Tri-Fold Door Headboard

In an earlier post, we talked about using a standard paneled door as a headboard.  Here's another take on the "door as a headboard" idea that really offers you a ton of creative opportunity:  create a headboard from a set of tri-fold closet doors.

Now, admittedly, this is maybe a bit more expensive than some of the other ideas--you would need to pick up a set of doors if you don't have them--but the project will produce a very unique and interesting result that's probably worth the expense. 

Here's how to achieve what you see in the picture, as well as some other variations you could try:

Stripes, Stripes, Stripes

As we see in the picture, stripes can create a calm, soothing, clean and somewhat modern feel in a room.  And the good news is that accomplishing a look like this is much easier than you may think.

However, before we spell out the "how-to's" regarding this project, let me start by saying that the biggest, most important tool you'll need (besides the doors and the paint) is the right tape.  Trying a project like this with the wrong masking tape is going to be disappointing and frustrating.  So don't go cheap on the tape if you're going to try this!  I strongly recommend picking up a role of 3m's "Orange Core" safe-release masking tape at RepcoLite.  This is a specially formulated "safe-release" tape that will both leave sharp, clean lines while at the same time come off freshly painted surfaces without pulling up the paint.  Using a tape like this will prevent any bleed-through or "bumpy" paint lines.  You'll get sharp, crisp lines and (trust me) you'll be happy!

OK, start with the right tape and the rest of the project is easy.

1. Prime and paint the doors with a white (or the predominant color in your scheme) Eggshell finish.  Preferably RepcoLite's Hallmark Eggshell.
2. After the doors have dried for 24 hours, carefully measure off and tape the different section that you want to apply the different color stripes to. 
3. Roll your colors onto these areas using a small roller and allow to dry for 20 minutes to an hour before carefully removing tape.
4. Continue in this manner, filling in the doors with the differently sized and colored stripes until the doors look the way you want.
5. Once you've accomplish this, let the doors completely dry and mount them.  (Remember this, though:  Latex paint dries to the touch in hours, but doesn't reach it's full cure or full hardness until about 30 days later.  This means the doors/headboard won't be as durable as possible for the first month or so--so go a little easy on them!)

Variations on this One 

1. Don't stagger the stripes--run them from one end to the other.
2. Skip the stripes entirely and paint each door a separate color.
3. Paint the doors a solid, consistent color--all three of them--and then run 1, 2, maybe 3 narrow stripes (1", 2" or so) across the doors from left to right.  Clump these narrow stripes or spread them out.
4. Run the stripes from top to bottom rather than left to right.
5. Apply wallpaper to the doors instead of paint.  

The variations are basically endless.  It's only a matter of the limits of your creativity.  Above all things:  have fun!