Summary for brass headboard refinishing Discussion
brass headboard refinishing is the main topic here, with readers asking whether a white or tarnished brass-plated bed can be painted and what prep is needed. Ted Mooney, P.E. says a white-coated headboard can be repainted if the existing paint is sound: wash with detergent, lightly scuff-sand reachable areas, and apply the new finish. For a badly tarnished brass-plated headboard, he says a simpler but much more expensive option is replating by a plating shop; he also notes that Brasso is not especially abrasive and is just a slow brass polish, so it may help only if the plating is still intact. When Sylvia asks about painting brass, Ted explains that brass is hard to paint reliably and recommends a self-etching primer made for difficult metals, such as XIM, before applying the topcoat. The thread’s practical takeaway is that repainting is possible, but proper surface prep and primer choice matter.
My hair client wanted to go Boho in the spare bedroom with a light green and white shear curtains etc.. very light and airy so I suggested that I could paint it. It’s an older headboard that is hollow and brass/gold in color. I cleaned it w dawn dish soap n water.. lightly sanded and used a few latex house paint colors n mixed to what I wanted. Just brushed it on using a spray bottle w water to help w the ease of spreading the paint n the goal w getting the least of brush stokes showing ! Let it dry then applied a few coats of clear acrylic to seal. I did this over 4 years ago but the photo is recent!
Jax Bender
Crafter n Flipper n Hairstylist – Phoenix Arizona
March 5, 2025
⇩ Similar, related, Q&As — oldest first ⇩
Q. I recently purchased a “brass” headboard. It has markings which have the appearance of water spots, small dots which look like brownish tarnish and then lighter silver areas which make me think that the headboard is plated metal. In reading numerous questions and answers relating to brass plating I have more questions than before. I placed a magnet to the headboard and it stuck. According to posting this means it’s plated, correct? How would I then know what type of metal it is? Then how do I clean, refinish or revamp the piece to look good? I’m not set on it having a gold, or brass finish, any suggestions?
Thanks,
Kimberly DeMontigny
homeowner – Dickson, Tennessee
2004
Vintage Brass Beds & Parts on eBay [affil link]
A. The magnet reveals that it is made of steel. From your description of ‘lighter silver’ areas it is probably steel that was nickel plated and then brass plated. You can certainly send it to a plating shop for replating, but that may not be within your budget for this project.
Unless it looks really bad, I’d probably try to clean it with Brasso
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] or another polish and then spray it with brass lacquer
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link]
and call it quaint.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. I have a “brass type” headboard that is white. Can I refinish it in an antiqued black paint finish?
Naydine Frison
Homeowner – Chico, California, USA
June 18, 2008
A. Sure, Naydine. As long as the white paint is adherent, just wash it with detergent, very lightly sand what’s easily reachable to scuff the surface a tiny bit, and paint it.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. What is the best type of paint to use?
Naydine Frison [returning]
– Chico, California, USA
June 19, 2008
A. Any paint designed for metal ought to be fine, either brush-on or spray, Naydine. Think Rustoleum or Krylon; think the hardware store rather than the paint chip section. If you see a picture of wheelbarrows, or wagons, or metal chairs, or patio furniture on the can, you’ve probably got the right stuff 🙂
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. I have a badly tarnished brass plated head & foot board. I have asked around and have been told don’t use an abrasive cleaner like Brasso
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] . I have also asked about painting over the brass plating and make it antique white.
Paint store said to sand lightly, XIM primer
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
and then paint. Is there a simpler way?
Thanks,
Tom Werling
Tom Werling
– Silver Point, Tennessee
July 27, 2008
A. Hi, Tom. A simpler but much more expensive way would be to contact a plating shop and have them replate it for you. Then you would still have a brass bed.
Brasso
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link] is not what I would call an abrasive cleaner; I can’t think of a gentler or slower brass polish. Some people dislike it because it can take forever on very heavy tarnish. But if the plating was thin, and it’s old and worn, a brass polish can do only so much.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. Hi have a brass headboard that was given to me, it is in very good condition. I am not fond of gold and want to paint it either white or bronze. A magnet does not stick to it.
What is the best way to paint it?
Thank you,
Sylvia Emrick
– La Habra, California, USA
May 5, 2015
Vintage Brass Beds & Parts on eBay [affil link]
A. Hi Sylvia. Brass has an earned reputation for being very difficult to paint, i.e., it can be difficult to get paint to adhere to it tenaciously. So you need to try a self-etching primer designed for hard-to-paint metals. The previously mentioned XIM primer
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
is one, but there are many.
After the primer, any paint of your choice should be okay. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.