Learn how to upcycle a frame into a headboard with this step by step tutorial. This DIY headboard is quick and easy to make.

Upcycle Thrift Store Challenge

As I mentioned last month, I am collaborating with a fabulous group of bloggers on DIY project challenges: At Home DIY.

Last month’s challenge was Build to Organize, where I shared how to build closet shelving.

This month’s challenge: Upcycle Thrift Store. So fun, right?! It’s always fun to repurpose something into something else. A few years ago I repurposed a puzzle board into a chalkboard.

I’m currently working on a big project with my husband painting the kitchen cabinets. I sort of ran out of time and did not have a chance to go to a thrift store to buy something for this month’s challenge. OUPS!!

Instead of visiting a thrift store, I visited my garage. hehe Let me explain…

Two years ago (or maybe it was 3 years ago), I found a beautiful wood frame on the side of the road. It was just too pretty to be thrown out, so I grabbed it and brought it home.

Since I did not know what I was going to do with it, I placed it in my garage. It has been sitting in there ever since.

As soon as I walked into my garage and saw the frame, I knew immediately what I was going to do with it. I would upcycle it into a headboard for Gabrielle. Woot woot!

Perfect for the upcycle challenge and perfect way to please Gabrielle. hehe

Want to see what the frame looks like?

Do you think it was a frame for a mirror or for a painting? I’m leaning towards a mirror.

This post also contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

How to upcycle a frame into a headboard

Supplies:

• Big picture frame or mirror frame
• Stretched canvas
• Product to clean, recipe here: How to clean walls
• 220 grit sandpaper
• Shop towels
• Metallic gold spray paint
• Cotton canvas drop cloth
• 4x Mending plates with screws
• Felt furniture pads

Tools:

• Mitre saw
• Screw driver

Instructions:

Step 1: Start off by cleaning the frame with a cleaner and shop towels.

Step 2: Scuff the finish with 220 grit sandpaper and remove the dust with shop towels.

Step 3: Place a cotton canvas drop cloth on the floor of a well ventilated area.

Put small pieces of wood (shims) over the the drop cloth and place the frame on top.

(Outdoor is best, however since it’s winter, I spray painted in my basement with a few windows opened.)

Step 4: Spray paint the frame following the instructions on the spray paint can.

I love spray painting with a comfort grip, makes spray painting easier in my opinion.

P.S. If you do not like using spray paint, you can also use regular paint. I opted for spray paint because I had it on hand and it’s fast.

Step 5: Remove the canvas from the stretched canvas, doing this will reveal a wood frame.

Step 6: Cut the wood frame that was inside the stretched canvas. We used a miter saw to do this.

Step 7: Following the step 3 and 4, spray paint the wood frame pieces.

P.S. If the corners of the frame has big gaps, you can fill them in with wood filler. Makes sure to sand the wood filler and remove any dust before painting.

Step 8: Once the paint is dry, use the mending plates and screws to fasten the wood pieces onto the frame. The frames are now a headboard.

Step 9: Sticks small felt furniture pads behind the headboard. This will prevent it from scratching the wall.

Step 10: Put the headboard in the desired location and push the bed against it.

If the headboard sits too low, place 4x4s on the floor and place the headboard on top.

Please note that the headboard should be fastened to the wall. We skipped this step for now, since we may be moving her bed to another area in her bedroom.

Repurposing a frame into a headboard

Didn’t the headboard turn out awesome?

I find the headboard looks like a royal headboard. I’m not sure if it’s because of the gold or the detail in the big frame.

I’m so happy that I finally upcycled the frame into something, it was just too pretty to be left alone.

And I LOVE that it took no time at all to put together. The longest part was waiting for the paint to dry, and we know that spray paint doesn’t take long to dry. hehe

Adding the additional wood frame on each side really made the headboard pop even more. If I needed the headboard to be bigger (if it was for a double bed), I could have added more frames too!

We also made a nightstand for Gabrielle that took less than 2 hours to build and cost less than $40.

Curious how to build a nightstand? Awesome, because I have a tutorial to show you how.

How to upcycle frames into a headboard

I hope you like the headboard I made and that it has inspired you to create something too.

P.S. We just recently repurposed a sewing table into a desk for her room!

Have a FABULOUS day!

Christine