by Janice Suchoski

Created on: August 14, 2009   Last Updated: August 17, 2009

Decorating an existing headboard can actually save you money over buying or building a new one. The framework and attachment hardware are already there; available to be modified by something as simple as new paint, to the more involved option of adding new materials for a whole new look.

If you love the style of your headboard but hate the finish, paint opens up a whole new realm of possibility. Paint color expresses mood, style, and age. Paint comes in as wide a variety as one can imagine and is a durable, livable surface for furniture. Indoor latex enamel in a semi - gloss finish is a good choice for a headboard. It's attractive, goes with every style and cleans easily time and time again. Before painting furniture, sand lightly and remove all sanding dust with a tack - cloth. Try a few samples to find what you like. Best painting results are with a lightly loaded brush and more than a single coat. Allow paint to dry completely between coats to avoid lumpiness. Follow directions on the can for temperature and windiness as both affect how smooth the final finish will look.

Adding brass or nickel nail heads to a painted or stained headboard heightens drama. Follow the lines of the headboard in a tightly - spaced row for an elegant look or add patterns such as flowers or leaves for an avant garde or contemporary feel. For a headboard in a child's room; glued on rhinestones, Lego - type bricks in special patterns, or other items suggesting hobbies and interests can be interesting. The key to this decoration is restraint. Its a headboard, not a Vegas marquee. Marking out patterns lightly with a pencil allows change to be made before the final ingredients are secured in place.

If a whole new style of headboard is wanted, first determine what mood or style you want in the bedroom. Shapes and materials on something as prominent as a headboard will dictate the feel of a whole room. If your present headboard is traditional and you like contemporary style, measure and cut plywood into a new shape and tack it to the original headboard frame with finish nails. Holes can be filled and the new shape painted, stained, or padded with foam and covered with fabric.

For rustic style, small tree branches may be tacked across the framework of an existing headboard to introduce a woodsy feel to a room. First, paint the headboard black so it recedes behind whatever is tacked across the front, then add the front pieces with a finish nailer. Materials to be tacked or glued on are limited only by imagination and the look you want. Choose adhesives wisely. If you change your mind regularly on decorating, or do not like something you added, its better to use finish nails or small screws which can be easily removed. Glue or construction adhesive is harder and more damaging to remove.

Look through magazines, decorating books and your own imagination for ideas for headboard decorating. Materials for a whole new look may be lurking in your attic, drawers or even your yard.

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