That's what Grandma gets for goofing off!

Friends, if this bench looks familiar, that's because a few years ago I published a post on how we built this Headboard Bench for our dining room. So why would I be giving it another makeover you wonder? Well, Grandma (that would be moi) was goofing around with her 4-year-old grandson one day and took a giant leap onto the bench. When I landed smack dab beside him...ahem...we all heard a loud crack.

The bench was still structurally sound (says my pride) but the faceplate on the front of the seat took a dive forward - hence the need for a damaged vintage headboard bench makeover.

Damaged Vintage Headboard Bench Makeover

I figured since we had to take the bench apart anyway, I would take the opportunity to finally get rid of the stencil on the back that I've never been 100% satisfied with. Plus the bench is my grandson's favorite spot to eat when he visits Grandma & Grandpa and his less than refined motor skills are evident on the stained fabric.


Today is one of my favorite days of the month because it is Furniture Fixer Upper Day. Six talented furniture painting friends come together on the fourth Thursday every month to breath new life into furniture. I figured this was the motivation I needed to finally get at those bench repairs plus, I missed our comfortable dining bench.

I've included links to my friend's furniture makeovers at the bottom of this post. Last month, I gave our repurposed dining hutch now DIY Built-In Pantry an unexpected makeover.

While I loved the French patisserie stencil, I didn't like how it was much too small for the scale of the bench. For this makeover, I switched it up with a much larger French graphic but this time instead of a stencil I used a Prima decor transfer.


Because the bench is going right back into our dining room, I made an ever so slight change to the paint color. Instead of my usual distressing the paint with sandpaper, I used a wet distress technique this time.


I surprised myself and went with neutral stripes for the new seat fabric and will be reupholstering all our dining chairs to match soon.


While there isn't a dramatic change to the bench after the makeover, I think it looks so much better now.

Just to recap, here is the bench before the makeover...


...and here it is after.


The farmhouse above the headboard is one of my Mom's paintings. I cherish it so since her passing. I thought it fitting to stage with the bench considering the French Bénisse Cette Maison transfer means Bless This House.


I couldn't be happier with our headboard dining bench now. It seats three people comfortably at our dining table. With our growing family, what's not to love about that!

Here's the scoop on the headboard bench makeover

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Repairs and fresh paint

The repairs were fairly minor. The faceplate on the seat was reattached with screws, rather than brad nails like before, from the front of the bench and into the frame of the seat. The screw holes were filled and sanded smooth and ready for a fresh coat of paint.

But first I needed to conceal the old stencil with four coats of my go-to white primer.


Like I mentioned earlier, I made an ever so slight change to the paint color but rather than chalk paint, this time I used Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint in the color Drop Cloth, a warmer white. For a brushstroke free finish, I used my favorite angled sash paintbrush.

Chalk paint requires a protective finish like either wax or a clear topcoat. Mineral-based paint cures rock hard within 30 days and doesn't require a topcoat. One less step makes this girl a happy camper!

Wet distress technique

Because I only brushed one coat of fresh paint, I could still see the areas where the bench was distressed in the first makeover. To keep it simple I used the wet distress technique by simply rubbing over those areas with a damp cloth before the paint dried. Easy peasy!

French Prima decor transfer

You know how much I love me some Prima decor furniture transfers. I used them on the French Console Table Makeover,  Duncan Phyfe Coffee Table Makeover, French Country Place Holders, and the French Terracotta Saucer Coasters. If you want an instant wow factor on furniture and home decor, these transfers are amazing.

For my bench, I used the 34" x 9" Prima Bénisse transfer, a perfect size for the long back. They are easy to work with but the paint must cure for at least 48 hours before applying them.


I find it is much easier to lay the furniture on it's back when working with transfers. With the back paper still behind the transfer, line it up on the furniture and use painters tape to hold the transfer in place along the top.

The instructions say to keep the back paper behind the transfer as you work and slowly pull it down a few inches at a time. On a previous project, I forgot I had part of the back paper still behind the transfer and accidentally rubbed the transfer onto the paper instead of the furniture.

Vowing never to do that again, now what I do is after I have the transfer lined up and taped in place, I carefully remove the back paper sheet. Holding the transfer nice and straight and taut, I gently rest the transfer on the surface (like pictured above).

Starting at the top, rub the transfer paper with the stick provided and you'll know when the transfer lifted from the paper when it turns from a dark charcoal color to a light gray. Carefully lift the transfer paper as you work to check before moving onto the next section.


I did apply a top coat on the back of the bench ONLY. Not necessarily to protect the paint but to protect the transfer. I used what I had on hand which was two coats of Dixie Belle Gator Hide. If I had some flat or satin Dixie Belle Clear Coat, I would have used it instead.

New fabric on the seat

Because the bench was built not long ago, the foam and batting didn't need to be replaced. If the new fabric is heavy enough, you can upholster right over the old fabric but I'm in the habit of removing the old fabric first, especially if it's nasty. Removing the old staples is a pain but the job is much easier with this handy upholstery staple removal tool.

I always have my upholstery bible, The Complete Guide To Upholstery by my side. It has clear instructions with photos on how to get those corners just right.


I'll be so glad to have our vintage headboard bench back in the dining room just in time for Canadian Thanksgiving on October 14th.


But first, before the headboard goes back in the dining room we will be spraying the new fabric with Scotchgard to protect it from our little cookie monster.





Here are some other DIY headboard bench ideas that you may like.

If you have any questions about this makeover, please leave them in the comment section below or press the Contact Me button at the top of the blog to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

Please join me by pressing the links below to see how my talented friend's transformed these furniture pieces.

1. Girl In The Garage
2. Petticoat Junktion
3. Confessions Of A Serial DIYer
4. Just The Woods
5. Salvaged Inspirations
6. Interior Frugalista (that's me)