How to Paint a Wood Bed Shabby Chic

Set up your workstation in a well ventilated area, such as a garage or a shady spot on the driveway. Put the dropcloth down and set out your tools and paint.

Apply a coat of primer if the headboard is made of unfinished wood. Let it dry for 18 to 24 hours. For a headboard that is already painted, use the medium grade sandpaper to rough up the surface of the paint so the new paint will adhere better. Wipe off any dust with the cloth.

Paint the headboard with the dark basecoat paint, using the large brush for wide areas and the small brush to completely cover any carvings, spindles or other cutouts on the wooden headboard. Use straight even strokes to paint the headboard. Allow it to dry for 18 to 24 hours.

Apply the crackle medium to the headboard over the basecoat. Paint the glaze on using even strokes that go in one direction. Concentrate on creating a thin, even coat of glaze rather than a thick, uneven coat. Let the crackle medium dry for 2 to 4 hours.

Paint a single coat of the light acrylic paint over the dried glaze. Use brush strokes that go in the opposite direction from the direction you applied the glaze for best results. Watch the paint pull together and separate in places, revealing thin lines that allow the basecoat to show through. Allow the top coat to dry for 18 to 24 hours.

Sand down selected areas of the headboard to mimic time-worn wear patterns. Try sanding away part of a corner, or the widest parts of a wooden spindle, for example. Wipe away any dust with the cloth.