Barn wood barn door headboard
I still remember the words from those around me when I went to gather up some barn wood lately from a local barn that was coming down.
View how we scavenged the barn wood in this post HERE
“What will you do with the barn wood?”
“I have NO idea! But you can bet if it’s sitting in my way, I’ll think of something…”
And it’s true. Ya gotta stock it in order to create with it.
Because what came next was truly beautiful and unique!
Here’s what I made:
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Barn wood barn door headboard
How to prep barnwood
After I got the wood home, the nails were first removed.
Next up, a good clean right away before storing makes it just that much more fun to use when the time comes.
Generally, the first thing I grab for cleaning reclaimed wood is the pressure washer.
But this paint was weird. If you touched it, it came right off. It was as if it was powder!
Knowing that, I gently hosed both sides off JUST to knock of any cobwebs or dirt.
Learn more about the best way to clean reclaimed wood HERE
Then the wood was leaned against the back of the house to air dry.
And then it rained. And rained. And rained again. Good grief.
I was about to bring it under my covered deck when the sun came out! Yes! But that’s when I noted how gorgeous the tones were while wet.
Right then, I KNEW what it had to become.
The old horse gate headboard was about to be retired. Cuz I was gonna build me a barn wood barn door headboard! With a fun twist…
With just wood and no real barn door hardware. Intrigued? Here we go!
.Above left – untreated / above right – treated
How To Protect Chippy Paint On Wood
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1. Ensure wood is completely dry, then lightly sand.
2. Apply Fusion Mineral Paint’s Tough Coat with a brush following the wood grain.
3. Allow to dry, then lightly sand on a low speed.
(this is why I love a variable speed palm sander) – Amazon affiliate link
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Generally, I rarely protect reclaimed wood. But being that this was painted and was flaking off and located in a bedroom, I wanted to play it extra safe and coat the wood to cover any possible toxic leaks.
So I pulled out Fusion Mineral Paint’s Tough Coat.
Not being completely sure of how it would turn out, I tested a small area first. And goodness… I fell in LOVE!
Shop for Fusion Mineral Paint’s Tough Coat HERE and get 10% off!
The Tough Coat not only appeared to hydrate the wood, it coated the chipped paint with a level of a matte – satin finish protection that was perfection!
It was like working with an entirely different piece of wood. It drew out the warmth of the wood beautifully and naturally, not adding any added colour.
Bonus – Fusion Mineral Paint’s products don’t smell. They are environmentally friendly. This stuff had a nice faint candy like odour. And I can’t say that for any other stinky clear coat product I’ve used in the past!
Lightly sand
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Once the clear coat was dry (to the touch within minutes!) a light sanding was done to make the wood smooth to the touch.
I used my Bosch variable speed sander, turned down to about #2.
Creating Faux Barn Door Hardware
I didn’t have actual barn door hardware, so after gathering some rusty junk pieces, this is how I created faux hardware!
casters – 2
large hinges – 2
rusty junk things – 2
1. Enhance rust with a coat of hemp oil, applied with a small artist’s paint brush. Wipe off the surplus, and allow to air cure.
Next up was trying to figure out how to make faux barn door hanging hardware.
Looking at some pictures on the net for reference, I came up with 2 antique coasters, 2 metal… things, and 2 hinges.
Shop for Hemp Oil at Fusion Mineral Paint HERE and get 10% off!
First I used a coat of Hemp Oil to change the hardware from orange to a rich rust. Gorgeous!
Applying the hemp oil with a small artists’ paint brush worked out perfectly.
HERE is a previous good read on how to protect metal.
Installing the faux barn door
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1. Cut slats of wood the width of your bed, and install to your wall, attaching to wall studs if desired.
For added stability, the slats were installed closer together where I knew I would lean against them. Make sure you run one near the floor moulding as well.
2. Cut barn wood to desired length, then screw the boards into place, one at a time. Ensure you leave enough room for the added hardware to come on top.
The boards are sitting about 1″ off the floor so they can be swept under.
3. Run a strip of wood along the top of the barn door if desired, to trim it out evenly.
4. Mount the faux barn door hardware as shown below.
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Hanging the faux barn door hardware
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1. A 2×4 was coated out in black, to create the faux rail.
2. The two metal hook things were installed, then the 2×4 slipped in.
3. A caster was placed on top of the 2×4, then threaded through the hinge. Two screws hold the post intact.
4. The hinge was then screwed onto the barn door.
How great is that cheat?! And this is why one needs to visit rusty junk bins to collect this stuff!
Rusty hardware was added to resemble the door being authentic.
For extra quirk, 2 handles were used, since the door was pretty big.
The reveal
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And a little bit of bed fluffing later, I had me a barn wood barn door headboard!
Isn’t that wood absolutely stunning?!
Find Bed & Breakfast stencil HERE
Bed & Breakfast pillow
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The pillow was a fun take for the bedroom! Bed & Breakfast was stenciled onto an Ikea pillow case, chiming in perfectly with the black, white and wood colour scheme.
Paint used: Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black – website link
Learn how to stencil on a pillow HERE
Served Daily is from the LUNCH stencil HERE
Remember the Farmhouse Reclaimed Wood Clock project? The sign landed above the window for a dash of farmhouse charm.
The ladder side table stayed, because it just worked!
And I may make a few changes here and there along the way, but for now…
I can’t wait to get deep into a farmhouse styled sleep tonight!
Don’t you agree?
How I made a matching Antique mirror HERE
Read the barn wood shopping story HERE.
My goodness!!!! We’re you just beaming from ear to ear when you stood back and looked at all of that coolness when you were finished? That is so incredibly unique and gorgeous looking. This has to be one of my most favorite “pins” ever….Can I sleep over? ???
Stunning, talented and absolutely marvelous! You did a fantastic job!
This is a great project! Rustic perfection!
You fooled me, D! This looks awesome! Your ingenuity for repurposing old ‘junk’ is sooooo gooooood!!
xo Michael
You are too sweet M! I love that you get it without having to collect it! 🙂
LOVE IT!!!
Absolutely gorgeous! To look at the photos and the instructions, one can learn to do a barn door for next to nothing or for a fraction of the price. Some of them are so pricey. I enjoyed your detailed how-to and the end project is stunning. Thank you so much for sharing and showing us how something can be done, even when you think you can’t.
Wow! You out did yourself! It’s amazing!
I just had to stop by and savor all of the tips in this amazing post. Love the faux barndoor hardware. Simply genius. Susie from The Chelsea Project
Not only do I love this and the ingenuity of the top “barn door hardware,” but I love the one black board interspersed in with the white, that ties with the touch of black elsewhere in the room. A decorator’s eye, for sure.
Thanks Brenda! When I saw the one lonely black board leaning against the house, I knew I needed one! I had to have that look! 🙂
Fantastic! What a gorgeous bedroom.
Just stunning. Love it. So creative, using what you have and making it your own. Great job.
What a fantastic idea….. some people might have a good point in favor of real over faux flowers but who can argue with a faux barn door that looks this good????? Nobody. That’s who.
Haha! Well, being that this was free? No contest here! Thank you!
you saved a piece of that amazing barn! It’s awesome & I love the black and different hardware! bet it looks cozy at night with just a lamp on
It really does! Only problem is, I face the other way when I’m in bed. Guess I’d better finish the room! haha
I. love. this. Like you said, not only was it free, and faux, but it’s simply awesome to look at! I agree with Brenda’s comment about the dark board in the middle; sometimes the brain just knows what it needs to do.
Last week I was making signs with reclaimed boards. I’d painted some of the boards red, before using one of your stencils with white paint. After some light distressing and sanding, the red seemed to fade too much for my liking. I thought, I wonder if just a bit of Miss Mustard Seed furniture wax would make it pop?? Now, that’s what I had on hand, the topcoat you used would be similar … but wow what a little thing that made a huge difference!
Wow! Nicely done. Verrrrry clever on the faux hardware! Beautiful.
Love this….very creative. Tell me, if you would, about the lamp?
Hi Sue! The lamp is from Walmart. 🙂
Thanks, Donna. Just figured you refurbished that too. I have the base that looks just like that and was hoping for a good idea for it. No shade.
I absolutely love it! Good idea!
This is my favorite. Really loving it. You did great
LOVE your cheat!
Haha, thanks Julie, I know you ‘get me’ by now!
That turned out pretty cool. One question, though. Why did you leave the horizontal piece of wood at the top of the door “naked”? It seems like you would have used a piece of aged barn wood to match the vertical boards. All in all, though, the whole thing is really quite awesome. I enjoyed seeing the process.
Good eye Naomi! The plank size and flexibility worked in the area. The back side of the board was used as it was more rustic than the smooth finished side, so I decided to roll with it as is. I may have stained it if I had stain that didn’t stink! haha I’ll be ordering some from Fusion so I have all the right things on hand hopefully next round!
Thanks for sharing your faux barndoor headboard!!! I love what you’ve done with your barnwood, and other rusty things. You are such an inspiration!
Wowza Donna, it looks amazing. You just have the touch. I wish someone would figure out how to bottle some of that Donna Junkin essence so I could spritz it around the room and make magic happen
That turned out great!
This turned out amazing! And thank you for all of those tips, too! I didn’t know that about MMS’s Hemp Oil enhancing rusty junk, I’m going to have to try that, and the Fusion Tough Coat for the wood, too
Oh goodness… both products are must stocks for chippy and rusty collector types. haha
This is gorgeous Donna! It makes me want to sell my bedroom set so I can replace it with this! 🙂
I’d like to invite you to share this at the brand-new Farmhouse Friday link party which kicks off this Friday at 6:00 am PST! I am giving away a $50 Amazon gift certificate to celebrate, and I will also share your linkup on DIY Farmhouse Style Facebook group where I admin, which at this writing has over 130k members! 🙂
Hope to see you on Friday!
Michelle
The Painted Hinge
http://www.thepaintedhinge.com
You do realize how FREAKING AWESOME that looks right?
When I come across one of your posts somewhere online, I always knew it’s your work. Your work is quite unique. I love everything you do!
It’s fantastic, and I love what the Fusion top coat did to make the wood even prettier! Your “faux” barn door hardware totally had me fooled! Just awesome Donna!