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    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle.

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Upcycled! A Rustic Fence Headboard

April 25, 2016

This post was originally published on DIY Network’s blog Made + Remade in October 2015.

I love the creative opportunities that come with creating a new bedroom space, and the headboard is an especially prominent way showcase your style. If your bed is raised on a simple metal frame without a headboard, take advantage of the free space above your pillows and make something wonderful happen.

Looking for a headboard on a budget? Here’s one that I embraced earlier this year, when I just couldn’t take the plain white wall any longer:

Upcycle a fence panel into a king-size headboard for the bedroom.

A piece of 6′ x 8′ fencing just happens to be a great scale for a king-size bed, even extending to embrace a bedside table. Fence panels can be found salvaged, scrap or fairly inexpensively at stores depending on the style – just be sure to choose boards that aren’t pressure treated, to avoid those chemicals leeching into your pillowcases. Use a natural stain and adorn the new headboard with lovely string lights or art, and snuggle up.

Upcycle a fence panel into a king-size headboard for the bedroom.

Step 1

My favorite homemade stain is made from #0000 super fine-grade steel wool dissolved into 4 cups of apple cider vinegar.

DIY stain using apple cider vinegar and steel wool.

The oxidizing process can take upwards of a few weeks, but the payoff is great.

DIY stain using apple cider vinegar and steel wool.

Step 2

The once-transparent vinegar will become deep brown when the oxidation is complete. Science!

DIY stain using apple cider vinegar and steel wool.

Step 3

Use a sponge to apply the stain to the boards. The sponge works a lot like a foam brush, absorbing solution and releasing it in a way that gets into all of those nooks and crannies of the fence panel.

Apply a natural stain to a headboard (no fumes once you bring it indoors!)

Step 4

Don’t be fooled by how light the stain appears to go on – the magic of this stain is that it will continue to darken the color of the wood as it dries, and in my experience for several weeks after application. Other instances in which I’ve used this stain have left me with a wood surface stained deep-mocha brown. The type of wood you select has a lot to do with the end color result, and after a few months this panel aged to a pretty chocolate-brown. 

Apply a natural stain to a headboard (no fumes once you bring it indoors!)

Step 5

Decorate your headboard with custom touches. Nail picture hangers into the wood and layer on pieces of your favorite art or drape pretty string lights on for a canopy-like effect. 

Upcycle a fence panel into a king-size headboard for the bedroom.

Step 6

The end result is a warm headboard that improves the look of any blank slate. A must-try for rustic wood-lovers on a budget!

Upcycle a fence panel into a king-size headboard for the bedroom.

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Bedrooms  / Decor  / DIY  / HGTV + DIY Network Projects

Emily
I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. You can find me writing for HGTV and DIY Network, follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

Comment


Jennifer C Hughes
July 5, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Reply

Hi! I absolutely love this! I am a single mom and definitely on a budget but want a headboard. Love this and I can get a 6×8 panel at my local Home Depot for $39.97. I already have the string lights. And I’m so glad your’s has the one night stand on side of bed instead of both. This is going to be my project this week! I can’t wait! I can only hope it turns out as nice as your’s.



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    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

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