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How to paint a D.I.Y. bed headboard

By Bunnings magazine /

A D.I.Y. bed headboard in green, blue and apricot behind a double bed piled with pillows

Overview

Update a bedroom in just a weekend with a D.I.Y. bed headboard painted directly onto the wall. This eye-catching geometric design for a double bed is inspired by abstract art and the playful stripes in three on-trend shades will bring joy to a Gen-Z space. It’s a budget-friendly way to make a big impact and works for all bed sizes but is best suited to an ensemble or base-frame style. This project is for a double bed but can be scaled up or down. If you’re renting and not permitted to paint the walls, paint onto a sheet of plywood that you can take with you.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves and a mask, for example) and follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

A person with blonde hair in a white top and jeans arranges colourful pillows on a bed with a geometric blue, apricot, and green D.I.Y. bed headboard

Steps

1Mark bedhead on the wall

Working on a drop sheet, clean the wall thoroughly with sugar soap and leave to dry completely. Use a tape measure to mark the rectangle on the wall (see Bedhead diagram, below), then draw the lines in pencil using a straightedge, checking they are level and plumb with a spirit level. 

2Draw the curve and lines

Mark the centrepoint at the top of the rectangle and hammer in a nail. Cut a piece of string to the height of the arch, here 800mm. Tie the string to the nail and attach a pencil to the other end, then draw a curve from one side of the rectangle to the other.

Measure and mark the rectangle at intervals of 257mm (see Bedhead diagram, below), then draw vertical lines from the rectangle base to the arch top using a straightedge, checking for level.

A diagram of a D.I.Y. painted headboard in three colours showing the measurements of the beadhead.

3Mask off the bedhead

Apply painter’s tape around the entire outer edge of the bedhead (rectangle and arch), then mask off alternating vertical sections on the inside edges in the rectangle and arch – here, the sections that will be painted in apricot.

4Paint the blue and green sections

Use a roller to apply two coats of green headboard paint to the rectangle sections, leaving to dry after each coat. Carefully pull off the painter’s tape at an angle. Apply two coats of paint to the blue sections in the arch, leaving to dry after each coat, then remove the tape.

5Paint the apricot sections

Mask off the dry green sections and apply two coats of the apricot paint, leaving to dry after each coat, then remove the tape. Mask off the dry blue sections in the arch and apply two coats of the apricot paint, leaving to dry after each coat, then remove the tape. Remove the tape from around the arch.
Green Bunnings hammer
Tip: Use a small brush to touch up headboard paint where needed or neaten any edges.

6Keep in mind...

  • When painting, always wear safety equipment (eye protection and mask) and ensure the room is well ventilated.
  • Keep all paint and chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
  • Paint colours may vary on application.

7Looking for more D.I.Y. bed headboard ideas?

Learn how to make a modern timber bedhead.

 

Photo credit: Guy Bailey.

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.