging bracket on each side of the door, about 3 inches down from the top and 3 inches in from the sides. Screw the picture hanging brackets into the vintage door with wood screws.

11. Mark the holes on the brackets. Pre drill the holes with your power drill. Only start the hole in the wood, do not drill through the door.
    Screw the picture hanging brackets into the vintage door with wood screws.

Hanging the Vintage Door Headboard

12. Screw 2 long wood screws it studs in the wall above your bed. Use toggle bolts if there are no studs.

13. Slip the 2 picture hanging brackets on the back of the vintage door onto the screws.

14. Place your bed back at the headboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear a dust mask and sand outside. Vintage doors may contain lead in their paint. You can test for lead with a kit. If your door does have lead paint discard it and use another vintage door.