Antiquing a Wooden Headboard

Painted Headboards

• 1

  Look over the headboard to note areas that would become worn down over time or allow dirt to build up due to use, such as bed knobs, upper edges, posts or decorative crevices.

• 2

  Scuff over the paint on the specific areas of the headboard you have selected with fine-grade sandpaper. Work only along that specific point with intentional motions to wear away the paint layer and reach the wood underneath. Don’t work the sandpaper in a general motion or you’ll lose the effect of gradual wear.

• 3

  Press harder over areas that would receive regular abuse, such as bed knobs, to loosen the paint in a slightly larger area and dig slightly deeper than the other marks to bring out a lighter shade of the wood.

• 4

  Rub a paint scraper, if desired, lightly over areas to chip off paint where heavy wear would take place, such as on the legs of the headboard or at the back of the headboard where it might be pressed against and rubbed on a wall.

• 5

  Dust the loose particles of wood and paint from the surface. Leave the headboard as is, or seal it with a clear coat sealant to protect the freshly exposed wood from damage while sealing in the antiqued look.

Unfinished Headboards

• 6

  Spray over the entire surface of unfinished wood headboards with primer to prepare it for painting. Allow the primer to dry for one to two hours.

• 7

  Paint over the primer with a paintbrush to cover the headboard in a base coat, which will only show through to the surface in a few areas. This color should be in contrast to the top color and ideally be darker. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly for three to four hours.

• 8

  Dab your finger with petroleum jelly and rub your finger lightly or heavily (depending on how much base coat you want to show) over the anticipated wear areas as noted in Step 1 of the Painted Headboards section.

• 9

  Paint over the headboard using your top coat to fully cover the base coat and the petroleum jelly. Allow the paint to dry for four to six hours.

• 10

  Rub the areas where you applied petroleum jelly to the headboard lightly with steel wool to flake away small portions or streaks of the top coat to expose the base coat.