Years ago while yard-saling, I came across a really cool old door in a perfectly distressed blue/green. It called my name, and I answered. Of course, after I got it home, I stared at my beloved purchase wondering what the heck I was going to do with it. I decided it would make the perfect headboard. And it did.
Since I wanted to preserve its original well-worn, vintage look, I didn’t do anything to it except had it mounted onto a couple of 2×4 pieces of wood that were then bolted onto the bed frame. Voila – I had a headboard like no other.
If you like this idea, but prefer a look that’s a little more glamorous, you can look for doors that have a little more architectural interest to them, and painting is always an option. My sister, Rita, found this old door with a side panel that adds a striking decorative element, and also keeps it from looking so blatantly like a door.
With a door this size, it’s a good idea to mount it to the wall to secure it.
My pal Teresa went in the opposite direction by playing up the door-ness of her headboard by keeping the doorknob on and painting it a contrasting color so it stands out. Painting the door a bold color makes it stand out as the focal point of the room.
If you’re not sure where to begin looking for cool old doors, you can start by Googling “architectural salvage” to find out what’s available in your area. Just have a napkin handy since you may drool a little due to all of the pretties you’ll find. You can also head out to flea markets, yard sales, and demolition sales. The biggest problem will be narrowing it down to one.
