Repurposed twin headboard into coffee bar shelf or towel rack shelf

It all started when I saw this solid wood headboard at the thrift store for $3.00. With the price of lumber right now the wood itself was a steal and I knew I would enjoy the challenge to turn it into a functional piece of decor for our home.

For this project you will need:

1×4 board (4 feet long is enough for a twin headboard)
1×6 board
nail gun
circular saw
sander or sandpaper
wood glue
4 coat hooks
spray chalk paint in color of choice

This twin headboard was 36 inches long so 4 feet long board or some 3 feet scrap pieces are perfect. I attached a 1×6 board in between the 2 legs with my nail gun. Then I cut a 1×4 board to length and attached it through the back with my nail gun along the seam of the headboard and new board. I cut 2 45-degree angled pieces from the leftover scrap of the 1×4 board and attached them with wood glue and nails in the back and top to help support the top shelf and also just give it more of a mantel look.

The one thing I wished I would have done at this point was to apply a quick coat of stain over the new boards. It would have allowed dark wood show through when you distress it and also helped the chalk paint cover better on the new wood.

But I gave it 2 coats of this spray chalk paint – I love the brush on version of this paint as well but the spray version works well too and so much easier on all those spindles than hand brushing it. I find that the spray version distresses so quickly and easily too! I distressed around all the details and on the spindles and it just gave it more of a vintage antique look.

And here it is styled in our bathroom as a towel rack shelf!

Can you even believe it? I knew it would turn out good but it always turns out better than I expected and then I want to keep it and not sell it.

This would work so well over a big garden tub or even in a smaller bathroom hanging on the wall to hang towels and display a few decor pieces.

I used some small french cleat-type hangers on the back and you’ll definitely want to make sure it is securely into a stud with some sturdy hangars.

So the other way I imagine this being used if you had a long enough wall for a 3 foot shelf I would use this as a coffee bar shelf! With a fun piece of furniture below it this could be hung right above it and the hooks are perfect to hang coffee mugs and the shelf to display some coffee themed decor.