Headboard How-Tos

Renewed With Rope

An old metal headboard has a fresh look when covered in rope and painted a rich chocolate brown.

You can teach an old bed a new trick. We took a tired-looking and slightly rusted metal frame and covered it in rope (a 200-foot spool of 5/8-inch-diameter rope cost around $150 at a home-improvement store). This technique works especially well on beds with center slats. For added interest, you can weave the rope in and out around the slats like a basket. Use a glue gun to secure the rope to the frame. Experiment to find a look that appeals to you.

Use gloves when working with the rope to protect your hands -- and have patience. This project will take some time, depending on the size of the headboard and its intricacy. For added style, paint the rope in a color that matches your decor. We chose a warm brown that's found in the bedroom fabrics -- a lively print and a simple ticking stripe.