Upcycling pro Sacha Olivier shows you how to give a tired headboard a wake-up call
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- A screwdriver
- Wood filler
- Sandpaper
- Black and white paint
- Paintbrushes or sponge rollers
- A pencil
- A ruler
- Painter’s masking tape
REMOVING DATED DETAILS
- Most old-fashioned headboards like this one were made of laminated wood or some sort of chipboard and included details like scrolls and built-in side tables. If necessary, remove any unwanted detailing and the side tables using a screwdriver.
- Fill any holes with a suitable wood filler (I used Plastic Wood in White). Allow it to dry.
- Sand the headboard until smooth using 220-grit water paper or a medium-grit cabinet paper. Wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any dust.
PAINTING YOUR HEADBOARD
- Apply a coat of white paint to your headboard. Allow it to dry.
- Lightly sand the headboard and wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any dust.
- Apply a second coat of white paint and allow it to dry.
- Using a pencil and ruler, lightly mark out your stripes on the headboard. I find it’s best to start from the middle and work outwards to ensure that both sides will be identical.
- Using painter’s masking tape, mask over any of the stripes you’d like to remain white. Lightly rub the tape down to ensure the paint won’t bleed underneath and you’ll get a neat, crisp line.
- Fill in the exposed areas with black paint. Allow to dry.
- Apply a second coat of black paint. Allow to dry.
- Gently peel off the masking tape.