DIY Farmhouse Bedroom Makeover – Chalk Painted Sleigh Bed
As you can see, this bed was FAR from perfect before I started. That was one big motivator not to be afraid to try this DIY restoration project. I figured, what’s the worst that can happen? My dearly departed dog, Mickey (a fat little MinPin) used to jump onto the bench and then over the footboard onto the bed. And, as a result scratched the heck out of it!
Materials Used for Chalk Painted Sleigh Bed
Directions
There’s a product called Trisodium Phosphate — or TSP for short — that does an unmatched job of cleaning and prepping old furniture for a fresh new finish. In some areas, TSP is not legally sold and there’s an equally good (in my opinion) alternative. Check your local hardware store, or you can buy online. Be sure to read the directions and use proper precautions when using.
After cleaning the wood, I used wood filler to fill in all the gouges. Then, I sanded it down, cleaned it, and did it again until it was smooth.
Next, I started painting it with my homemade chalk paint. Since I wasn’t overly worried about every angle that would be covered anyway, I didn’t disassemble the bed. But, you could certainly do that for better results.
Wondering what those 2x4s are? Well, a few years ago the bed slats gave out and I built a very sturdy replacement. LOL!
The bed started out the same dark cherry wood stain, so four coats of homemade chalk paint were needed. You can also see the before jewelry tower and the before chalk paint entertainment center in the background!
My homemade chalk paint brushed on smoothly without a lot of brush strokes. One reason is that I invested in a really good paint brush. You can cheap out on some things, but trust me you’re going to want a good paint brush.
After four coats of chalk paint, I put the bed back together. It looks great!
From chronically imperfect to lovely in just a few days!