If you remember when I was doing my bedroom makeover, I still had a few projects that I had yet to undertake.  One of those was my headboard.  I've had this bed a number of years from IKEA (VERY inexpensive!) but I was really wanting something a bit more solid to sit against at times when reading in bed.  At the same time, I didn't want to purchase a whole new bed because I just didn't want to spend the money.  So... a friend had a great suggestion put together with some of my ideas, and I ran with it... and LOVE the results! 

Here's my bed when my room was mostly transformed.  It's a VERY basic pine bed, with a few metal bars in the headboard section as well.  I painted the bottom portion of the bed the mustard color I was using in other areas of the room because I knew it would be seen.


I then purchased pine boards and had them cut at L*owe's for free.  I had other boards for some other projects as well, but for the headboard I bought three10"x 8' boards and had them cut down to 69" long.  I did some online research and found a cheap, easy way to age the wood... using balsamic vinegar and steel wool!


I didn't take time to do the backs since they wouldn't be seen.  After "staining" I joined the three boards together with joining strips and screws.


I painted the front the same light gray I used on the walls in my room.  I decided I wanted to do a chevron pattern so after the gray dried I measured and marked in pencil a chevron but only on the top portion.  I figured the bottom was going to be behind the box spring and mattress and wouldn't really be seen.


When finished I used the mustard paint and painted with a sponge brush.  It was actually a lot easier to get straight lines than I thought it might be.


I put a coat of poly on top, which for some reason completely distressed the bottom board.  I'm still not sure WHY, but it was fine so I wasn't too concerned.  I took off the mattress (you can see it standing on the left) and scooted the box spring down a bit off the end of the bed.  I set the headboard in place and then pushed the box spring back.  There was NO room and it really helped to hold the headboard in place.


I then secured the headboard to the bed frame with a staple gun and velcro, so it can EASILY be removed at any time and down the road if I decide to change my color scheme I can reuse this and repaint.


Finally putting the mattress and bedding back on... and I LOVE the result!


I do still have to replace the light fixture on the ceiling and finish the windows, but I'm almost DONE! :)