DIY: Headboard turned Coat Rack
August 24, 2009
One month ago, I bought a spindly old fashioned twin headboard at the local thrift store with every intention of turning it into a bench. I’d seen the idea traveling around on some blogs, and loved it. The headboard cost me a total of $12 dollars.
After some thought, I decided I had less use for a bench, and greater use for a coat rack in my guest space. I had a bare wall, so why not fashion the headboard into a rack for scarves, sweaters, jackets, robes, or hats for my guests ? You may recall, I’ve done this before, turning a footboard into a message center with some white and chalkboard paint.
So I decided to do it again, but this time with a headboard. I also used a different paint technique to give my coat rack an antiqued look. Now, the twin headboard has been transformed into an architecturally decorative piece, providing both form and function.
Follow along and I’ll show how I turned this:
into this:
First, take a look at the headboard that I brought home from the thrift store. You’ve seen these before. They were popular many decades ago. Not so much anymore.
The wood was in pretty poor shape. It would be fine to refurbish the headboard by simply staining or painting it, but it just came across as too old fashioned for my taste, so I repurposed it for a better cause.
Step One: I cut the bottom legs off with my compound miter saw. I’ve recently learned to operate this bad boy, and Mr. CG is cool with that fact that I have a big time crush on him.
Step Two: I sanded the piece with a coarse sanding pad to remove any debris or trace of remaining varnish. This piece was pretty dried out, so not much was there.
Step Three: I removed the spindles with a saw from the center for a more modern look, and filled the holes with wood filler.
Step Four: I primed my piece with durable primer so my paint job would last.
For my new coat rack, I wanted to “antique” the appearance of this older piece to pay homage to the fact that my wood had been around for several decades. I wanted that vintage French distressed paint treatment with creamy white paint and exposed wood edges underneath. I’ve used this paint trick before to “antique” these candlesticks.
If you desire the same look, but your wood is in poor condition, or is a paler tone wood like maple or natural oak, then what can happen is when you sand away your creamy white paint, you expose that poor wood condition or pale wood tone underneath. In such circumstances, I prefer to cheat. I like to guarantee a rich espresso tone underneath my cream paint. So I fake it. Here’s how.
Step Five: Paint just the edges of your piece where you want the “wood” to show through with espresso brown paint. Allow to dry.
Step Six: Paint your piece with your color of choice. I chose to spray with a favorite: Rustoleum’s ‘Heirloom White’. I allowed the paint to settle for 30 seconds, then I used my fingernail underneath a slightly moistened paper towel to scrape away the white paint and expose the “wood” (brown paint) underneath.
Note: I have used sandpaper in the past to expose wood edges underneath my paint job. Sandpaper works just as well, but this is another alternative. I like this moist wipe away technique because it guarantees the result I want. And if I scrape too much white paint, I just spray over the smear, and start over.
Here’s a glance at my finished paint job:
Step Seven: When my paint was dry, I attached ‘D’ ring hangers to the back of my headboard. I also attached three brown hooks to the front that I found at my favorite salvage warehouse.
I’m really crazy about these deep brown iron hooks against the crisp white paint.
Before and After:
I am loving the “new” architecture of this coat rack.
We’re expecting a lot of guests this autumn during the harvest season, so now they have an extra place for their fall scarves, hats, and mittens.
The total cost for this rescued and revamped coat rack, including paint and supplies ? $25 dollars. Consider making one for your own home for a lot less than retail, and it will be much more original.
Tags: distressed paint, headboard, heirloom white, primer, spray paint, thrift store find, tips & tricks
My goodness, YOU are who I want to be when I grow up! That is simply fabulous. Love the painting technique, thanks for teaching us!
Love the painting tip! Thanks for the new idea!
Donna
Fab!
great project! you have good ideas.
I love it…..that is such an awesome idea. I have done the sanding look with the sand paper and I like it. I really like the headboard / coat rack…so neat. Thanks so much for sharing.
Pam
What a great idea! This was a very interesting and informative stop! I will certainly be back to see what else you do! Have a great day!
Beautiful, as always!
Thaaaaaank you for teaching us how to give the antique look when painting white over a light colored piece. The espresso paint is genius!! I have been asking around how to do that and nobody has even understood my question. :)
~Bree
I am in love! I am envious of your miter saw skills. I am going to have to get some of those skills! Great work, lovely piece, keep inspiring us!
Very cool project! ThanX for sharing tips and piX.
just wonderful!
Gorgeous!! I've been wanting try refinishing an upcoming project with an antique look. Thanks for all the pointers! I don't know how you have the energy for all of these amazing projects…
So pretty. I would have never seen the potential.
Hello Kate – you amaze me with how clever and creative you are! Lovin' your newest transformation. What a great idea. Thank you for sharing!
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
Looking the before picture of the headboard, I would never guess that is the same piece! Fabulous transformation! I love your idea of turning it into a coat rack…and a stylish one at that!
I am totally in love. Great idea KATE. I hope you will link up to my Roadkill Rescue party. It wouldn't be the same without you. ;-)
Love it!!!!
Seriously… amazed!! you make this all sound so delightfully simple and yet I know I could never do this myself in a million years! It turned out so fun!
Guess who's in the link luv roundup again this week??? You amaze me girl!!! Love this one! I think it's my fave!
http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2009/08/link-luv-roundup_26.html
Amazing! You have such vision. Wish I could borrow you at my place for a month or so! :)
Fab.u.lous.
I absolutely love this idea. In fact I loved it so much, I went out to my local thrift store and bought a $3 headboard. I want to put it in my daughter's room. Hopefully I can make mine look as great as yours did!
I love that! I love reusing old headboards and I've never seen it done like this before! Good job (and I love the hooks!) ~Ashley~ shanty2chic
That looks really great. I really like the hooks, too.
Yep, that is amazing! I love the idea of the hooks -you can really see “beyond”!
~Nancy
Just wanted to let you know that I linked to this on my blog. It is amazing, and I am always in awe at all the wonderful things you create. Thanks you for being such an inspiration…I love the new blog too :)
[...] I spotted this mirrored coat rack made from architectural salvage. It reminds me of the coat rack I made with an old headboard. You can see that project right here. [...]
This is so cool -I love all your before and afters!
What a great idea…..and it turned out so cute!
[...] #12 Headboard turned Coat Rack [...]
My roommates and I are making this to hold our jackets! For more lovely diy ideas, go to http://grubbygirls.wordpress.com/!
Hi CG,
I just discovered your blog LAST NIGHT, and I need to tell you I am in love with your projects, ideas, enthusiasm, etc. I have taken a sabbatical of sorts from decorating (kids, work, and school got first dibs on me), but now that I am done with school, I am ready!
You have inspired me to get back to my personal roots and start again. I am going to start with slip-covering a chair, then hopefully make something similar to your coat rack! I have an abandoned headboard I rescued a few years ago, and it was waiting for me to use it.
I am now going to be a regular follower! :)
Keli in Cali
Love this! Really great idea for headboards that seem to pop up all the time. I am wanting to buy my first electric saw. Would you suggest the mitre saw as an all around good first saw? I had thought about a sawsall too or a jig saw…..
Wow, I love it you are so clever! Thanks for teaching us the paint trick.
at home, we use those wooden coat racks and also the newer stainless steel coat racks:::