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Painted and Decoupaged Headboard

It seems like this week has a recurring theme–decoupage! On Tuesday, I shared with you a chest of drawers that I recently painted and decoupaged for a pre-teen girl named Caroline. Now I’ll show you the crazy, colorful, out-of-the-box headboard that I made for her room. Ready?

Caroline specifically wanted the word “peace” on her headboard, but this design could be easily adapted for any young girl’s room.  Literally any color(s) of paint and paper could be used, the middle painted design could be monogrammed initials rather than the word “peace”.  Just imagine more subtle colors used with a monogram like this painted in the middle…

Or for a more modern look, you could use a monogram like this…

The possibilities and combinations are endless!  So let me show you how I made this.

For a twin bed, I started out with a 1/2-inch piece of MDF cut to 40″ x 40″, and I primed the top.

When the primer was dry, I sanded lightly with 150-grit sandpaper, and wiped away the dust.

Following the directions on the bottle, I added latex paint conditioner to the base coat color, and mixed well.

Then I brushed on two coats of the base color.

Next I printed out my design using my computer and printer.  It printed on several sheets because of the size, so I had to tape those together.  (Actually, my mom did this part for me.  Thanks, Mom!!!)

On the back of the pieced-together design, I ran chalk over the lines that needed to be traced onto the headboard.  (I used the chalk flat against the paper, like shown.)  I went over all of the areas at least twice with the chalk just to be really sure it was coated well.

I then taped the design onto the headboard, chalk side down, and used a pencil to trace over all of the lines.  The chalk transferred the design to the headboard.

Then I proceeded to paint each letter.  Because these letters had lots of straight sides, I used painters tape to get a really straight edge.  I used sample pots of paint since I didn’t need much of each color, and I also added the latex paint conditioner to these little pots before using them.

When the middle design was dry, I marked off a five-inch border on the two sides and the top of the headboard.  This indicates where the paper would be decoupaged.  For the corners, I cut 5″ X 5″ pieces of paper.  For the rest, I cut the paper 5 inches wide, but cut them at random lengths.

Using Mod Podge, I adhered the paper border to the headboard.

I applied this border only to the two sides and the top.

After the paper was adhered to the headboard, I went back over the paper with two coats of Mod Podge.

After everything was dry, I turned the headboard over (protecting the front with a sheet or towel), and cut strips of 1″ x 2″ MDF boards, mitered at the corners, to go all the way around the headboard.  I attached the boards with wood glue and my brad nailer.

When the 1″ x 2″ boards were attached on all four sides and the glue had dried, I flipped the headboard right side up again.  You can see that the 1″ x 2″ board give the headboard a much more substantial look.

Then on the front of the headboard, I attached another 1″ x 2″ MDF board on each edge to create a “frame”, with the corners mitered.

I did this on all four sides.

The last trim to be added was the small strip of lattice, which was added on three sides to cover the inside edges of the decoupaged paper.  I attached this with wood glue, and finished nails only on the very ends of the lattice strips.

When all of the wood glue was dry, I taped off the wood trim, and brushed on two coats of latex paint.

And when the paint was dry, it was ready to hang!

And now you can see the chest of drawers with the headboard…

So keep in mind, even if your child doesn’t like “peace” word art or bright and crazy colors, this design can be so easily adapted to fit just about any taste and style.

Need some decoupage pointers?  I finally learned to how decoupage paper without wrinkles and bubbles!  Click here to view my pointers.

Want to see the before and after of Carline’s chest of drawers?  Click here!

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10 Comments

  1. FAR OUT! (John Denver fan)
    Seriously, the dresser is fabulous but with the headboard and that amazing bedding, this room ROCKS!
    Thank you for the ideas; especially the chalk transfer 😀
    and Thank you to Amy from Mod Podge Rocks for sending me to your blog.

  2. The headboard and dresser are gorgeous! I love the colors you used – just beautiful. I think the trim you put on the headboard makes it look so professional and "finished". Thanks for such a detailed description on how to make the headboard.

  3. Kristi, first I want to say: Applause, Applause, Applause!……Kristi, I just happened upon your site by way of DIY Facebook, and looked over all your condo rehab projects, and detailed instructions…which helped motivate me to start to tackle a project on my list…(yup, I pulled out 3 pairs of shoes to sell on Ebay to start a new budget)….However, when I came across this headboard and dresser today, with my 9yr old daughter looking over my shoulder…..we shouted……WOWWW!…and she immediately said…”I WANT THAT!” Well, we have been looking for the “right kind” of furniture for her room…and this is it. l did paint her room…”last year” …so this will be the project to work on….”this year.” I want to share that this is the first time I have ever made a comment online that has me motivated to tackle a project to look so professional. And when I finish it I will tell my family and friends that my Interior Designer, Kristi, did it!