• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Repurposed Furniture » How to repair a headboard

    How to repair a headboard

    Published by Gail | Published January 12, 2011 | Updated December 27, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    How to repair a headboard with peeling veneer. Step by step directions for gluing and clamping the veneer on an antique headboard. #MyRepurposedLife #repurposed #headboard #repair #veneer #clamp #secretTIP via @repurposedlifeHow to repair a headboard with peeling veneer. Step by step directions for gluing and clamping the veneer on an antique headboard. #MyRepurposedLife #repurposed #headboard #repair #veneer #clamp #secretTIP via @repurposedlife

    Do you have a headboard with bad veneer? My nephew Jimmy dropped this off for me to repair and paint.

     Isn't it a beautiful bed?

    Excuse the blurry picture. It’s the only picture I have that shows how bad the veneer was warped.

    Related content:

    How to remove veneer

    You can patch wood after removing veneer

    How to Repair Veneer

    The veneer was pulling away from the front and the back of this headboard.

    Shop My Amazon Storefront to See my Favorite Tools and Products

    If you want a good hold when you repair a headboard, I recommend the ever popular Gorilla Wood Glue .

    Then, I used something very thin to spread the glue. If you look carefully, you’ll see how wavy the veneer is in both the front and the back. After I spread the glue I need to clamp it.

    New Use for Painter's Tape

    My regular readers know I’m a huge fan of ScotchBlue Painter’s tape. I have found a brand new use for it! Look how I applied tape to two pieces of scrap lumber.

    Clamp Headboard Veneer

    I used those two pieces of taped boards to clamp the headboard. Applying just enough pressure to get a little ooze. Don’t apply so much pressure that you make ALL of the glue ooze out.

    I used four clamps and let the glue set up.

    You can see that this option is a lot better than using the same four clamps in random areas. It sandwiched the bad veneer really well.

    When the glue had set up, I removed the clamps and “popped off” the scrap lumber. It did stick slightly to the bed, but not like it would have stuck if the ScotchBlue had not been used.

    Clean Repaired Headboard

    It’s the dead of winter but we had a pretty warm day, so I was able to work outside. After sanding the bed, I used some TSP to wash it down.

    Repair a Headboard with Wood Putty

    There were some cracks there on the top left, this is before I filled them with wood putty.

    This is after I filled the cracks and sanded.

    Paint Headboard White

    It was warm enough for me to paint outdoors. This is after I sprayed some gray primer on the footboard. I have a new favorite sprayer   from Homeright.

    I didn’t have much time to work, so I mostly concentrated on the spindle parts of the bed, because they are so hard to paint by hand.

    The weather turned cold again, and I was painting by hand indoors with a fabulous Purdy paint brush! If you’ve never used one, you really should try it.

    Here I am painting in my kitchen! The bed is mostly finished. Jimmy is having a hard time finding side rails. I think he’s going to try using a regular metal bed frame. His aunt gail has had side rails, but has repurposed them into other items.

    gail

    If you're not using the headboard for the bed, you will love these ideas on how to repurpose headboards.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • Paint Tips
      Paint Tips
    • Spool Bed Bench Video Tutorial
      Spool Bed Bench Video Tutorial
    • Jenny Lind Bed Bench
      Jenny Lind Bed Bench
    • Vintage Record Cabinet Makeover repair bad veneer
      Vintage Record Cabinet Makeover repair bad veneer
    • Child Bench made from Reclaimed Bed
      Child Bench made from Reclaimed Bed
    • Repurposed Headboard into a Flower Bed
      Repurposed Headboard into a Flower Bed

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. linda kusmaul

      May 26, 2014 at 9:56 am

      Another way to get the glue into smaller places is to use a straw and blew it into the crevices. It works wonders so you dont have to pull back the veneer.

      Reply
    2. Kristen

      January 05, 2014 at 9:03 am

      What did you use to fill in the cracks?

      Reply
    3. Brenda

      December 22, 2012 at 5:33 pm

      thanks for the tutorial and the pics..it looks great! I have my old childhood walnut dresser with some damage to a few drawers.I am going to use your method to repair and paint it!

      Reply
    4. zinny

      April 10, 2011 at 7:52 am

      Thank you so much for responding and so quickly.I think I'll practice on some end tables first before tackling the bed 🙁
      Hopefully, I'll have some good pix to update you with soon.
      I'll also send a note so you have my email address.
      Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    5. zinny

      April 09, 2011 at 11:36 pm

      Hello Gail, Your work is wonderful. I've found a new blog to watch. I stumbled upon your blog via google because I am thinking of re-doing my bed (headboard, footboard and sides). I am a new DIYr and this will be the largest project I am embarking on. Can you tell me a few things, did you sand by hand or with an electric sander and did you use a paint the whole bed by hand?I am hoping to surprise my DH with a mini-makeover when he returns in a week. Thanks.

      Reply
    6. Katy

      January 20, 2011 at 6:58 pm

      This is a wonderful helpful post. I just bought an old buffet off Craigslist, and the veneer on top is wavy..I'm not sure how to fix it though since I have no way to clamp it.. Maybe I could stack something really heavy on top?
      The bed looks gorgeous, and I love your blog! happy to find you!

      Reply
    7. Kim @ Second Time Furniture

      January 20, 2011 at 5:25 am

      What a sweet auntie you are! Thanks for the great tips! 🙂

      Reply
    8. Gloria (The Little Red House with the White Porch)

      January 17, 2011 at 8:41 am

      Holy cow! You took a beautiful antique which looked like piece of junk (which is what I would have said, seeing the separated wood) and you brought it back to life. Good for you!! Really, I am SO impressed. I am going to save this - who knows when I might need to to do this one day!!!! Thanks for sharing.
      Best,
      Gloria

      Reply
    9. Denise

      January 16, 2011 at 3:32 pm

      Wow. You have taken the fear out of veneer! The next time I see a slightly damaged veneer piece, I won't be so reluctant to try to fix her up! If you have time, I would love for you to link this post (or any of your other ones) to my blog party at http://firstadream.blogspot.com/

      Reply
    10. Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence

      January 15, 2011 at 5:50 pm

      What a great tutorial and so worth repairing! Thanks for sharing at Beyond the Picket Fence.

      Reply
    11. Tammy

      January 14, 2011 at 1:42 am

      Great post! Can't wait to see the finished project.

      Reply
    12. Tracy

      January 13, 2011 at 6:59 pm

      Wow, that is impressive how the veneer flatten out!

      Reply
    13. Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal

      January 13, 2011 at 6:40 am

      Great repair job Gail! Great tips to get nice even pressure on the veneer. It looks great all painted too. I hope the side rails gets figured out!

      Reply
    14. Homemade Quilts by Granny

      January 13, 2011 at 6:24 am

      Marvelous job you have done...I hope nephew is paying you good to do all this work...cause I personaly would not have under taken this for anyone but myself and maybe not even for myself. Blessing Trish

      Reply
    15. Nana's Fun Stuff

      January 13, 2011 at 4:44 am

      You definitely worked your magic on that! It looks great 🙂

      Reply
    16. Pam

      January 13, 2011 at 2:33 am

      Lovely job Gail. Bet your nephew is loving it.

      Reply
    17. Dawn

      January 13, 2011 at 2:33 am

      I agree with everyone else that just kept thinking the entire time "I would have left that thing at the curb and thought nothing can be done for it!!" Thank you for opening our eyes to more possibilities!

      Reply
    18. Granny

      January 12, 2011 at 9:48 pm

      I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the people woldn't have attemped to repair that bed. I looks amazing. I've tired using Gorilla Glue with disastrous results. lol I always use too much. I love the painters tape. In fact, Grampy just bought a new roll to use when we paint our two bathrooms.

      Reply
    19. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

      January 12, 2011 at 7:34 pm

      boy do i wish we lived closer. this is the kind of work i hate doing, but needs to be done. ick. you are so good at it!

      Reply
    20. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

      January 12, 2011 at 7:34 pm

      boy do i wish we lived closer. this is the kind of work i hate doing, but needs to be done. ick. you are so good at it!

      Reply
    21. Suzanne@Meridian Road

      January 12, 2011 at 4:01 pm

      Wow! It looks like a new bed.
      Using the tape was a great idea.
      I think I'm going to have to bring things into the kitchen. It's still so cold I can't even work in the garage.

      Reply
    22. MMB Creations

      January 12, 2011 at 3:34 pm

      I am so anxious to use your idea with the blue tape on the boards. That is genius.

      Reply
    23. Journey

      January 12, 2011 at 3:34 pm

      Fantastic job! You are amazing. I have a lovely headboard with cracks in it - any suggestions? I've used filler but it still shows.

      Reply
    24. " SHABBY JUNK"

      January 12, 2011 at 3:04 pm

      Looks great!. Thought I was the only one with furniture to paint in my kitchen. judy

      Reply
    25. Megandvd@Beauty in the Attempt

      January 12, 2011 at 2:29 pm

      You can work magic on a piece! And you also make me want a purdy brush so bad. I use to have one but I loaned it and it came back to me in not the best condition. They are so worth it...as shown by the spindle work. Great job!

      Cheers~
      e

      Reply
    26. Rose @ Confessions of a Curbshopaholic

      January 12, 2011 at 2:10 pm

      It's official. you ARE a miracle worker! I would not even have tried to restore that bed, and you made it come out beautiful! Love the clamping tips, have to remember that 'cause I don't have nearly the number of clamps you do! 😉

      Reply
    27. Midwest Cottage and Finds!

      January 12, 2011 at 2:02 pm

      Once again--another great job! Love the fact that you are like me--hurry and paint outside while you can!!! Can't wait till Spring!

      Reply
    28. Cindy @ LeChaiseParfait

      January 12, 2011 at 2:01 pm

      Great job, I pass up so many veneer disasters. This looks great.

      Reply
    29. Semalee

      January 12, 2011 at 1:47 pm

      Wow! I would have left that at the curb! Thank you for inspiring us to take on the task 🙂

      Semalee @ Nailing Jello to a Tree

      Reply
    30. Proper Prim

      January 12, 2011 at 1:41 pm

      Oh Gail that is looking so good... looks brand new again... great job.

      Got to love that Gorilla Glue, I got some from Santa but haven't tried it yet.

      Have a great day... hopefully you get some nicer weather than we have... it was a white knuckle drive to work this morning... and it is going to be another one going home. I wish Mother Nature would stop PMSing... lol

      Hugs, Deb

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure