How to Finish an Old Door for a Bed Frame

Prepare the Door

• 1

  Lay the door on a flat work surface.

• 2

  Remove all hardware from the door using a Phillips screwdriver.

• 3

  Smooth over any holes or scuffs in the door with wood putty. This step is optional and is not necessary if you prefer the door to look more antique. Squeeze the putty onto the plastic spreading tool and use the tool to fill the hole. Wipe off any excess putty with a cloth.

• 4

  Smooth down the door with medium-grit sandpaper. If the door is painted or stain, the sandpaper will remove the finish. Only use sandpaper if you want to roughen up the surface to make the door look antique or you plan to refinish it.

• 5

  Cut the door to size with a wood or power saw. A twin-size headboard should be about 40 inches wide, a full-size is about 56 inches wide, a queen-size is about 62 inches, and a king size headboard should be about 78 inches. Most interior doors are 80 inches tall. To cut a door to fit a queen-size bed, for example, cut nine inches from both the top and bottom of the door.

• 6

  Vacuum all grit from the sandpaper with an extension hose. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any extra debris. Allow the door to dry thoroughly.

• 7

  Paint or stain the door. Before painting, apply primer to the door with a paint brush. After the primer is dry, paint the door the preferred color. If the door has paneling, you can paint the paneling one color and the rest of the door another color. For staining, wipe stain onto the surface with a clean cloth. Allow the stain to dry before applying another coat of stain.

Hang the Headboard

• 8

  Position the door above the head of the bed. The bottom of the headboard should be lower than the top of the mattress by three inches or more. Mark the top of the headboard on the wall with a pencil.

• 9

  Turn the door over so its backside is facing up. Position one flush mount to the top left and right corners on the back of the door. Flush mounts should be at least two inches from the top edge of the door, and the tongue of the mount must face down.

• 10

  Screw the flush mount in place using wood screws and a Phillips screwdriver or power hand drill. Measure the distance between the two flush mounts. For example, on a king size headboard the flush mounts might be 70 inches apart.

• 11

  Position the flush mounts on the wall so they are the exact width apart as on the headboard. Also move them at least two inches below the headboard mark created in Step 1. Use a level to make sure they are even.

• 12

  Secure the flush mounts to the wall with screws. If possible, screw them into the studs. If the flush mounts are screwed into the drywall, first screw drywall anchors into the wall. Place the flush mount, so the head of the drywall anchor is visible through the mount's screw hole. Tighten a screw through the hole and into the drywall anchor. Make sure the tongue of the flush mount is facing up.

• 13

  Slide the flush mounts on the back of the headboard down, behind the flush mounts on the wall.