*I was provided with Rust-Oleum Varathane® Triple Thick One Coat Clear Finish for this project.
Who says you need to buy new furniture to get a new look?
You know you won’t find that claim on this blog – in fact, I re-did my master bedroom using mainly builds, upcycleds and refinished pieces – like this headboard makeover for example.
This is the bedroom furniture we bought with wedding money 14 years ago.
This photo doesn’t really do it justice because the tops of the nightstands were a bit scratched up and there were one or two notches in our headboard – we’re talking literal nicks and scratches – although we do have two kids, so figuratively as well.
I’ve been working with the interior design plan I received from my Modsy master bedroom renderings, and the last step I needed to complete the design was a new headboard and footboard. (reminder: click over to that blog post for the 20% off promo code especially for 100T2D readers!)
I contemplated attempting to build a canopy-style bed, but I’m 45 and menopause is knocking on my door, so removing my ceiling fan, as ugly as it may be – was out of the question.
I decided instead to refinish the headboard, footboard and side rails to mimic the Modsy look.
I should tell you that this was NOT a fun project.
I was thinking “stripping a headboard and footboard should be easy-peasy; long expanses of wood without any elaborate details”.
Not so my friends, not so.
You see, my bed set was covered with a wood veneer… everywhere. What that means is that sanding has to be done with a very fine grit paper so as not to sand through the veneer, but in sanding with a fine grit it takes months hours longer than it would if I could have started with a courser grit.
I did use my favourite paint stripper
Tedious is a better description of my headboard makeover. It wasn’t difficult and the entire project took one week start to finish – but the stripping step seemed oh-so-tedious. (Doesn’t hurt that the garage only reached 7°C (44°F))
After completely stripping and sanding the headboard, footboard and side rails (footboard front and back), I applied a pre-stain wood conditioner and had to let that absorb over night. That’s how I closed out day 1.
Day 2 was about applying the custom stain I had made for my dresser makeover the other week. This stain is more about adding some greys to the wood grain than actually colouring the entire piece. You can see the difference from above to below – where the grey is emphasizing the nooks, crannies and ridges.
Because the stain was oil-based, it meant that I had to finish out day 2 here to let it absorb completely before I applied my water-based wash. There wasn’t a lot of work on day 2, but just having to wait to move on a project bugged me.
Day three I applied the wash for my headboard makeover. This is the same technique I used for my dresser and nightstands – 1 part paint to 2 parts water – wiped off while still wet.
Adding the wash, to all the pieces I refinished, helped to even out the different woods and veneers as well as how each absorbed the stain. The key to this is to apply your wash very wet, and then wipe it off before it comes even remotely close to drying – I wiped off within a minute of applying and then let dry overnight.
UGH! Another day before I can see the rewards for my efforts!!
Day 4 was the “good part” of my headboard makeover – the finish! This is where it all comes together. I used my favourite finish – Varathane® Triple Thick One Coat Clear Finish in satin finish. This stuff is THICK – but that’s what you want for a durable finish without painting and sanding coating after coating after coating. Day 4 I applied the first layer of triple-thick, let dry for most of the day (remember my garage is freezing, so dry times were extended considerably) then sanded everything down with 320 grit sandpaper.
One coat of Varathane® Triple Thick One Coat Clear Finish is the equivalent of 3 coats of varnish, so I could have stopped here for my headboard makeover and it would have been a very durable finish – but I know this makeover will probably last me another 14 years, so I decided to add a second coat.
Tedious, but SOOO worth it! The headboard makeover turned out beautifully!!
Forgive the yellow of the above photo – the mattress was leaning against the window while I put the rest of the bed together, so there was no natural light coming into the room.
You can see here how the wood picked up the greys from the stain, but was evened out with the wash and the (slight) yellowing from the varathane.
I can’t tell you how pleased I am – partly to be finished with the headboard makeover – but mainly because of the results.
Later this week I’ll break down the costs for my master bedroom makeover, but the headboard makeover portion came in at about $40 for the stain and paint (Rust-Oleum Canada provided the Varathane® Triple Thick One Coat Clear Finish ).
It’s been a busy week, but proof that you can makeover your bedroom on a budget and within a pretty tight timeline!
Have a great one!
I was provided with Varathane® Triple Thick One Coat Clear Finish from Rust-Oleum.ca in exchange for showcasing any projects I use it on. Triple Thick has been my favourite indoor furniture finish for a couple of years, so it is a product I would have chosen and endorsed regardless of sponsorship.