Turn modern metal beds into vintage heirlooms with faux painting techniques.
Decorating a bedroom in shabby chic is affordable, since the style allows homeowners to use vintage fabrics, furniture and accessories in new and eclectic ways. Homeowners can also use existing, inexpensive modern pieces and make them appear aged and worn to create a shabby chic look. Contemporary iron-framed beds make the perfect centerpiece for a shabby chic bedroom, but sleek dark metals just don't match the look. Instead, use a simple crackling technique with paint to create a chipped, antique-like metal bed frame. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Use a screwdriver to remove the metal bed's headboard, footboard and side pieces. Place any loose screws in a small plastic container. Wipe dust and debris away using an old, wet cloth. Move the parts to a well-ventilated area, such as a garage, driveway or porch, to paint.
2. Spread a drop cloth or old newspapers on the ground. Dip a 2-inch nylon paintbrush into crackle glaze and apply it to all of the metal bed parts using long, even strokes. To ensure all areas are covered, paint metal detailing and embellishments and smooth ridges and bumps with the paintbrush. When finished, allow the glaze to dry for approximately 2 hours.
3. Apply a single coat of white acrylic paint to the headboard, footboard and side pieces. Use even strokes in the same direction to ensure smooth coverage. Let bed parts air dry for 24 hours. During this time period, allow the paint to dry into multiple tiny cracks, exposing the original metal underneath.
4. Spray clear sealant over the headboard, footboard and side pieces. Allow them to dry for approximately 4 hours before reassembling the metal bed.
5. Make the reassembled bed with shabby chic style linens that contain small, floral patterns and country gingham on a white background. Cover the bed with a country quilt predominately in blues, greens, reds and yellows. Stack pillows in lace-trimmed cases at the head of the bed and arrange smaller decorative pillows on top of the larger pillows.
Tags: footboard side, footboard side pieces, headboard footboard, headboard footboard side, shabby chic