How to Paint a Captain Bed

Prepare the bed for painting. Remove the mattress and set it aside. Tape off the interior of the bed so that you don't get paint on the foundation for the mattress. Protect the area around the bed with drop cloths and remove the drawers.

Sand down the bed frame. Use a medium or harsh grade of sandpaper to get the original finish off of the wood. Most bed frames are coated with either varnish or clear coat. This finish will prevent paint from sticking properly and thus must be removed. You don't have to sand off the entire color on the wood, just the clear, protective finish.

Prime the bed. No matter what color you plan to paint your captain's bed, priming it will help the paint adhere better and give you a truer representation of the color you chose. Use a regular sized paint brush and apply a thin coat of primer to the frame and the drawers.

Paint the bed. Apply at least one coat of paint to the frame and the drawers. Work slowly and take care of any drips as they occur. It is better to do two thin coats, than one sloppy coat. Let the paint dry for at least six hours before re-assembling the bed.

Touch up as necessary. After putting the bed back together, you may notice a few areas that need a little extra paint or areas where the paint was chipped off. Use a small art brush and apply a thin coat to cover the area.