How to Match a Metal Bed With Other Furniture

Prep the bed for the job. Remove the mattress from the frame and, if possible, take the frame out of the room so that you have more space to work and better ventilation. Ideally, this work should be done outside because you will be working with oil-based paint that can have noxious fumes. Take the bed frame apart, and place plastic drop cloths underneath it.

Sand the surface. Use steel wool to go over the surface of the metal to remove any slight imperfections and debris.

Prime the bed. Use an oil-based primer intended for metal. If the finished color of the bed will be light, use a white primer. If not, use a darker primer; it will make your later work easier. Use a paintbrush to apply a very thin coat of primer to the frame. Pay special attention to the underside of the frame, where drips can easily occur. Let the primer dry for four to six hours before painting.

Paint the frame. Use an oil-based paint in the color of your choice. Apply one thin coat to the bed frame -- once again, watch out for drips. Give this coat four to six hours to dry, and then apply a second coat. Wait for eight hours before placing the mattress back on the bed to give the paint more than enough time to dry.

Reassemble the bed. Move it back into the room and put it back together. Place the mattress and bed linens back on the bed.