$29.50 Headboard - Staining The Wood Frame

A Stroll Thru Life
I always try to keep an open mind and look at a piece for what it can become instead of what it is.  While out shopping for a chest or console to use on the patio, I saw this fabulous headboard.  Now I wasn't looking for a headboard at the time, but when you find something you like at Hotel Liquidators, you better buy it.  Some things are limited and it might not be there when you come back.  I love to browse through all their stuff since it is usually really heavy duty and the prices are amazing.  You just need to have a creative eye since most everything is really outdated unless you are lucky enough to find a piece of furniture that works for you.  (Tip - if you need chairs of any kind they usually have hundreds to choose from.  They will most likely need to be re-upholstered, but the prices are so low you can afford to do that to get exactly what you want at a reasonable price.)


When I saw this headboard I knew it could be turned into the gem that I need for the Guest Bedroom.  This room was full of nothing but left-overs and weird stuff that didn't have a home anywhere else.  It really needed to get it's own identity and style.  I think a Guest Bedroom can be funky or really elegant.  I am going for something more on the elegant/grown-up/pulled together look.


For years I use to be scared to death to try and tackle any kind of upholstery project.  Now I still have my limits as to what I will tackle, but most things are really simple.  Just take a look at how it was put together as you take it apart and then put it back the same way.  This headboard had this particle board back on it that held everything in place and also held the cleat that you used to hang it on the wall.  Just held in by screws. So first step is to take all the screws out and see what's behind it.
 Once the backing was off you could see that the upholstered insert of the headboard was also held in place by little pieces of board that were stapled in.  Remove those.
 Once those were removed, the padded part slipped right out.
 The cording edge was applied directly to the frame with about a gazillion staples.
 Remove the cording, this was fairly easy and most of them came out by just pulling on the cord.
 Finally I have an empty frame to work on.



I set up a work station on the patio and got out my fun little bullet sander.
 The old finish was a white wash paint finish, so it was really easy to sand off.
 Once everything was sanded, I wiped it down good to remove all the sawdust.
  Then got ready with my General Finishes Antique Walnut Gel Stain.
  I also got out the rubber gloves and cut up an old tshirt to wipe the stain off with.
 When you first paint it on you think you have totally ruined it.  Don't let it sit very long - paint it on and wipe it off right away.  If you let it sit too long and it is hard to wipe off, just add more stain and then immediately wipe off.
 The first coat always looks a little blotchy, but never fear.  A couple of coats and this will be stunning.
 The second coat looks so much better.  I think this might be enough, I will have to wait and see if I think we need a third coat.  I want it dark, but not too dark, so when this gets the poly on it I think it will be just the pretty walnut color I was looking for.  It has to dry for 24 hours and then we will see.

When this was dry, I used fine steel wool to smooth is out, then I applied a coat of Minwax Mahogany stain using a soft cloth and then rubbing all the excess off as soon as I applied it.
This is the Gel stain that I used for the first two coats - - -
 this is the minwax mahogany stain that I used on this last coat.
This gives the wood a rich tone that looks more expensive and aged.  This also has a sealer in it so the piece has a soft sheen without having to use another top coat.  Now to do the padded insert.  I still need to find fabric.  Got to go shopping.

This doesn't look like a $29.50 headboard anymore.

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