Headboard Ideas Using an Old Door

Door Styles

• Nearly any type of door works as the base for a headboard, including old closet doors, interior doors, antique doors and French doors. Check the basement and attic for old doors that you or a previous owner removed that you could recycle into a headboard. Thrift stores, architectural salvage stores and garage sales are options for buying old doors for your project. Look for doors that fit the style of your room and have distinct characteristics about them. For example, you might choose an antique door with several panels in it.

Direction

• The direction in which you install the doors affects the look of the headboard. For a traditional, lower headboard, mount the door on the wall horizontally. Doors come in different sizes so you want to measure the bed first to ensure the door you select is at least as wide as the bed. The alternative is to mount the doors vertically. This option requires at least two doors side-by-side if you want them to look balanced and stretch across the width of the bed. The vertical mounting option offers dramatic height on the headboard.

Ledge

• A ledge along the top edge of the door makes it look more like an actual headboard. A simple option to create the look of a ledge is to add thick crown molding along the top edge of the door headboard. If you prefer a less ornate ledge, simply nail a board along the top edge to create a shelflike edge that is at least an inch thicker than the door to create a decorative overhang.

Decoration

• The decorative touches are key in determining the look of the finished headboard. Vintage doors often have natural aging that gives them a rustic look. If you're using new doors but want the vintage look, use a chain or bag of rocks to beat up the wood. Antiquing medium also helps create an aged, cracking look on the paint. Fabric panels work well to cover doors that have window openings. Remove the glass and fill in the opening with a piece of plywood, trimmed to the size of the panel and covered with batting and fabric to add softness to the wooden headboard.