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How to Get rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed

October 2, 2017 by boondocks 69 Comments

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Disclosure: I was compensated for doing this post with product.  However, all the opinions stated here are my own. I only use products I love and would recommend to my viewers.
​
I’ve been working on transforming my small apartment space for the past few months. We had an old wood bed that we wanted to use as a daybed but it was in desperate  need of a makeover. Because this may have been in style 20 years ago but now it stuck out like a sore thumb in the room. 

If you have been following me you know that I am on a quest to make this room brighter and happier.  Here in Greece we are used to the bright light and blue skies and when autumn rolls around it can feel gloomy for us.  But with a bit of paint I hope to create a fun happy room that will shoo away those blues. 

Now that sounds kind of funny considering that blue is one of the predominant colors in the room but you get the idea! We are going to get rid of the blues with a blue daybed.
​

Old wooden twin bed, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com

​What I used:

  • DecoArt Americana Decor chalky finish paint in Everlasting
  • sand paper
  • DecoArt Americana Decor chalky finish paint in Escape
  • DecoArt Metallics in Champagne
  • ​water to dilute the paint
  • ​my homemade beeswax

​​

chalky type paint How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
​

​The How To:

Since the wood had a glossy finish to it, I sanded it down just a bit so the chalky paint would stick better. 
​
slats of bed, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
After three coats it was done. But as pretty as that everlasting white may have been, I wanted something more.  You​ see one side of the headboard and foot board was flat…
​
headboard painted white How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
…but the other side had carvings to emulate the shape of the boards.
​
foot board with carved work, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
I painted the carvings with the Americana Escape which is a beautiful blue. But I wanted a softer look so for the central panel, I added water to the paint and did a white wash, or in this case a blue wash. 
​
painting the carved area, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
I just kept on randomly dragging brush strokes across the panel.  I was trying to emulate a look of blue clouds.
​
painting the raised area blue, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
And then this happened!  And I loved it so much I tried to create more drops.
​
layers of blue painted on headboard, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
And I got so carried away … I ended up with this!
​
additional blue layers, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
And then I really went over board and watered down some acrylic paint in champagne which is a metallic color. I brushed that on too.  It gave a fine shimmer to the whole panel. Almost as if it had been kissed by champagne dust. 
​
mixing metallic champagne with water, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
​Disclosure: The items below are affiliate links and link to Amazon.com. If you purchase any of these products through the links, I receive a small commission, that way I can continue to provide you with lovely content.  There is no extra charge to you for purchasing through my affiliate links.
​
Can you see the different shades and depth of the panel?
the headboard with layers of blue and metallic, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
The final step was to distress it in areas to give it some more depth and then apply my homemade wax to seal everything in. ​A close up of the headboard.
​
finished headboard, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
This technique is not for everyone but I particularly like it because it reminds me of the sea and the calm look of the bay.  I had to stop myself from drawing a little boat on there.
​
detail of painted daybed, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
And here it is in the small apartment.  We are using it as a daybed.  You can also see  the ​bookcases I had painted a while back. And to the left of the daybed is the doily top side table.  I’ll be sharing the rest of the work in the small apartment in the coming weeks, so this is just one corner of the space.  
the painted daybed in the small apartment, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
And so ends my story of how I managed to turn a dull wood bed into a fun daybed. Of course there was nothing wrong with the bed, but as you can guess it would have weighted down the rest of the room.  I think that these pretty blues are so much fun and add a note of cheer to the room. 

Would you have gone ahead and added a drawing of a boat?
​

how to paint a wood twin bed and turn it into a happy daybed, How to Get Rid of the Blues with a Blue Daybed www.theboondocksblog.com
​If you like what you see, share it with your friends, or save it on Pinterest.  Above is a Pinterest worthy image!

​If you really like what you see subscribe to my blog and get my adventures once a week in your mailbox. The form is on the sidebar and on top.  Your e-mail will never be shared with a third party.

Picture
The small apartment series:
Henje storage unit painted with milk paint
blue and white table made over with chalk paint
Blue chairs made over with chalky type paint
bookcases upcycled with milk paint
Organizing bookases frugally by painting and decoupaging magazine files
Trunk painted with milk paint
up-cycling cookie tin cans with decoupage and fabric
a side table with a doily top that has been decoupaged

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This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.​

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Filed Under: DecoArt Paints, Furniture, Projects, Uncategorized, Up Cycle

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle Leslie

    October 2, 2017 at 11:50 am

    I love how you use words Mary – kissed by champagne dust is one of the most descriptive things I ever heard. Now you have a day bed that sure to get rid of those blues 😉

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 6:48 pm

      Did I actually say that? Sometimes I surprise even myself.

      Reply
  2. Katerina Konstantinou

    October 2, 2017 at 2:34 pm

    Great work Mary! It’s bright and blue like a Greek island!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 6:51 pm

      Exactly Katerina! Just what I wanted to depict!

      Reply
  3. Linda at Mixed Kreations

    October 2, 2017 at 5:51 pm

    I hate to hear that you are having the blues Mary! I hope painting the daybed helped in getting rid of them. The bed turned out really pretty, you did a great job on it. I love the way you did the blue, and I love the distressing. Yes you should of went ahead and painted a boat. Then when you feel blue you can imagin your on the boat. 😊

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 6:57 pm

      What a fun thought Linda. I wanted to keep things light and fun with this room so that in the winter when we only have a few hours of daylight we can still feel happy instead of feeling gloomy. I think most Greeks thrive on the sunshine.

      Reply
  4. Debrashoppeno5

    October 2, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    The daybed is so lovely. It certainly does look like water.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 6:59 pm

      Yay, that is what I wanted to hear. Thank you Debra!

      Reply
  5. Florence

    October 2, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    I liked the natural wood actually, but I LOVE the whitewash, and the blue in the middle is very cheery. It does remind you of the sea. Adding a boat would have been fine too, especially if you can draw. I can’t.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 7:01 pm

      If I had left it with the natural wood it would have stuck out like a sore thumb. I also have no problem with the natural look, but in this case it just did not belong. Btw, I am not a drawer either but that never stops me. 😉

      Reply
  6. Jeannee Taylor

    October 2, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    Beautiful Color!
    Jeannee

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 7:05 pm

      Thank you Jeannee doesn’t it remind you of the sea?

      Reply
  7. Rena Christodoulou

    October 3, 2017 at 7:41 am

    Όμορφη αλλαγή στο κρεβάτι αλλά και στο χώρο.
    Περιμένω τη συνέχεια.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 7:08 pm

      Euxaristw Rena mou! Ta xromata tis thalassas.

      Reply
  8. Maria Brittis

    October 3, 2017 at 7:46 am

    I love your home.That blue create such a shabby beach vibe. its perfect for that home of yours.I love your posts.
    Maria

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 7:10 pm

      When I was younger my decor was much more stuffy and proper but I have learned to loosen up and go with what makes me happy and not follow any rules. Thus I went with my instinct and just painted it what I wanted.

      Reply
      • fae

        December 7, 2017 at 12:54 pm

        I love it. Funny how we change with age. My dec. is very shabby chic and I used to have everything match too. Now I can almost have anything!!

        Reply
  9. Katrin

    October 3, 2017 at 7:56 am

    Oh those blues!! I can see the sea in that headboard Mary it looks just like a beautiful watercolour painting! Well done, the bed looks way better now than before and is a lovely addition to your appartment!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 7:12 pm

      It has some character now before it was pretty boring.

      Reply
  10. [email protected]

    October 3, 2017 at 10:42 am

    I don’t think I would have added a boat because I can’t draw a straight line, but it would be a nice touch!
    Pretty blues you used Mary!
    xxx

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 7:14 pm

      I was thinking of the Japanese style of painting. Because I can’t draw either, but rather a hint of a boat.

      Reply
  11. Kim

    October 3, 2017 at 11:52 am

    Very pretty, Mary. Blue is the perfect way to cheer up a room!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 3, 2017 at 7:16 pm

      I agree Kim, enough of all that dull wood.

      Reply
  12. Jeanie Croope

    October 3, 2017 at 10:33 pm

    Oh my, I just love anything blue and that’s the most luscious color! What a fun series of posts!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 4, 2017 at 5:49 pm

      Thanks Jeanie. I prepared this space for when we visit and for my hubby who must spend lots of time in Greece,

      Reply
  13. Marjan Hoebeke-Pfaff

    October 4, 2017 at 1:19 am

    Great job, dear Mary! Beautiful daybed – still lacking something though: a crochet blanket 😉

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 4, 2017 at 5:51 pm

      Yes Marjan it definitely needs a crochet blanket in a nice bright color.

      Reply
  14. Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal

    October 4, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    Oooh, Mary! Each photo I liked the bed more, then as the next came up, I liked the bed even more! You could paint an entire fishing scene on the bed and it would be really fun. <3 Your apartment room is turning out great. <3

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 4, 2017 at 5:53 pm

      Thank you Barbara. I am very excited to show you the finished space, but I’ll be showing each room and DIY project separately first.

      Reply
  15. Nikki Gwin

    October 4, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    I am a blue lover too and I love what you did with the bed. I think its perfect just like it is.
    🙂 gwingal

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 4, 2017 at 5:54 pm

      And to think Nikki that I wasn’t a blue girl at all till I started this space.

      Reply
  16. Zografia

    October 4, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    A boat and the sun! That’s one happy room you made there!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 5, 2017 at 12:16 pm

      That’s what I want Zografia, a happy room with lots of Greek colors.

      Reply
  17. Sam - Raggedy Bits

    October 5, 2017 at 3:27 am

    I see the ocean in your headboard Mary!! What a beautiful transformation.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 5, 2017 at 12:16 pm

      Thank you Sam. I want to look at it and feel calm like the ocean.

      Reply
  18. Carolann

    October 5, 2017 at 11:44 am

    That’s so beautiful, Mary! I did a headboard with almost the same colors and tried to make it looks like a dreamy sea! Great minds think alike! Love it!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 5, 2017 at 12:17 pm

      Oh wonderful Carolann. It is so serene and calming to look at now. I will have to see yours too. Is it on the blog?

      Reply
  19. nikki frank-hamilton

    October 5, 2017 at 1:51 pm

    I love the contrast of the white and blue. Once you added the different shades and kissed it with champagne I loved it even more. Boat or no boat I think this room will cure all the blues that ail you!
    Isn’t chalk-style paint the best? I absolutely love it!!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 9, 2017 at 3:28 pm

      Thank you Nikki! I really want it to be a happy room! And yes chalk paint can work miracles.

      Reply
  20. Maya Kuzman

    October 5, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    It does make a great change and I cannot wait to see it finished. All the blues make it really a special room.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 9, 2017 at 3:39 pm

      I want it to be calm and relaxing.

      Reply
  21. gigi

    October 6, 2017 at 5:47 am

    Super pretty! I love anything white washed and with the blue— love those colors!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 8:35 am

      Thank you Gigi, they are colors of the beach!

      Reply
  22. Maisy

    October 6, 2017 at 8:13 am

    White makes everything better – and blue of course 😀 No really, I think it looks much neater than before. And it matches your whole nautical blue/white colour palette that I love! Couldn’t pull that off in rainy Germany though… I fell like those beautiful blue and turquoise dishes and furniture need a sunny climate and an ocean nearby… sigh! (who knows, maybe one day I’ll move to a warmer country)

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 8:41 am

      And yet Maisy, the reason I went through all this painting is because when Summer is over we too have lots of rain and cloudy days. Some of us because we are used to the sun cannot stand the dreariness and tend to get melancholy. That’s why I did all this painting. Just like the Scandinavian style. I think it doesn’t matter where you live but instead what you choose to surround yourself with!

      Reply
  23. Mia

    October 6, 2017 at 4:33 pm

    Beautifu, Mary. And what a great technique! I just LOVE it! Enjoy! Kisses, my friend.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 8:42 am

      Thank you so much Mia, the room should be finished soon!

      Reply
  24. Carol

    October 6, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    Mary, I love all your items you’ve painted with blue, including this newest one for the daybed. I see a lovely coastal look when you use any of these gorgeous blues.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 8:48 am

      That’s exactly what I’m after Carol, to create a cozy feeling when it is dark and rainy outside.

      Reply
  25. Sandra L Garth

    October 6, 2017 at 5:57 pm

    I never thought I get a vibe from a headboard but I did with this one. It’s very calm and relaxing and the color is reminiscent of the sea and sky. Thank you for sharing with us at Celebrate Your Story, and have a great weekend.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Thank you Sandra. That is exactly what I was going for.

      Reply
  26. Amber Harrop

    October 9, 2017 at 2:48 pm

    Such a gorgeous shade of blue too -love your day bed

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 9:16 am

      Thanks so much Amber, the sea is my inspiration!

      Reply
  27. Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces

    October 9, 2017 at 2:54 pm

    What a fresh new look, Mary. I love it AND your whole new space. Enjoy!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 9:20 am

      Thanks Larissa, I love the brightness of it.

      Reply
  28. Pili

    October 9, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    The daybed looks lovely Mary, the blue reminds me the shades sea has, it is like you brought a piece of Greece to New York and now that apartment looks so bright. I’m sure your son is happy having you there

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 9:27 am

      Thanks Pili that is exactly what I wanted to achieve. But this apartment is in Greece. It gets to stay behind.

      Reply
  29. Debbie

    October 9, 2017 at 11:53 pm

    Hi Mary, I like the way you’ve managed to make this plain old wooden bed into a rustic looking wooden bed. It’s perfect as it is, painting a boat on it may have sort of ruined the effect.
    xx

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 9:41 am

      Thanks Debbie. I chickened out in the end and didn’t paint the boat.

      Reply
  30. Christina Makri

    October 10, 2017 at 12:49 am

    My dear friend you are the master of repurposing! You can make everything look fresh and new. Your daybed is so beautiful and I loved the idea of watered paint… so so artistic!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 9:58 am

      Christina when I saw your vase I had a good laugh because I had been working on this project at the time. Great minds think alike.

      Reply
  31. Kathleen

    October 11, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    You turned an ordinary piece of furniture into one with character and a story. Kudos! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
    xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 10:00 am

      Thank you so much Kathleen. I love getting lost in those blues!

      Reply
  32. Laurie

    October 11, 2017 at 10:56 pm

    Mary, I love how you tackle your projects! The paint makes a huge difference and updates the look of the daybed and no doubt the pretty blues will make this a lovely space to spend time in.

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 12, 2017 at 10:02 am

      Most definitely Laurie. I try to make each piece unique.

      Reply
  33. Julie

    October 14, 2017 at 4:15 am

    I love how you built these layers up until you were happy with them, it looks so pretty now. I say go for it with the boat drawing. It would be fun!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 14, 2017 at 6:58 am

      Thanks Julie, I really wanted to add dimension this way and it did turn out pretty well. As for the boat. maybe sometime in the future.

      Reply
  34. Keri Roberts

    October 25, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    Mary, I love the effects you gave the headboard! It looks wonderful! Those blue tones are so lovely and soothing, what a beautiful space you’ve created!!

    Reply
    • Mary

      October 25, 2017 at 7:54 pm

      Keri it was quite a stretch for me but sometimes you have to try new things and see how the work out.

      Reply

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