Grimy, Grungy Shutter Gets a Total Transformation

by ScavengerChic

6 Materials

Today I'm continuing on my quest to find as many things as I can to do with old vintage shutters before my pile runs out. If you've been following along in my blog, this is shutter project number 6.
I previously shared on Hometalk one other shutter project, a shutter coffee table.

grimy grungy shutter gets a total transformation, curb appeal

Here is my grimy, grungy shutter. The shutter, which appears to be gray but is actually green, is in desperate need of a good scrubbing.

Once he had his bath, I chopped off a few inches of his right side so the shutter would be symmetrical.

After chopping, this nice sized shutter was 55 1/2" long and 25" wide.

Lay all your pieces out on the floor until you get a configuration you like. I guess you can tell by now that I'm making a headboard with my shutter.

I'm using 2, 6 foot 1x6's, 1, 6 foot 1x2, 1, 8 foot 4x4 and the shutter.

Since a queen size mattress is 60" in width, a headboard should be at least that wide but preferably somewhere around 62 /63".

I'm using 4x4 posts on both sides of the headboard. This is one, 8 foot, 4x4 post chopped in half. Adding the width of the posts to the shutter and I'm at 62 1/2". If I had to, I could have shortened the shutter by a few inches by chopping off more of the border.

To attach the posts to the shutter I used 4, 6 inch bolts. To allow for the 1x6 and 1x2, I predrilled the holes a little off center.

The holes are aligned with the woodier part of the shutter, not the slats.

Overlapping an inch of the shutter and matching up with the top of the post, next up, the 1x6, cut the length of the shutter. With wood screws, attach the 1x6 to the shutter on the front.

Countersink these holes so that they can be filled in with wood putty.

From the back, I used a couple of Kreg jig holes to further attach the 1x6 to the side posts.

I know I went backwards in my picture timeline but I didn't have a good picture of where to put a 1x2 (top edge) and the other 1x6 (cut a couple inches wider than the headboard).

Since the edge of the 1x2 was slightly higher than the post, I used an electric sander to round the edge before attaching with a nail gun.

I also sanded the corners of the top 1x6 ledge before screwing into the headboard.

This is probably the best picture to show the rounded edge of the 1×2.

Make sure you click on the link below for how the bed was painted and more step by step instruction.

Also, before you make your DIY headboard make sure you come and visit me over at Scavenger Chic to find tutorials for 2 other DIY headboards, a Tin Roofing Shingles Headboard and a Interior Shutters headboard (it looks totally different!)as well as my other shutter projects. See you there.

http://scavengerchic.com/2016/06/20/recycled-tin-shingles-headboard/

http://scavengerchic.com/2016/01/04/headboard-made-from-salvaged-shutters/

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3 of 5 questions

Anita shull on Nov 16, 2016
What if I don't have any shutters to repurpose into a headboard but still need and want a headboRd like this?

5
Jody Harris on Feb 09, 2018

Love this project. Simple, yet very classy looking. I probably missed it, but what painting techniques did you use? Love the way it looks!

2
Bobbie on Feb 09, 2018

Wow. Wow. Wow! I love the look and especially the color......what kind of paint did you use and what colors?

2

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2 of 71 comments

Susan on Jun 22, 2019

OMG!!! That is so awesome. I love it. You did a wonderful job.I'm diffently going to check out the Scavenger Chic page. Your bed is gorgeous.

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Betty Rainey on Jun 23, 2019

I am in need of some easy head board ideas. I do not have one. Just the basic metal frame.

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