I’ve been wanting to make an old door headboard for one of our guest rooms for quite awhile. I had my heart set on giving an old door a distressed finish. That was the plan. Since the other guest room is entirely furnished with the distressed look, we went with basic black to highlight the Parisian Taupe walls.
We love the black headboard! And it was fast and easy to make.
First, find a door. Just about any door will do. We happened to find this one curbside around the corner from us.
We bought a quart of black paint with an eggshell finish. I used an inexpensive sponge brush for the first coat then switched to an old bristle brush for the second and touch up coats.
I had my heart set on an old antique or reproduction crystal door knob. That idea wasn’t feasible. There simply wasn’t any way to connect a regular knob to the door while still keeping the back side of the door flat. NY spotted this barn/gate handle and I immediately knew it was the answer.
The door had been sitting out in the weather so it was in need of a good scrubbing.
I gave the door its first coat of paint. I set it in the sun thinking it would dry quickly, which it did. It also became quite hot so we moved it into the garage.
This is when I switched to the bristle brush and added the second coat.
With just a bit of touch up the painting was done.
We added the door hardware.
Both the handle and the T-plate were easy to attach.
We didn’t actually hang the door ourselves. Our trusty handyman was doing some work in the attic so he hung the door for us. He used four washers and four lag bolts, one in each corner of the door.
Voila!
The only thing missing is a set of antique skeleton keys to hang on the door handle. They’ll turn up. I’m sure of it.
He said: Recycled and reused, this former door makes for a great headboard. And Cathi’s ‘to do’ wish list has one more item accomplished.
She said: I love it! It’s the perfect look for our guest room. Until we come across a vintage set of skeleton keys, this oversized patina key will do just fine.
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
That is such a clever use of an old door. It looks great.
Cathi says
Thanks Heather!
Cathi
Tara says
What a fun project. I am loving that headboard. The color really suits the room.
Cathi says
Thanks Tara! The color does set off the guest room. And our grandkids love the big King bed. Ha!
Cathi
Felissa says
What a creative head board! I never would have thought to use a door!
Cathi says
Thanks Felissa!
Cathi
kristin says
Oh this is so creative! I never would have thought, this is so fun.
Cathi says
Thanks so much!
Jeanette says
That looks absolutely cool! I would have never thought of doing that!! I know my hubby would love this! I will show it to him!
Cathi says
Thanks Jeanette! We’re very happy with the results.
Cathi
Lisa Favre says
What a brilliant idea! Looks so elegant – would have never of thought doing that!
Cathi says
Thanks Lisa! We love it!
Cathi
Kathy says
That is an awesome idea. I really love it! I have to try this out sometime. I don’t have any old doors, but I’m sure I can get one.
Cathi says
Thanks Kathy! We found our old door curbside in our neighborhood. It even matches the doors in our house. But I think an old beat-up vintage door would be awesome!
Cathi
Dawn McAlexander says
I have an old door or two downstairs in our house. I also have a bed that doesn’t have a headboard. I think it might be time to employ some of your ideas.
Cathi says
Oh Dawn. It’s a simple project that I think you’d enjoy!
Cathi
Claudia Krusch says
That is a great idea. I really love it! We need a new headboard for my son, maybe I will work on one!
Cathi says
Thanks Claudia! Depending on your son’s age, he could even help paint the headboard.
Cathi
Janeane Davis says
I like the way you re-did the door to make it a headboard. I like that you let it stay looking like a door instead of trying to hide what it was.
Cathi says
Thanks Janeane! We like the old door look.
Cathi
Aimee Smith says
This is so cool! Turned out great!
Cathi says
Thanks so much Aimee! We’re very happy with the finished product.
Cathi
Maria says
Wow! What a cool DIY! Lately, I’ve been searching for atypical ideas for my own headboard, which is currently nonexistent. This has definitely inspired me.
Cathi says
Thanks Maria! I had the old door headboard in my head for quite some time. It was fun to make it happen.
Cathi
Sarah says
Awe this is beautiful!! What a creative idea!! I love the key too!
Cathi says
Thanks so much Sarah! The key really gives it personality.
Cathi
Brent Arceneaux says
Great way to recycle an old or unused door. It’s a stylish addition to any bedroom, too!
Cathi says
Thanks Brent! I think it’s both masculine and feminine too.
Cathi
gingermommyrants says
This is a fantastic way to recycle a door. I love the look for a headboard.
Cathi says
Thanks so much! We’re thrilled with the results.
Cathi
Stacie V says
I love this idea! I need a headboard for my spare room. I will have to give this a try.
Cathi says
Thanks Stacie! The toughest part is finding an old door. Easy peasy after that.
Cathi
Ann Bacciaglia says
This turned out amazing. I would have never have thought of using a door for a headboard.
Cathi says
Thanks Ann. We’re very happy with it!
Cathi
Lisa Bristol says
I have the perfect door for this project. I think it is an amazing idea.
Cathi says
Oh Lisa! I’d love to see your finished project!
Cathi
Liz Mays says
You did such a great job with that! I hope you find some skeleton keys, but I love the one you have already.
Cathi says
Thanks Liz! I’m thinking the big patina key may have found a permanent home!
Cathi
Amy Desrosiers says
I told my husband I wanted him to make me one of these and he laughed! See, I should show him this and tell him this is a “thing”…he thought I was nuts.
Cathi says
Your only nuts if I am Amy!! But my daughter-in-law thinks I’m a total nutcase. Ha!
Cathi
anna says
Love this idea, so creative
Laurajj says
Oh this is such a neat idea! We have an old door out in the garage, I might have to do this with it in the spring! It really looks nice as a headboard!
Angela P says
I love this! My hubby and I still do not have a headboard after 10 years of marriage….I should really give this a try.
ellen beck says
Cute idea! I am married to a carpenter, so old doors are easy to come by. I thing thee wayy ou did thee handle is better really than a knob as if you did have a knob you would have to cut it so it would lay flat. They key idea is really cute. Oh, and a ‘distressed’ door, you would have had to seal really good so the paint didnt continue flaking. I like the new door better!
Muller Designs says
Great job Cathi, It looks so beautiful. I also have an empty place in my bedroom. Now I’m also planning to make a door headboard. Well, frankly I can’t make this. So, bookmarked this article and show it to my carpenter and get it made accordingly.
Thank you for sharing your work with us.
Emily says
Hey Cathi, very nice work. Did you mention the overall width of this headboard? Queen size?
Cathi says
Hi Emily,
This is a CA king bed. We did not alter the size of the door at all. Depending on the wall space I think it would work for a standard king or queen bed also.
Thanks,
Cathi
AndrewPehrson says
Hi,
wow! nice idea to share with us that how you reuse the door with this much cleverness.
Keep posting more ideas, we would love to know.
Thanks