Painting Wooden Bed Frames

Remove the box spring and mattress from your bed frame. Store both in another room if your room is small -- you'll need space to set up your paint and start working.

Lift the bed and position a large plastic sheet or tarpaulin beneath the bed frame to protect the carpet or floor.

Sand the bed frame. Rub an 80-120 medium-grit sandpaper over the surfaces of the bed frame to remove any marks or imperfections. Clear away any dust or debris and sand with a 150-180 fine-grit sandpaper across all visible surfaces. The underside of bed frames don’t need to be painted. Sanding helps removes splinters and smooths out the surface of the wood, providing a foundation for the application of paint.

Apply a primer to all visible surfaces of the bed frame using a flat-bristled paintbrush. Primers help strengthen the wood and prepare it for the application of paint. Leave the primer to thoroughly dry for around 36 hours before applying paint.

Paint the bed frame. Larger areas of the bed such as the slats or the headboard can be painted using a roller or a flat-headed paintbrush. Begin by using steady, brisk brushstrokes with the grain and then alternate to brushing across the grain to evenly spread out the paint. Finish by using light brushstrokes with the grain again for a smooth, even appearance. Use smaller paintbrushes for intricate areas such as corners or decorative edges on the headboard.

Leave the paint to dry. Apply a second coat after 48 hours if required.