Decorative Ideas for Old Wooden Beds

Whitewashing

• An ideal way to decorate an old wooden bed is to play up its aged appearance. Whitewashing your bed gives it an antique look that works well in a room with country or coastal décor. It is an easy decorative method as well. Sand the bed to remove old paint or stain from the bed’s surface. Apply a thin coat of white stain, allow it to set for a minute or two and then rub it in with a rag to highlight the natural grain of the wood.

Crackling

• Another option for giving an old wooden bed a distressed look is crackling. As the name implies, you can treat surface of the bed with a special medium that causes fresh paint to develop a cracked pattern. You must sand an older bed to remove previous stain or paint before applying a base coat of acrylic paint in a color that you would like to see through the pattern. After the paint has dried, brush on the crackling medium in various spots. To replicate the look of natural aging, apply the medium in random spots. Follow the product’s instructions for the best application of the medium and apply another layer of the base coat on top of the medium. After an hour or two, cracks will begin to appear on the bed’s surface. After 24 hours, you can apply a coat of varnish or sealer to protect the finish.

Gold Leaf

• If you prefer a more eye-catching look for your old wooden bed, consider giving it a gilded look by applying gold leaf to the surface. You can purchase books of gold leaf sheets that make covering your bed easy. Sand and paint the bed in a base color to show through the leaf. Apply leaf adhesive or sizing to the surface and press the individual sheets of the leaf to the surface, overlapping the pieces to get the best coverage. Use a brush to smooth the leaf sheets into place and remove any loose pieces.

Stripes

• If you are refurbishing an old wooden bed for your child’s room, paint stripes on the headboard and footboard for a playful decorative touch. Choose paint shades that match the rest of the room’s décor. Use painter’s tape to mark off areas for each shade. If you are painting the bed for a master bedroom, consider using two paint shades of the same color with different finishes for a subtle look that will add dimension to the room.