Faux Painted Headboard

     So I've been wanting a headboard for McKinley's room for a long time. She just has the metal frame with the box spring and mattress, nothing fancy or girly. We don't have the budget right now to purchase anything and I keep thinking that I will find the perfect headboard at a garage sale but I haven't for 4 years now! I don't want to wait until the right thing comes along because she could be 16 by the time I do. {She's 6 now} This past week my cousin sent me a link from Land of Nod for a headboard decal. It was really cheap {$15.00} but when I saw it I knew I could paint a headboard for even cheaper! {Thanks for the idea Sue!}

Here's how her room looked before:

     This was an easy project and I love how it turned out! {It took about an hour start to finish!}  If you want to make one here's what you will need:

• A large sheet of paper {I used the backside of one of my kids old projects~am I a bad mom? I like to think of it as recycling!}
• Pencil
• Tape
• Acrylic paint and brush
• Plates in two different sizes
• Tape measure

     I started by researching headboards. I sketched out about 8 different types then let my daughter pick which one she liked best. {She chose the one above}.

    Measure the width of your bed and the height that you want your headboard. My is 24" high {from the top of the mattress} and 41" wide. I used my dinner plates to make my center curve and a smaller plate to do the slight curves on either side of the large one. A cup was helpful in making the finial on the top of the post.

     I really only needed to sketch one side then I folded it in the center and cut both sides out together.

   
     Once it was cut out I taped it on the wall. I eye balled it to make sure it was level. If your eyeballs aren't so level {;)} you may want to use an actual level. Next, trace around it and you are ready for paint.

     I made the leg of the headboard on the left go to the floor, I wasn't sure about this initially but I'm glad I did it, it looks more finished if you look closely.

     I love the final product! I can't wait for McKinley to get home from school and see how she likes it! Now that its done I'm thinking it could use a monogram on the headboard or something up above. Always a work in progress!!!!!






I'm sharing this here:

DIY by Design
At the Picket Fence
Tatertots and Jello
Too Much Time
Between naps on the porch