How to Gild a Bed Frame

The gilding process involves laying tissue-thin sheets of metal over a prepared surface and burnishing them into place. The final result is an object that appears to be gold, silver or copper but is actually wood, plaster or a less expensive metal. Gilding a bed frame can add a special touch to a gilded bedroom design scheme. The added glitz of the frame accompanied by a gilded headboard can make the whole bed ensemble come together visually. Add appropriate bed linens and the look is complete.

Things You'll Need

• Tack cloth
• 220 grit sandpaper
• Painter's tape
• Paint brushes
• Metal leaf primer
• Water-based paint
• Sizing adhesive
• Sheets of metal leaf
• Gilder's brush
• Metal leaf sealer

Instructions

Prep Work

1. Remove the mattress and box spring from the bed frame. Place the frame on a drop cloth or covered work surface.

2. Examine the frame for areas that have rough spots or blemishes. Remove them by lightly sanding the surface using a 220 grit sandpaper. Remove dust with a clean cloth.

3. Cover areas not to be gilded with painter's tape.

4. Choose a gilding color scheme---primer, bole/base color and metal leaf. Primers come in several colors plus gray and can be found combined as a color primer and sealer. Choosing a color primer/sealer offers the advantage of not needing the application of a base (bole) color.

Priming and Base Color

1. Cover the surface of the bed frame with a primer designed for gilding. Allow the primer to dry thoroughly.

2. Cover the surface with a bole color. Allow the bole color to dry thoroughly.

3. Apply the sizing adhesive. Choose a water-based sizing product and apply evenly over the bed frame. Water-based sizing products will become tacky and ready for leaf application within a half hour. The capability to attach leaf to them lasts about 30 to 36 hours.

4. Test the tack of the sizing adhesive. The surface should not be wet but tacky, meaning that touching the surface does not remove the primer nor does it cause the finger to stick to it, but at the same time the surface is not completely dry.

Applying Leaf

1. Gently apply a single sheet of leaf to the prepared surface. Leaf products will vary. Separate leaves of metal will have a backing paper attached. Lay the sheet leaf-side down and rub the back of the paper gently with a finger or gilding brush to separate it from the backing and then remove the paper. Leaf that is attached to a book of leaves should be laid gently across the surface while holding the book. Gently brush the leaf into place using a gilding brush.

2. After the leaf is on the surface, burnish the entire surface of the leaf with a gilder's brush for complete adhesion.

3. Place the second leaf next to the first one and apply and then burnish the leaf to the surface. Small gaps between leaves are part of the process. The base or primer color will fill in these gaps visually.

4. Continue the process across the surface of the frame. Leaf can be folded over sharp edges and rounded areas.

5. After the bed frame is completely gilded, apply a protective topcoat to the surface. Use a clear, acrylic sealer designed for metal leaf surfaces.

Tips & Warnings

• Gilding primers are usually formulated for use on a combination of surfaces---wood, plaster, metal and composition surfaces. Check the product label to verify surface application.

• Collect smaller pieces that break off during the application process. Use them to fill large blank spots.

• Water-based products are susceptible to freezing. Keep water-based gilding materials inside during the winter months.

References

• Gilding Basics