Hello! It's Elizabeth from Delightfully Tacky! Back when I was in college my painting professor let me know about the Habitat for Humanity surplus store, which sells almost any used construction items- from front doors, to windows, to flooring- but it's perfect for an art student looking for something cheap to use as a canvas. I took a liking to painting on old cabinet doors, and one day I had picked up so many of them that were cool, but mismatched and didn't really work for the piece I was working on. Not wanting to part with them, I came up with the idea to make them into a cool headboard for my bed!
It was really easy, all you need are:
*3-7 old cabinet doors (depending on the width of your bed) from a building supply/surplus store
*1x2's (I think I bought two 8 ft lengths- but if you have a skinnier or wider bed, you'll need to measure how much you'll need)
*wood screws
*hand saw, screw driver, drill
1. Measure the width of your bed and bring a tape measure to the store. Cabinet doors are all kinds of odd heights and widths, so you'll have to mix and match to find a good combination that fits your bed. I made mine to be a few inches wider than my bed. I had a double bed and got 5 doors, but if you have a twin, queen or king sized bed, you'll probably end up getting a different amount.
2. Arrange your doors so that they look the way you want. I mostly matched the bottom edge of mine, but one of my doors was too tall so I just scooted it down and it didn't matter really since you can't see it below the mattress.
3. Measure how high off the ground the top of your bed is. You'll want the bottom of the doors to be a little bit below the top of your mattress.
4. Cut your 1x2's so that they are the height of your bed and at least 3/4 the height of the cabinet (for stability). Cut two more lengths of 1x2 to attach all of the boards together horizontally.
5. I don't think I pre-drilled holes for my screws, but it would probably help to avoid splitting your 1x2's- so if you are a more patient human being than I, it may be wise to drill holes for the screws to go in.
6. I put two screws in each board and three down the side, but however you feel will be most secure is fine!
Voila! just scoot your bed away from the wall, slip this bad boy in there and you've got a new headboard! I made mine in one afternoon, so it's a quick and easy way to have a fun, unique headboard!
I thought about doing a painting on mine as well, so you can even further customize your headboard if you like!
So adorable! I may have to do this!
Have you heard of Blue Valentine? Just a movie I thought you may enjoy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHjvh9EiiGw
My blog is linked! <3 Love your blog, continue no being an inspiration and good luck with your store!!!
-B.
Posted by: Brittany | October 22, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this! I've been trying to figure out what to do for a headboard...I think this is my favorite! :) And I never knew about the Habitat for Humanity resale store...just looked it up and there's one nearby my house! Definitely going there this weekend!
Posted by: Carrie Rosalind | October 22, 2010 at 12:26 PM
loooove this!
Posted by: sara | October 22, 2010 at 12:34 PM
aweome! great idea.
Posted by: Puri ideku handmade | October 22, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Wow! This is a really interesting idea! :)
Posted by: Maria | October 22, 2010 at 01:05 PM
COOL! i'd be into it if i didn't have a day bed :))
xo.
http://dropsofjupiterBLOG.com
Posted by: tiffany. | October 22, 2010 at 01:26 PM
That head board is FANTASTICHE!
Posted by: Monique | October 22, 2010 at 01:39 PM
OMG This is so beautiful! I love it! I never even knew such a store existed, i love painting on random objects, so a store with items like that would be perfect for me. Thank YOU for this post! <3
Posted by: Jess | October 22, 2010 at 02:20 PM
that is so awesome and what an amazing idea, so something i feel i would see in urban outfitters for a ton.
Posted by: Brandy Von Doeren | October 22, 2010 at 02:37 PM
Elsie, I know you said that you like seeing other people's creative spaces, so maybe this will be of interest:
http://www.frankie.com.au/home/1307-spaces
Posted by: Delia W | October 22, 2010 at 03:03 PM
this made me think of this couples DIY headboard:
http://keytomytart.blogspot.com/2010/08/from-rags-to-riches.html
Posted by: Katherine | October 22, 2010 at 03:11 PM
I love love this idea of a headboard. I think i may just do this for my room!
Posted by: kate | October 22, 2010 at 03:19 PM
Very cool!
Posted by: Erika M | October 22, 2010 at 05:21 PM
Such a creative, fun idea! If only i had the time to do more things like this.
Posted by: camille | October 22, 2010 at 05:21 PM
I LOVE this idea... I can't wait to refer back to it when I get my own bed again!
Posted by: Jenn Lance | October 22, 2010 at 10:06 PM
Very clever, what a great idea.
Posted by: gilding lilies | October 23, 2010 at 02:42 PM
what a creative idea, some people are so talanted!
Posted by: Amanda Thorson | October 23, 2010 at 05:15 PM
oh muh God I luv luv luv it.
Posted by: Nena Nadine | October 23, 2010 at 07:37 PM
Tremendously creative idea--such a clever re-use! Totally gonna give this a shot. Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: Karl | October 24, 2010 at 01:04 AM
Oh I love it!! :) What a great idea! I cannot wait to try this once I have the actual bed! hehehe *bookmarking*!!
Posted by: Adrienne | October 25, 2010 at 06:44 AM