My boys have always shared a bedroom, and for the last several years, they’ve even shared a king-sized bed. But recently, we decided it was time for them to have their own beds. Since they still share a room, space was limited, so we went with Twin XL beds to give them each a little extra length without taking up too much floor space.
What I didn’t expect? How difficult it would be to find Twin XL bed frames that checked all my boxes! I specifically wanted a mid-tone wood finish (not too light or dark), headboards included, space under the beds for storage, and not too expensive.
I finally found a pair of bed frames that fit my criteria…almost. The only problem? The color.
Bed Makeover Using Liquid Wood
Online, the finish was described as “toffee.” The photos showed a slightly orange tone, but I figured I’d take my chances. I’d actually ordered a “toffee” bed in the past, and the color was totally fine. When these beds arrived and I opened the boxes, my heart sank. They weren’t just a little orange, they were ORANGE orange.
And since we had just installed a warm wood ceiling and a red brick wall in the boys’ room, the orange was fighting everything around it.
Returning them wasn’t really an option, so I decided to do what any good DIYer does..make them over.
The Plan: A DIY Bed Frame Color Makeover
At first, I thought I’d use the liquid wood method I’ve used in other projects, but when I checked my supplies, I didn’t have enough left to do both beds. Before I ordered more, I decided to experiment with leftover paint and stain I already had on hand and apply it similarly to the way I’d use liquid wood.
And because I knew this would be easier before assembly, I laid out all the parts (and there were a lot of parts!) in my shop in a semi-organized system. This made it easier to work on both beds at once.
How I Changed the Color of Our Twin XL Beds
Step 1: Light Scuff Sand
I started with a light scuff sand to remove the sheen from each piece just enough to dull the factory finish so the next layers would adhere better. After sanding, I wiped everything down to remove the dust.
Step 2: White Paint Wash
To neutralize that bold orange, I watered down some white paint and brushed on a thin wash over each piece. This toned down the color and gave me a neutral base to build on.
Step 3: Beige/Tan Paint Wash
Next, I mixed another wash using beige/tan paint and layered that over the white. In hindsight, I probably could’ve just done one of the two but my goal was to make sure the orange wouldn’t peek through. Sometimes DIY is just trial and error!
Step 4: First Gel Stain Layer (Toasted Oak)
Once everything was dry, I brushed on a layer of Toasted Oak gel stain. I used a brush intentionally because I wanted to see some brush strokes — it helped mimic the texture and variation of real wood grain.
Step 5: Second Gel Stain Layer (Darker Tone)
After the first coat dried, I added a second layer of darker gel stain to achieve the rich, mid-tone color I wanted. The lighter layer underneath gave the finished look more dimension and realistic color variation.
At first, I tried brushing it on, but it went on thicker than I liked, so I switched to a staining sponge. If you’ve never used gel stain before, I highly recommend a sponge — it gives you more control and a smoother, more even finish.
Step 6: Clean Up and Seal
When working with gel stain, it’s a good idea to keep mineral spirits on hand — it’s an easy way to remove or thin out areas where you’ve applied too much. Once I was happy with the color, I sealed everything with a matte finish topcoat. The gel stain itself left a bit of shine, but I wanted a more natural, satin-matte look that matched the other wood tones in the room.
This step also helps protect the finish from scratches, which, let’s be honest, is a must for boys’ furniture.
Step 7: Assemble and Admire Your Bed Makeover
Once everything was dry and sealed, it was finally time to assemble the beds.
The new stain color looked so much better, a warm, natural tone that fit perfectly with the ceiling and brick wall.
Are the beds perfect? No. The finish isn’t flawless, and the frames themselves are made of cheaper materials, so some pieces took the stain better than others. But overall, I’m really happy with how they turned out.
They look custom, match the rest of the room, and most importantly, the boys love them. Maybe one day I’ll build fully custom beds, but for now, these are working great and complement the space beautifully.
If you ever find yourself in the same situation, stuck with a furniture color that clashes with your room remember this: you can fix it. With a little patience, leftover supplies, and some creativity, you can completely change the look of a bed frame (or any furniture) without spending a ton of money or starting from scratch.
Final bed makeover reveal
