How to raise the height of a headboard, easily!

If you don't know it by now, I love craigslist.  When its time to buy or sell furniture, I'm all over craiglist looking for a steal of a deal.

Earlier, I was looking for full headboards, as I was moving my girls to larger beds.

My first purchase lead me to a great white headboard for my oldest daughter that needed no help.  Listed for $100, got it for $60, no painting needed, great height, perfect fit.  Kind of boring for me : )

The second find was not the same.  I fell in love with this mid century modern headboard (the whole bed was actually listed for $50, but I just wanted the headboard, so he sold it to me for $30).  This might be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

The finish wasn't a perfect match in person (lighter than this pic he posted) so I figured we might need to paint it.  More importantly I could tell when I saw it, the height wasn't advertised right.  But I was already in love, so I'd just have to fix it at home.

This might have been the easiest building project I've ever completed.  Rarely do I ever have every tool, piece of hardware and appropriate materials that I need : )

First, I measured the wall to see the max height and realized I needed to raise the headboard 7" so it would fit under the wall art above. As you can see it was a tight fit, so I had to measure a few times to make sure I got it right.

The trick was how to raise the headboard without it being wobbly.

I took two scrap pieces of 2 x 4 (about 12" long each) and marked seven inches up (the amount i wanted to raise the headboard). I then placed the block under the headboard leg to mark the width of the leg.  This created a corner to cut off, where the headboard leg would sit. Then I used a chop saw to cut it, but you could easily use a hand saw.

Then I used my drill to drill two holes through the headboard leg and piece of wood so I could bolt them togther.

Luckily I had four bolts and rounded nuts that were long enough to go through the leg and the board (I love when I don't have to make a run to Home Depot : ) 

I did have to use a larger drill bit to create a countersink for the bolt head to sit in so the bolts I had would work perfectly, but that isn't necessary.  Your bolts may be long enough and you don't need to hide anything, as all of this will be behind the bed.

I bolted it all together and viola, 39" headboard becomes a 46" headboard.

It doesn't look perfect, but like I said, it's all hidden behind the bed and nightstand...see.

Luckily we did a "fit" run to see how we liked it and my daughter didn't even want to paint it.  Her bedding has brown in it and she thought it looked great (sometimes a child's impatience pays off : )

 

Hope this diagram helps you raise your headboard if you are looking to!

Use a wall plate rack to hold picture frames!

 

Here's another use for the plate racks that were so popular in the 90's, early 2000's and still in stores today.  Place photos frames in them.  Just another way to display family photos!

Two tricks to touch up paint when your paint drys out!

So I've been re-doing my kids bedrooms, converting from twin loft to full beds. Once the beds were switched and furniture/wall art was moved as needed, it was time to touch up the nail holes.

I go to the garage and find the five colors, open them up, and whoops.  The light pink was almost completely dried out.

The sage green is as well. Great! I've got 10 holes to cover in pink and patched hole to paint in the sage! First I tried a trick that worked for me before. I put a piece of the not quite dry paint from the bottom in water (the paint is latex) to see if I could reconstitute it. I had done this with my flat wall paint in the past.

This worked for the sage, but it was the consistency of chewed gum. I was able to paint a small area I had patched and never painted back over successfully. 

So that's tip #1.  If your paint isn't completely dried out, you can try to grind it into a little bit of water to see if it will incorporate enough to use.

The pink was completely dry and I was at a loss. But then something amazing came to me. As I tried to peel the paint off the bottom to try to reconstitute it, some peeled off the side of the can. I thought, wow, wish I could just stick this on the wall. WAIT! I can! So, armed with a glue stick, this strange piece of paint and a small cloth, I proceeded to go try.

 It was so easy, I could hardly believe it.  Here is one example of a hole I had to cover.

First I spackled the holes with this.

 

I used a damp cloth to wipe each patched hole, so I made sure I was only having to cover the small hole.

 

I then tore a jagged small piece off the sheet of paint (just enough to cover the hole...about the size of a pencil eraser).

I used one finger to place that piece on the glue stick and take off, then I used a clean finger to place it on the wall (that kept the piece from sticking to my finger instead of the wall). I could not believe what I saw. It was perfect. You could not tell where I had patched it!

 

I then wiped lightly with my damp cloth to make sure no glue remained on top or around the paint patch.

It was that easy!

I had to share this tip. I've been through this three times and had never thought of this. Kind of reminds me of the nail polish on plastic pin on Pinterest to peel and place on your nails :)

Hope this helps someone who is in a panic that they are going to have to repaint a room because their touch up paint has dried :)