Aged Painted Headboard Tutorial

I am trying to catch up on a bunch of emails and questions.  I get asked all the time about my headboard and where I got it since seeing it in several recent posts.  I have been trying to answer each one individually, but when I tell them it was a thrifted find and I painted it, then the next question is how did I paint it.  I have shared this tutorial several times in the past, but since I have had so many ask about it since seeing it in our current house, I think it is time to share it again.  Aged Painted Headboard Tutorial.

My Holiday Christmas post showing the bed is what you have all been asking about again.  The light in this picture just shows a subtle hint of the painted headboard.

It really is subtle, but I like to show it lightened up to show more of the detail.

I think this proves you can take an ugly duckling and turn it into a swan.

Aged Painted Headboard Tutorial.

This was the before.

 I found it at Hotel Liquidators.  I liked the upholstery, black, and gold in a classic pattern.  It is a gorgeous high-quality fabric textured vinyl.

 The wood however was really orange and super ugly.

The price convinced me that I could paint it and make it fantastic.

 So here is my tutorial from 2012.  Since it was 103 outside, I painted it in the house.

A light sanding to scuff it up, then a coat of flat black paint.

 After that dried, I started distressing a little –

   baby steps, just a little at a time.

                                               A little more distressing.

 Next I wiped on a coat of Minwax Walnut Stain.  It gave it a little shine and character to the black.

              It really needed more distressing, so this time I just went for it.

I wanted some more character to the color, so I took a red marker and put a few streaks in here and there. (Yes, just a red marker from my desk)

 After that, another coat of walnut stain to tone down the red and to give the raw distressed wood a walnut color.  The stain also gave it a soft sheen so I didn’t add any other top dressing.

As you move around the room and the light hits it in different ways you can see the red as a great subtle undertone.

 It looks like it was painted several different colors over time and well worn.