Are you looking for an easy and affordable way to update the look of your bedroom? Consider painting your bed frame! In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of painting a bed frame black using chalk paint and provide tips on how to achieve a professional-looking finish that will last for years.

For more ideas to update your bedroom, check out our list of black painted furniture ideas. With the right tools and techniques, you can turn your bed frame from drab to fab in just a few simple steps. So, let’s get started on giving your bed frame a stylish new look!

before photo of a twin antique bed frame

Is your bed frame looking dull and outdated like this twin bed frame was? Do you want to give it a fresh and modern look without spending too much? In this blog post, we’ll show you how to make homemade chalk paint for a budget friendly makeover.

We’ll also guide you through the steps of painting your bed frame, including filling scratches, prepping for chalk paint, and applying a topcoat.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a beautiful, new-looking bed frame that will update your bedroom’s look. So, let’s get started!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also may earn from other qualifying purchases with other companies or get free product to review and use. All opinions are my own.

Table of Contents

Supplies for Painting a Bed Frame Black

Preparing a Bed Frame for Paint

To get started, you’ll need to gather all your materials and take the bed frame apart if it isn’t already. Remove all the hardware from your bed frame to make your paint job look nicer, and so the bed will go back together easily.

If you want to get more creative, check out how to make a bench from a headboard and footboard here.

Next, give your bed frame a thorough cleaning using a degreasing cleaner like Krud Kutter.

This will help to remove any dirt, oils, or other substances that may prevent the paint from adhering to the surface. Learn more about cleaning before painting furniture if you’re not sure how to clean your furniture.

After cleaning, scuff sand the surface of the bed frame with 220-grit sandpaper. This step will create very small scratches on the surface, allowing the paint to grab onto the surface better.

Learn more about this step in our sanding before painting furniture post.

For our bed frame, we had this lovely drawing scratched into the wood. So, we had to take care of all of the scratches before moving on. If you have any scratches, fill them in with a wood filler and then sand the dry wood filler down flush with the wood around it.

There are a lot of wood fillers out there, so check out our list of the best wood fillers so you choose the right one for the damage on your furniture.

Once the surface is smooth, clean off the dust. I like to vacuum up the dust with my shop vacuum, and then use a tack cloth to get any remaining dust off.

Then, apply a coat of clear shellac. The primer will help the paint stick to the surface, stop stains from coming through the paint, and create a base for better coverage.

Here is our list of the best primers for furniture so you can pick the one that is right for you.

Making Homemade Chalk Paint

If you’re looking for an easy and affordable way to paint your bed frame black, consider making homemade chalk paint with my DIY homemade chalk paint recipe.

Check out more black chalk painted furniture ideas here.

To create the paint, you’ll need two main ingredients: Behr latex paint and calcium carbonate powder.

Mix the two ingredients until the mixture forms a smooth consistency. The calcium carbonate powder will give the paint a chalky texture, that helps the paint stick better. I would not use latex paint on its own for furniture.

Check out this post if you’re wondering what is the difference between chalk paint and regular paint.

Here are the top chalk paint brands if you want to use higher-end chalk paint. Or, if you don’t want to deal with topcoating the chalk paint, here are the best all in one paints for furniture.

Painting a Bed Frame

When applying the paint, you have several options. You can use a brush, roller, or paint sprayer to apply 2-4 coats of paint, depending on the desired coverage.

Here are the best paint brushes and the best rollers for painting furniture. And here are the best paint sprayers for furniture. Take your pick!

Spraying is my favorite method because it is easier, faster, and just looks way more professional to me. But if you have never sprayed before, and you only have one project to do, you might want to use a brush or roller instead.

Learn how to paint furniture with a sprayer here.

One great benefit of using homemade chalk paint is that it dries quickly, making it easier to apply multiple coats in a shorter amount of time.

Once you’ve applied the last coat of paint, let the bed frame dry for at least 2 hours before applying a topcoat to it.

After my last coat of chalk paint was dry, I rubbed some 220 grit sandpaper all over the paint to create a distressed look.

If you want to create a distressed look on your bed frame, here are our tips on distressing furniture. You can also check out these distressed painted furniture ideas to get some fun inspiration!

Topcoating Chalk Paint

The biggest downside to chalk paint is that it has to be topcoated because it is very porous and not as durable without the topcoat.

Check out the best topcoats for painting furniture to grab the right one for your project.

A water based polyurethane is my favorite topcoat because it will protect against scratches, and make the chalk paint easy to clean.

Apply three coats of water-based Varathane polyurethane topcoat with a brush or a paint sprayer for a smoother finish. Here is how to apply polycrylic (waterbased polyurethane) by hand, and here is how to spray polyurethane with a paint sprayer.

Then allow your bed frame to dry for at least 24 hours before lightly using it or putting it back together. The paint and topcoat will take about 30 days to cure (to the point that it is as durable as it will get).

Here’s what our black painted bed frame looked like after! I wish I would have gotten a photo of it all put together, but I didn’t. Isn’t it cute?!?

Check out these bedroom dresser ideas to match your newly painted bed frame!

closeup photo of a black painted bed frame with distressing

More Before And After Makeovers

Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.

closeup of a black painted antique bed frame

Best Paint for Wooden Bed Frame

When it comes to painting a wooden bed frame, choosing the right paint plays a big part in whether the paint job lasts a long time or looks professionally done.

Check out the best paints for wood furniture to know the right one for your project.

Two of our top recommendations are Heirloom Traditions Paint and Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel.

Heirloom Traditions Paint is a great option for those who want an easy project. It’s an all in one paint that adheres very well to wooden surfaces and even laminate surfaces and dries to a satin finish.

One of the benefits of this paint is that it doesn’t require priming or sanding before use. Yes, I’ve tested it and really, you can paint laminate furniture with Heirloom Traditions Paint without sanding or priming, and it will stick very well!

Learn more about using Heirloom Traditions Paint in our painting furniture with Heirloom Traditions Paint post. We also have a Heirloom Traditions All In One Paint review you should check out.

Another excellent option is Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel. This paint has a durable finish that’s resistant to scratches, stains, and other types of wear and tear.

It’s a water-based enamel that’s easy to apply with a brush, roller, or sprayer. One advantage of this paint is that it’s self-leveling, which means that it creates a smooth and even finish without brush marks!

Check out my honest Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel Review here.

Learn more about using Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel in our post about painting furniture with enamel paint.

Neither of these paints needs a topcoat! So you wouldn’t have to worry about that step with these paints.

Best of luck with your project! And happy painting!

Painting a Bed Frame Black

Planning to transform your bed frame and give your bedroom a fresh look? Follow this step by step guide to painting a bed frame black.

Materials

Tools

Instructions

Gather your materials and, if needed, disassemble the bed frame. Make sure to remove all hardware for a better-looking paint job and easier reassembly.
Use a degreasing cleanser like Krud Kutter to clean your bed frame thoroughly.
After cleaning, use 220-grit sandpaper to scuff sand the bed frame's surface.
Fill in any scratches with wood filler and sand the dry wood filler flush with the wood around it.
Once the surface is smooth, clean off the dust using a shop vacuum and then use a tack cloth to get any remaining dust off.
Then, apply a coat of shellac primer,
Make homemade chalk paint by mixing Behr latex paint and calcium carbonate powder until it forms a smooth consistency. Use a brush, roller, or paint sprayer to apply 2-4 coats of paint, depending on the desired coverage. Once you've applied the last coat of paint, let the bed frame dry for at least 2 hours before applying a topcoat to it.
After the last coat of chalk paint is dry, rub some 220 grit sandpaper all over the paint to create a distressed look.
Apply three coats of water based Varathane polyurethane topcoat with a brush or a paint sprayer for a smoother finish. Then allow your bed frame to dry for at least 24 hours before lightly using it or putting it back together.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

More Black Painted Furniture Ideas

Or share your project with us on our Facebook Group and be part of our community. See you there!

3 Comments

Julie Briones says:
at
This looks amazing, y’all. Love having some ‘grounding’ black in a room!
1. Julie Briones says:
  at
  Thanks for sharing at Tuesday Turn About! So happy to be featuring your post at the party this week! Pinned!
Esmé Slabbert says:
at
Thank you for sharing your links with us at #273 SSPS Linky. See you again next week.