A gate can be transformed into a stylish headboard.
It used to be that a headboard was part of a set of bedroom furniture, but today having a unique headboard is popular. Old doors, shutters, panels, artwork, fabric, tapestries, and even twigs can be used to highlight the head of the bed. One particularly whimsical headboard is made by reclaiming antique wrought iron garden gates. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Visit your local antique store, recycling yard, flea market or garage sale to locate an old metal garden gate. Select a gate that has an interesting pattern and is the right size for a headboard.
2. Brush off peeling paint, rust, dirt and debris if the gate needs to be painted. Some older gates look good in their rustic condition, while others need new paint. Keep in mind that the existing paint may have lead in it, so wear gloves and a mask, and clean the gate over plastic sheeting that you can dispose of easily.
3. Sand down bad patches of rust or tight corners. If you want to paint your gate, you need to give the paint a good, clean surface to adhere to. Wipe off the residue with rags.
4. Prime the gate with a good primer. If the gate had a lot of rust, you should use a rust inhibitor type of spray paint primer. Apply two or three coats, allowing 30 minutes of drying time between coats.
5. Paint your gate the color of your choice. Paint your pipe holding brackets and screws too. Allow the paint to dry three to four hours, until it is hard.
6. Locate studs in the wall behind your bed using a stud finder. If you can mount your gate directly to studs it will be more secure. If not, use wall anchors. Check your gate for level, and mark where the pipe holder brackets will slip over portions of the gate to screw into the wall. Screw the gate to the wall. Your gate should be positioned 3 inches above your mattress and centered over your bed.
Tags: your gate, your gate
