This post is written in collaboration with Walmart.  I have been compensated by Walmart for this post but all opinions are my own.

For those of you following us over on Instagram, you watched as Deb and I drove down to Alabama to a Vintage Market.  It was SO FUN!  We had all of these things in mind that we wanted to find.  We found none of the things on our list.  What we did find was a TOTALLY FREAKING AWESOME fireplace mantel.  I fell in love with it IMMEDIATELY.  I knew it would go perfectly into our new house, since we are wanting to built our new house to look old.  Two questions came to mind.

• How in the heck would we get it home from Alabama because we didn’t drive our truck?  We drove our Cadillac SRX because it has a big enough area when you lay down the seats to transport goodies.  But this massive 7′ wide x 5′ high fireplace is a no go in a Cadillac.  ???? The girl who was selling it at the Vintage Market was actually from Columbus, Ohio, which is only 2 hours away from us.  She was so sweet and agreed to  haul it back home and keep it for us until we got moved.  Inside she was probably cursing.  I thanked her a million times over when we picked it up.
• What in the heck would we do with it once we got it home?  Our storage unit is pretty full.  And due to the size of it, we thought we needed to come up with something creative to use it in our house.  Which is ALSO full.  ???? I think when you add large pieces to a small room, it actually makes your rooms look bigger.  There is no doubt that I knew this would fit, but where would I put it?

Antique Fireplace Mantel Turned Headboard

I just loved the detail on this antique fireplace mantel and wanted to enjoy it while we live in the rental.  On the way home from Alabama, I had the idea of using our antique fireplace mantel as a headboard.  We have had lots of different headboards in the past.  The last one was three large barn shutters we found at a flea market in Ohio.  They were simply leaned up against the wall with a free-standing adjustable bed frame holding our mattresses.  And that’s exactly what we did here.

We have found this is the easiest way to deal with my habit of change.  ???? When you get a free-standing adjustable frame for your bed, it stands directly on the floor.  You can use it with or without a headboard for an instant change.  Remove the shutters and add a mantel.  Who knows, next week it may be something else. ????  Deb ended up attaching this mantel to the wall with a few screws because it was a little more wobbly than the 600 pound barn shutters.

Lush Ruffle Bedding

I was searching online at Walmart for bedding, because lately I have found THE BEST deals.  Not only can you pretty much find everything you need on Walmart.com, but for such a great price.  I just knew I was going to find what I wanted.

You can only imagine why this Lush Ruffle Bedding caught my eye.  My love for rustic, ruffles, and crystals all thrown together runs deep.  I just love the look.  And, you guys…. the price for this bedding is under $50.  WHAT THE HECK?   I thought it would match perfectly with my antique fireplace mantel turned headboard.  While I was ordering, I got ourselves a new waterproof mattress pad, too.  Just in case Deb pees the bed. ????  KIDDING…. I like to keep mattress pads on beds to control the population of dust mites.  ????

We didn’t do anything to the actual structure of the fireplace mantel because that’s what it will actually be once we move.  So, there is still the space up by our heads (where the fire will actually be) that is empty.  I just layered the pillow shams that came with the bedding, some white, softer-than-soft throw pillows, a few faux fur throw pillows, and a few of these tie-died fur pillows.

I am so happy with how this antique fireplace mantel turned headboard in the bedroom at the rental looks.  It’s just enough rustic and just enough ruffles.  Now maybe I can find some crystals to throw into the mix.  ????

Do you have the need to do the old headboard switcheroo like me?  It’s such a simple project and literally takes only a few minutes with a free standing bed frame.  Once you find the right piece for the headboard, game is on to switch.  Follow us over on Instagram.  You may catch a tour of this entire project in stories.

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