Give a Dated Wood Headboard Fresh Farmhouse Charm
Give new furniture vintage-style charm and patina. Learn our designer trick for creating a distressed, painted finish in a flash.
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-antiqued-headboard-after-tight-2.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517858437.jpeg)
Sarah Busby
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/editorial/profiles/editors/Camille-Smith/Headshot-1.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.91.91.85.suffix/1420662324005.jpeg)
Materials Needed
- wooden headboard
- white candle
- medium-grit sandpaper or sanding block
- drop cloth or plastic to protect work surface
- paintbrush
- flat or eggshell interior paint in the color of your choice
- cotton cloth
- clear furniture wax
- paper towels or tackcloth
Before: Dark and Dated
This solid wood headboard, picked up at an estate sale, has vintage-style charm with reeded posts and thick, scrolling details but the dark cherry finish, marred by a deep gouge, has seen better days.
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-antiqued-headboard-before.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517873710.jpeg)
Sarah Busby
After: Old Is New Again
Freshened up with a coat of flat white paint that shows just the right amount of wear-and-tear, this new headboard looks like a well-loved family heirloom.
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/9/1/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-after-beauty-horiz-2.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583783604015.jpeg)
Brittney Gazaway
Scuff Up Stained Finish
Using medium-grit sandpaper or a sanding block, rough up the headboard's existing stained and sealed finish to allow the paint to better adhere to the wood (Image 1). Using a damp paper towel or tackcloth, remove sanding dust (Image 2).
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-antiqued-headboard-sanding-original-finish.JPG.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517857618.jpeg)
Sarah Busby
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-removing-sanding-dust.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517856273.jpeg)
Sarah Busby
Add Wax Resist
Rub a white candle over the areas of the headboard where you don't want paint to fully stick — for instance, along the raised details, bed posts and other areas that would typically see wear with age. Tip: The wax will form a barrier preventing the paint from bonding to the wood, making it very easy to create a distressed finish by remove these areas of dried paint in a future step.
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-adding-wax-resist.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517875212.jpeg)
Sarah Busby
Paint Headboard
Cover all areas of the headboard in two solid coats, allowing the paint to dry between coats. Tip: One inexpensive sample-size pot of flat interior paint was just the right amount for our headboard.
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-painting.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517859946.jpeg)
Sarah Busby
Distress Paint
When both coats of paint have fully dried, gently go over the headboard using medium-grit sandpaper, concentrating your sanding efforts on the areas where you applied the wax resist (Images 1 and 2). Because the wax resist prevented the paint from fully bonding with the wood, the paint in these areas should sand off easily.
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-sanding-1.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517856258.jpeg)
Brittney Gazaway
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-sanding-2.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517853363.jpeg)
Brittney Gazaway
Seal Painted Finish
Using a waxing brush or clean cotton cloth, completely cover the headboard in a layer of clear furniture wax (Image 1). Following manufacturers' instructions, allow wax to fully cure (typically 24 hours) before using a second clean cotton cloth to buff for a more durable finish and a light sheen (Image 2).
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-waxing-or-buffing.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517853628.jpeg)
Brittney Gazaway
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-detail-2.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583517854524.jpeg)
Brittney Gazaway
Enjoy Your New/Old Headboard
Complement your freshly distressed headboard with antique accessories (Image 1), farmhouse-style bedding (Image 2) or have fun with pattern and color (Image 3).
![Give new furniture vintage-style charm and patina. Learn our designer trick for creating a distressed, painted finish in a flash.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/6/2/original_Camille_Smith_bedroom-distressed-headboard-after-beauty-vert.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1583517856482.jpeg)
Brittney Gazaway; Styling by H. Camille Smith
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/0/Original_Camille-Smith_Bedroom-buffalo-check-quilt-bird-toile-shams-blush-velvet-pillow-horiz-wide.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583167673578.jpeg)
Brittney Gazaway; Styling by H. Camille Smith
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/3/0/Original_Camille-Smith_Bedroom-yellow-dot-sheets-chambray-quilt-horiz.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1583167800239.jpeg)
Brittney Gazaway; Styling by H. Camille Smith