Hi!
Over the quarantine last year, my mom and I decided to past time by making a headboard for my college town house. It was very easy and simple. If you're feeling crafty, then this is the perfect project to try out!
Supplies:
Shiplap planks
Brown wood finish (oil-based)
White latex paint
Polyurethane
Two bowls of water
Mixing utensil
Three old rags you don't mind getting stain/paint on
Gloves
Plastic sheet to prevent stain or paint from getting on the surface you are working on
Plywood (62in x ) Queen size - but you can adjust height based on your preference
3 strips of wood to cover the sides and top of the headboard (the length and width of the strips will depend on the size and thickness of your headboard) there are a ton of options at any Lowes or Home Depot
Caulk gun w/ liquid nails
Steps:
Lay out shiplap on plastic sheet
Mix a 3/4 cup of water with about a 1/4 cup of white paint (3:1 ratio). If you prefer a lighter and more opaque white, then add less paint and more water. If you prefer a starker white, then add more paint and less water.
A couple tips for using the brown stain... take the tip of your rag and dip it into the stain then into your bowl with water. The water thins out the stain making the color appear more natural and not as harsh.
Below is a picture illustrating the different color options you can create!
5. Now, you're ready to starting staining! The color variation is totally up to you. For every one plank I stained with the polyurethane, brown stain, or left original... I painted two white.
6. Using long strokes will create light coverage and a rustic look. If you are looking for
more coverage, then I suggest going over the wood for a second coat and blotting the cracks of the wood. The video below shows the technique I used!
6. After you have finished staining, leave your wood planks to dry overnight.
7. Set your piece of plywood out and begin to set individual shiplap planks in your desired location. This may take a while. You will just have to play around with the planks to figure out which design looks best.
8. Once you finishing laying out your planks, cut the edges to make sure each plank fits the length of the plywood.
9. You can now begin gluing your planks down. Start at the top and move from left to right.
10. Lay something heavy on top of your planks so they dry level to the plywood.
11. Allow your planks to dry overnight.
12. After the planks have dried, add one thin strip of wood to the top of the headboard and one to both sides for a cleaner look (3 strips total). You can coat the strips with one or two layers of polyurethane to give it better protection and a nice finish. Finally, glue the strips to all sides and then wait for them to dry and then you're all done!
13. The final product!!
If you try this DIY be sure to tag us in your pics!
ox, Madelyn
Comments