Would you paint this black headboard white?

Dagmar's Home
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My decorating style is shabby chic, cottage, vintage. A lot of white and dark brown wood.
We were given this big, black headboard, and I don't know what to do. Would you paint it white? Or would you exchange the bedside tables for white ones? Or would you get a different one?
The whole post and more pictures are on Dagmar's Home: http://www.dagmarbleasdale.com/2015/08/colonial-headboard-should-i-paint-it/
q would you paint this black headboard white, bedroom ideas, home decor, home decor dilemma, shabby chic
q would you paint this black headboard white, bedroom ideas, home decor, home decor dilemma, shabby chic
q would you paint this black headboard white, bedroom ideas, home decor, home decor dilemma, shabby chic
  60 answers
  • Rita Rita on Feb 02, 2016
    Only if the night stands get painted white or change the style of them to a more shaby chic. Right now I think they are to small for such a large headboard. Also Is that the only wall for your bed?
  • Glenda Ward Glenda Ward on Feb 02, 2016
    I'd paint them all white.
  • Ellen Cottreau Ellen Cottreau on Feb 02, 2016
    This is mine and I love it
    • Rita Rita on Feb 08, 2016
      @Ellen Cottreau I love yours too...beautiful
  • Cindi McGee Cindi McGee on Feb 02, 2016
    You might consider a chalk paint in a COLOR to complement your pretty bedding, etc. I'd make the 3 pieces match in color. White would disappear against the pale walls, even if it was aged with a creme wax, etc. I recently painted a dresser a mossy green and it really came out great - such a difference!
  • Holly Tompkins Holly Tompkins on Feb 02, 2016
    I would paint the headboard white and maybe age it with a glaze.
  • Lorraine Lorraine on Feb 03, 2016
    They say every room should have a touch of black. I love that headboard (my girlfriend has one like it; actually I think she painted it black!). I wouldn't touch it, but I would do something with the end tables. Maybe white and distressed. They all don't have to match! And I think Rita has a point: they are a little small. They don't have to be the same either.
  • KatAych KatAych on Feb 03, 2016
    I agree with both Lorraine and Holly; black goes with anything! I also think it would look nice with some sort of "finish" to it - crackle, white wash, or maybe just painting the insets white or stenciling a phrase across the top band in white?
  • Dee Dee on Feb 03, 2016
    i would leave it black and chalk paint the night stands black too.
  • Mickey Baron Mickey Baron on Feb 03, 2016
    YES ma'am! Whitewash it. And research furniture redos on here, suggestion: My board, 2nd. chances. And find a paint style you like, to have your nightstands fit into your "shabby chic" style as well. You can do this!! Pls. post b4 & afters? (Luv your bedding by the way)
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Feb 03, 2016
    I would definitely leave the headboard black...it is so "in" right now! I would paint the side tables either flat black or white!
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 03, 2016
    I personally like the black contrast against your walls and bedding. If anything I would change the color of the nightstands.
  • Louise Adkins Louise Adkins on Feb 03, 2016
    Paint white...distress... Replace night stands with larger non matching pieces, maybe a skirted round table on one side... Paint the picture mats a brighter color like your bedding...Add another set of bed/throw pillows to cover the size of the headboard... Just my own thoughts...
  • Kathy Bettis Marez Kathy Bettis Marez on Feb 03, 2016
    I like the black and the style of the headboard. But this is not about me ~ it's all about you! Chalk paint that baby! Have you considered a pretty shade of gray? Gray is the new black! And you might not find it so harsh. Then, do those bedside tables. If you don't want it all matching matching, do the tables in white
  • Becky Becky on Feb 03, 2016
    Yes I would whiten the headboard & nightstands. I would save Color for accessories. :)
  • Trisha Martin Trisha Martin on Feb 03, 2016
    Yes, do the shabby chic look on the black head board. Paint the side tables white also and not sure if you have a window drape? If you have a mini blind and you love the cottage look consider just draping fabric over the top. And perhaps a little lace on one of the side tables would be pretty. Good luck.
  • Taffetal Taffetal on Feb 03, 2016
    I agree with Grey, a medium shade of grey. And definitely paint the end tables white.
  • Deanna.Turetski Deanna.Turetski on Feb 03, 2016
    Yes, I would paint it white. But then I am a white fanatic.
  • Donna Marie Herzwurm Donna Marie Herzwurm on Feb 03, 2016
    The Black Headboard looks so dark, I would paint shabby chic to match & Soften your Bedroom
  • Mikkigirl Mikkigirl on Feb 03, 2016
    Yes, white for both the headboard and bedside tables.
  • Mam4138517 Mam4138517 on Feb 03, 2016
    YES PAINT! I'm a paint person as well!
  • Diane russell Diane russell on Feb 03, 2016
    I would do a heirloom white with teal night stands .
  • Donna Wax Donna Wax on Feb 03, 2016
    I'd begin with the side tables. Paint the top black to tie-in with the headboard or leave dark brown and tie-in the headboard with the dark brown from the side tables. With either color complete the body of the side tables in off/white or white. Finish the edges and body with a pottery barn look. Use the same technique and color with the headboard after you have finished the two side tables.
  • Nancy Denick Nancy Denick on Feb 03, 2016
    Why not white (or cream) paint over the black with crackle finish. This way it is white with black showing through. Practice on some scrap wood to get the exact size cracks you like.
  • Bron Bron on Feb 03, 2016
    For a bold pop of color why not paint the head board the same color as the pillows or a darker shade of the stripes in the bed cover. I think it would look great. If you don't like it just paint over it. It is only paint. you can pick up test pots of paint so cheaply in the color you choose. If you decide to paint the headboard that color maybe the side tables would look good white?
  • Jessica McNaughton Jessica McNaughton on Feb 03, 2016
    Yes paint it but not a stark white. A warm white is nice. Like the bead spread color white not the sheet color. Paint side table as well. Put something with your pillow comb or a candle on the other side, close to the same color as the lamp.
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Feb 03, 2016
    Here's my 2 cents...For both the headboard & side tables I would paint them white then distress it heavily around the edges & any details to bring out the dark wood underneath then add clear wax to protect it. Hope this helps.
  • CK CK on Feb 03, 2016
    It is a very pretty and stylish headboard. Since you mentioned your style is shabby chic/cottage, yes I would paint it white. I'd use the same white you have on your window trim...or some other white that's also used in the room. Black is beautiful but for your style the headboard in that color sorta "hogs" the room. There's nothing else in the room (at least in the pics you've shown) that black relates to. White will make your bedding look and feel fresher too...a definite good thing for shabby chic/cottage.
  • Mar1416882 Mar1416882 on Feb 03, 2016
    Cream/beige euth a rustic look, sand the efges to show a little black, and maybe change the wall color too
  • Donita Grace Donita Grace on Feb 03, 2016
    It could get a little "sugary" with that much white. What about distressing it a little and painting out the night stands to match, and maybe adding a black pattern to the bed linens. Still shabby chic, but crisper?
  • Tommie Tommie on Feb 03, 2016
    Girl, slap some paint on that!!!!!! Chalk paint and some distressing. Pick your color, whitish, turquoise is always amazing, barn red, the options are endless!!!! Find your linens that you love first then RUN WITH IT!!
  • Cindi Cindi on Feb 04, 2016
    Personally I like black, and like the headboard as it is, but I do like Donita's idea, keep it black and distress it, then paint the nightstand to match and do the same. Maybe some other black accents in the room. It would really look good with a black bedskirt, and bright turquoise and black comforter, of course that kind of takes away the whole "Shabby Chic" thing you're going for. If you want to paint it, I'd do chalkboard paint, a lighter turquoise than the lampshade, I'd still do the nightstands to match, and a few more turquoise, and white, accents. That color would go well with the lamp and the walls, and is definitely shabby chic, and would go with any white you have. All Shabby Chic doesn't have to be white.
  • Diana De Roos Diana De Roos on Feb 04, 2016
    I would paint it dark grey, white and gray bed linens.
  • Style-Sack Style-Sack on Feb 04, 2016
    Paint it the same colour as the lamp shade.
  • Jacqueline Eppig Sung Jacqueline Eppig Sung on Feb 04, 2016
    I would absolutely paint and stress that headboard. I think it would look fabulous in your master bedroom! Wow! That is truly a great gift?
  • Ann4127121 Ann4127121 on Feb 04, 2016
    I would definitely paint it white also the side wooden pedestalls
  • Mary Beth Carrier Mary Beth Carrier on Feb 04, 2016
    Well the most important thing is to just not stress about it. It sounds like you will be happier with the lighter color since that reflects your decorating style more closely than the bold black headboard so I say, go for it! It's just paint and sometimes painting can seem like an overwhelming and daunting task that is permanent. If you decide you don't like the white change it a little by stressing it, and if you're still not happy then maybe go for a grey, and if that still doesn't do it for you you can always go back to black! Remember that painting is not as permanent as it sometimes seems. Good luck with your project! It sounds like it will make a great change!
  • Lyr2347399 Lyr2347399 on Feb 04, 2016
    If you keep it black, you need black accents, maybe a piece of black ribbon around the lamp shade. You could also darken the lettering on the plaque over the bed and the bench at the foot of the bed. Last, but not least, a black pillow. The black needs to look more planned. L. Rose Baltimore, Maryland
  • Nancy Oden Nancy Oden on Feb 04, 2016
    Id paint it white and distress as previously mentioned...id also paint the bedside tables..either white or the bluish accent you have already...but in a cottage style room that black doesnt really fit..imo
  • Lyr2347399 Lyr2347399 on Feb 04, 2016
    Sorry, your bench cannot be painted..just put a throw over a portion of it.
  • 346448 346448 on Feb 04, 2016
    You could totally paint it!
  • Nancy Nancy on Feb 04, 2016
    White! Absolutely!
  • Duv310660 Duv310660 on Feb 04, 2016
    Headboards are like front doors - they should attract attention. White would be okay, but from the photo, it doesn't look like it would contrast enough against the wall. I would choose a nice colour, brighter to garner some attention, but not as hard as that black. Not sure if you are going red or blue, but either of those would be in keeping with the rest of the bedroom.
  • Dfm Dfm on Feb 04, 2016
    okay hometalk moderators i really don't like pop ups in the middle of my screen blocking a post i'm trying to read. featured slide show home dec....just don't. okay back to the room. i'd paint the headboard a teal a few shades darker than the lamp shade. the nite stands might be cuter in a white/ coral paint job.
  • Lulu Lulu on Feb 04, 2016
    Paint it same lovely color as walls. Replace the bedside tables with floating boxes. Replace bed linens with white+aqua. Lovely room.
  • Mary Vance Nasvik Mary Vance Nasvik on Feb 05, 2016
    I would go with a medium blue with distressed areas, and the nightstands the same blue/distressed.
  • Heather58 Heather58 on Feb 06, 2016
    I would leave the headboard black, change the colour of the side tables and maybe add a large distressed white framed picture or mirror above the bed. I have a shabby chic bedroom painted off white with distressed white furniture and I put a black headboard in to the room and it looks fantastic! It adds a bit of contrast, the room looked good before but now it looks amazing, to me anyway.
  • Natalie Natalie on Feb 07, 2016
    Maybe something like the color of your lampshade, or a little brighter would be better for that headboard if you prefer soft or muted colors and have them everywhere else in the house.
  • Natalie Natalie on Feb 07, 2016
    Black isn't that bad, either, it might actually add contrast and look cool with different colors of bedding. I can imagine it with purple or burgundy satin (or microsatin, that's what they seem to call the polyester stuff that's cheaper but still feels nice to touch and has a shimmery look), the bed looking like an island of something luxurious and sexy in the sea of neutral and calm. I'm not sure if you'd like it, but if purple or burgundy seem way too dark, you can try a cheerful yellow, spring green or peach to see how it adds contrast together with black. Perhaps just get a bedspread in a lively color or a mix of colors, and leave the rest like it is. If you definitely want anything but black in your room, you can sponge-paint that headboard so that some of that black still shows through, this would look more interesting than a solid color.
  • Linda Scats Linda Scats on Feb 07, 2016
    I think I`d make the walls a little more colorful, then paint both the headboard and night stand white (Maybe even those 2 picture frames.) You could distress them a bit on the edges if you like that look. Then i`d either change out the light shade to a red.....or else add a blue toss pillow to the bed, and a few other items in the room so that the blue goes and is`nt the only blue thing in the room.
  • Ahmed Ahmed on Feb 08, 2016
    YES THIS WIL CREATE MORE LIGHT IN YOUR BEDROOM
  • Cathy Otterman Cathy Otterman on Feb 10, 2016
    I think the easiest thing would be to paint the headboard a dusty tan like the color of your bench using a chalk paint then sand the edges to distress it a bit. It would soften the headboard and still look good with the nightstands. If you want to keep it headboard black, I'd add some more black accents around the room so that your eye moves around the room instead of just settling on the one big black piece.
  • Charlotte Charlotte on Feb 10, 2016
    I love the black headboard. I would paint the night stands black. (But that's just me)
  • Barb Conroy Barb Conroy on Feb 10, 2016
    The black headboard is very nice, I would leave it black and paint the nite stands black and something black at the other end of the room to spread it around. I think black make a richer feel in a room.
  • Kate J Herold Hudson Kate J Herold Hudson on Feb 13, 2016
    No, don't paint it for now. First, get rid of the stripe cover and use a solid white. You can purchase a duvet cover to do this or perhaps flip it if its solid on the back. Next. Bring light linen shades for your lamps and use "old white" chalk paint to paint those side tables. The orange wood competes with the black headboard. I would also spray the lamps cream and use and antique glaze but they are fine brushed steel. Paint an old large frame white and distress it, then "frame those two pictures on the left wall. They are too small for the space. I would also lose the bright orange rug and bring in a solid light color. Burlap with print pillows would be awesome! I love the linen chest at the foot of the bed. It's a fantastic pallet to start with and very little work to do on this bedroom to make it shabby chic. You might also try spreading a worn quilt or nice coverlet across the bottom of the bed to bring some softer texture into the room. You can also use some old shutters or white painted baskets on the wall instead of pictures. Use something unexpected. But most importantly...invest in some king sized pillows for the bed, the standard size pillows dwarf this bed and look out of place. If you have to, you can just use white pillow cases on them for now. Keep the smaller ones and use them in front of the king sized. ANother option would be to use three standard pillows across the back
  • Kate J Herold Hudson Kate J Herold Hudson on Feb 13, 2016
    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/303922674823359021/ Not quite the same head board but the same feel and color pallet
  • Kate J Herold Hudson Kate J Herold Hudson on Feb 13, 2016
    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AZQqIoGQoA_aytrxULqlLVpG0-14QlMnFq0HozCBtIK67K2MftQPBHs/ This is almost exactly what your room would look like if you decided to paint the headboard. Use chalk paint if you do it's the quickest easiest way and you won't even have to prime! Def. bring some neutral color bedding and lampshades.
  • Caron Faherty Caron Faherty on Feb 13, 2016
    Chalk paint would look good w shabby chic
  • Dina mattas Dina mattas on Apr 26, 2016
    Hi Dagmar as your decorating style is shabby chic you HAVE to paint the headboard. As beautiful as it is in black, you will never be happy with your bedroom if you don't paint it. I love everything else in your room, it looks beautiful. Trust yourself, judging by the rest of your room, you have excellent taste/style.
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Mar 17, 2022

    Yes!
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Mar 22, 2022

    I would paint it white. The black is a little intense.
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