Using Shutters to Make Furniture

While shutters provide useful protection for your windows when used for their intended purpose, they may not be particularly useful when they are not attached to a window frame. That doesn't, however, mean that you have no options for repurposing old shutters for decorative furniture -- in fact, in the right setting, your shutters make a kitschy, DIY decorative statement. One of the best ways to use your shutters is to make your own headboard. With just your shutters, some plywood and a few tools from your garage, you can create a bold, country-inspired headboard for your bed.

Shutters
Tape measure
Pencil
Clamps
Jigsaw
Electric sander
Sheet of plywood (sizes vary)
Wood glue
Electric drill
Screws

Instructions

- 1
  Measure your shutters -- you may need larger ones for this project -- and determine how much space they take up. For reference, a California king headboard is approximately 6 feet wide.
- 2
  Measure these dimensions onto a sheet of plywood and draw an outline of the rectangular shape you need to cut out.
- 3
  Clamp your plywood to a work bench and use your jigsaw to cut out the shape you need for your headboard.
- 4
  Sand down the piece of plywood using an electric sander, paying closer attention to smoothing out the edges.
- 5
  Apply wood glue to the back of your shutters on the areas where they will meet the plywood. Press the shutters firmly against the sheet of plywood and clamp them tightly in place.
- 6
  Leave your glue to dry according to the directions on the bottle.
- 7
  Use an electric drill to screw the shutters to the plywood. Since this is just for extra security, you only need to place a few screws -- one in each corner of each shutter is plenty.
- 8
  Remove your clamps. The shutters are now attached to each other and reinforced by the plywood, making a single, solid-piece headboard.

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