How to Build a Rustic Headboard
A headboard is often an accent piece in a bedroom. The style of the headboard should complement the rest of the room design. Rustic headboards can be made from weathered natural wood. Reclaimed items such as old shutters made an ideal starting point for a rustic headboard. Barn doors or barn boards would also be a good choice. A clear finish will preserve the wood in its rustic state while providing a surface that can be cleaned easily. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- 4 reclaimed wood shutters
- Wire brush
- 120-grit sandpaper
- Clear wood finish
- Poly brush
- Level
- Screw gun
- Box of flush-trim wood screws
Instructions
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1
Measure and mark the wall at the height where you plan to install the headboard. The shutters will go vertically side by side onto the wall to form the complete width of the headboard. The bottom of the shutters should be located just above the baseboard. Mark the wall with a pencil accordingly. Measure the total width of the shutters when they are placed together. Mark the wall to indicate the width with a starting and ending point for the sides.
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2
Brush the surface of the shutters with a wire brush to remove any loose paint or debris. Sand the surface with 120-grit sandpaper lightly to prepare the wood shutters for a clear coat wood finish.
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3
Apply a clear wood finish of your choice onto the shutters with a poly brush. Allow the shutters to dry overnight.
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4
Position the shutters in place along the wall vertically as they would be if installed on a house. Align the outside edge of the first and last shutters along the pencil lines.
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5
Place a level across each shutter and hold it level while you fasten the shutter to the wall. Drive flush-trim wood screws through the four corners of each shutter approximately 1 inch in from the corner at a diagonal to fasten the headboard sections to the wall with a screw gun.
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6
Slide the bed frame so that it is centered in front of the rustic headboard.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Paint the shutters for a less rustic finish.
Wear eye protection. Apply wood finish in a well-ventilated area.
