Okay, so truly this is a super easy project. Like almost 1, 2, 3 easy.
And it is a total cheat. It’s not reclaimed barn-board at all! Shhh. We used all new wood!
Tsk-tsk. Such rebels.
The only prep work is to decide how big to make the headboard. Since we have a queen bed, we decided on five feet wide by {almost} six feet tall. No rhyme or reason really. Just the approximate width of the bed and slightly taller than the width for height.
You will need:
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palm sander OR sandpaper and some muscles
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stud finder
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pencil
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level
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wood (We used twelve 1″x6″x8′ pieces of spruce and had Home Depot cut them all down to 5′ long.)
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2″ screws (flat-head)
- drill
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old rag
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Minwax stain in Special Walnut
Step 1: Decide where to put your headboard. Find the studs. Mark vertical lines with a pencil.
Step 2: Sand rough spots and edges off of the boards. This is a headboard, people!
Step 3: Starting at the bottom (@ baseboard or floor), screw the first board to the wall using the stud marks you made in Step 1. Continue stacking the boards one on top of the other and fastening in this way all the way to the top (last) board.
Step 4: In a well ventilated room, and perhaps wearing a mask (trust me, this stuff STINKS when wet!), rub the minwax stain into the wood. Be careful to avoid the drywall around the headboard – tape it off with frog tape or slide a heavy piece of paper between headboard and wall as you stain. I only needed to do one coat, but if you would like it darker feel free to stain again.
Step 5: Make it look pretty! Dress it up! We used funkyshique’s love banner and some pillows I made.
And we absolutely ADORE it!
See, didn’t I tell you it was easy?!
And it was inexpensive! Here’s our cost breakdown:
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The wood was $2.97 per 8 foot length. That was the shortest the HD had. Times twelve boards = $36.
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We had the stain. But if you were to buy it I think it’s about $9 for the small container. I used half that. Effectively $4.50.
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I had to buy screws because somehow in our buckets of hardware we had no 2″ flat head screws. Go figure. $6.
So for $46.50 (plus tax depending on where you live) - voila!!!! If you want to add the burlap banner from funkyshique, add $33 (including shipping). For a revised total of almost $80. Still not too shabby!!
Any questions? What do you think of our Reclaimed Wood Look Headboard?
I LOVE your headboard! I need a headboard so bad. I’m planning to DIY one…and I love how yours turned out!
Thank you Erin!!!
I LOVE that you did it with new wood! I was just having the conversation the other day that I want a reclaimed wood headboard… but we’re not in an awesome area like LA where scrap wood yards are turning over new materials on like a daily basis. I was nervous about the wood becoming rotted from spoiling in the rain… {yuck}
So! Figured I’d just buy new wood, and make it look old… fantttastic!
I love your simple idea of attaching it to the wall, rather than the bed.
Yup! Following your lead and keeping this in my mind while I do mind.
thanks so much!
Pamela @ pbjstories.blogspot.com
Thank you Pamela. It’s unreal how much difference the stain makes! S.
What an awesome idea!!! I love the impressiveness that it adds to your bed. Thanks for sharing the tutorial! Great job!!!!
xoxo laurie
Thank you Laurie. We lurve the space now too! S.
Love the cheat! Reclaimed wood may be the rage…but it’s just not always that easy to find! Thanks for sharing how to get the look!
Not always easy to find or easy on the wallet! Thank you for commenting! S.
Absolutely beautiful! I’m going to have to pass this idea along to a girlfriend who is looking for a headboard idea for her son. Thanks for the inspiration.
You are so welcome! Thank you for taking the time to comment Bethany. S.
I love this! I featured your headboard on my Friday 5! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much!!!
I am in love! My daughter needs a King headboard – thinking this would be an awesome design. Thanks for sharing!
It is such a relaxing headboard!!
Your headboard is amazing. I love the contrast with the pillows on your bed. Good job!
Thank you so much Jon’el!! S.
This is a great idea! You mentioned that the minwax was stinky. Does the finished headboard still smell like the minwax or does the smell go away once it’s dry?
Good question Krista! No, the stain no longer smells. Our unscientific explanation is that once the thinners in the stain dry, the smell goes away. Really it doesn’t smell at all after the stain is comepletely dry.
Hi I just made a headboard similar to your and I love it. I let it dry out side for a couple days and today I let it sit in direct sunlight all day. It feels dry to the touch but still smells a bit. Do u thinks its ok ? I have an 11 month old that sleeps in the room with us. I have the bathroom fan on and tge celing fan. It just stll smells kinda.
Hi Anthony,
That is going to have to be totally up to you and what you’re comfortable with. The smell does eventually totally go away – and I have a very sensitive nose. But with babe in room, be careful. Their lungs are littler than ours!
S.
This is beautiful! And that says it all
Aw, thank you Korrie! S.
Wow! I’m loving this. I want to build my own coffee table and this is exactly what I want the top to look like! And now I know what kind of wood to get too! Thanks so much for sharing
Thank you Ashleigh! The stained spruce does make for a beautiful reclaimed wood look. Would love to see your coffee table when you finish it! S.
Absolutely love what you did I just purchased and old door for a headboard and love the idea!!!
Oh a door would be lovely too! We would love to see what you come up with. S.
Could you just put two 2 x 4′s vertically up the back and affix the boards to that instead of directly to the wall so it is easily removed? Just curious…
Might need to do this with my little boys big boy bed but it is a rental so I don’t to put in on the wall…
Thanks.
You totally could. Just be sure it’s going to be safe and not fall over if the bed gets scooched out from the wall (by playing, jumpin and other such things small children tend to do!).
Maybe secure with an ikea strap that’s made for securing bookshelves to the wall?
Love this project, your style is awesome. You had me at the LOVE banner! That’s what I can my husband. Im a follower now because just the few minutes looking around, we have similar thrifty ideas. Come on over and visit me too!
MJ
Lucky 7 Design
What color stain did you use, it’s very subtle. Hope to hear back.
I see your stain color listed now, thanks.
love your headboard! what a great way to keep consumption of new materials to a minimum when decorating.
Kelly
http://www.refreshdesigns.ca
LOVE this!!! Well done!
Oh my gosh, I can’t tell you have much i LOVE this idea!! I was googling for something similiar and love how yours turned out!! Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to make mine.
Thank you Jennifer!! I’d love to see pics of yours when you’re finished. S.
Fabulous! I love the fact that the lumber is new. This just goes to prove what character new wood can have. Gorgeous photo!
Shared this on FJI Facebook for SNS 87.
Donna
Thank you Donna! I really appreciate that.
S.
What color is the minwax stain you used? LOVE IT!!!!
We used Special Walnut.
Love this!
I’ve featured this post on Craft Gossip here:
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/rustic-headboard/
If you would like a “featured by” button, you can grab one here:
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/
Thank you Amanda!!! I’ll come over in a bit and have a look.
Would it work if I stained the wood first and then nail it? I’m worried about getting it on the wall:)
Absolutely…in fact I would recommend staining it first. Truth be told we were just too lazy and wanted to get it up on the wall pronto!!!
I absolutely love it! How do you think it would look if we did a white, shabby-chic look? Im just wondering if doing a wood colored headboard would go with my white furniture. Maybe I’ll give it a try! THanks for the inspriation!
I bet it would look gorgeous in shabby chic white!!!!! Maybe dry brush it?? Please show us pics when you’re done!
I actually just had a bed made and want to do the reclaimed look. My wood is cypress. Will the stain react differently to cypress? Do you have any suggestions for making new cypress look like old cypress? Thanks so much.
Stain will always react slightly different depending on the wood. I would test the stain on a scrap piece or somewhere not visible on your bed to see how you like it.
So simple yet so elegant and beautiful!
My sister just made a burlap light cover for her bedroom, I will have to show her this idea. Great job!
love this! great work!
This is what we need – an insight to make eoveryne think
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Did you use a finish over the stain? I just stained wood for a headboard like this and am wondering if it needs a finish like polyurethane or something…thanks! Love it!
Nope, nothing over the stain!
I am very ecietxd about your post. I found Annie Sloan Chalk Paint at a local antique mall! It was $38.50 per can. I don’t think that is a bad mark-up at all. It is much better than a large shipping fee. I urge everyone to check their local antique shops…you never know! Hugs, Jan
I’m totally using your idea to put a new top on my old coffee table. I just happen to already have a headboard that I love or I’d do this too!
Have fun with it!!!
I love this headboard so much!! What a great idea! The way you styled it with the burlap love banner and pillows is just right. Great work!
Jennifer@DreamingofJune recently posted..Blissful Bedroom Designs
We adore our headboard too – it’s finally the perfect fit for our style!
Where did you get the great bedside lamps?
They are from Home Depot!
Im working on this right now and im excited to get it up,simple and unique .
Awesome! Have fun!
Love this! I will be making one for my guest room as soon as I can find the time!
I saw an even simpler version where someone just hung there’s on the wall with those 3M Command strips!!! No tools required!
Question- about how big are the burlap triangles? Thanks!!
Um, good question. I think they’re about 7″ from point to center of the top and maybe 5″ wide (at the top).