• Give new life to a metal bed with paint.letti dei frati image by paologo from Fotolia.com
  
  Because a bed is the focal point of most bedrooms, many high-end designs feature a stunning, one-of-a-kind bed. The good news is that you can easily transform a plain, boring metal bed frame into an appealing eye-catcher with the correct products, time and creativity. You can also give new life to a bed frame that has slight damage such as chipped paint, rust or a discolored finish.
  
  

Colorful Shabby Chic

• The shabby chic design theme is a popular look that appeals to people of all ages. However, you can give your metal bed a modern twist by painting it yourself so that it stands out in a colorful bedroom. After thoroughly cleaning and lightly sanding your metal bed frame, paint it with a brightly colored metal paint such as hot pink, lemon yellow or lime green. Once the paint has dried, paint the entire bed frame white. When this coat has dried thoroughly, take some sandpaper and lightly (and carefully) sand areas that would naturally show wear so that you expose the bright undercoat.
  
  

Psychedelic Fun

• With this design idea, you can create an eye-catching focal point for a young girl's bedroom. The good news is that because you will be painting the bed, you can purchase an inexpensive metal bed from a resale shop or use one you thought you should throw away because the finish was damaged or discolored. Start by thoroughly cleaning and sanding the bed frame until it is smooth. Select one or more paints that are specifically designed for painting metal. Some ideas for painting the bed frame include painting straight sections one bright color--say hot pink--and decorative sections in bright orange. If using spray paint, you may need to tape off sections when using different colors. For an even bolder statement, glue on decorative colorful stones or crystals (with flat backs) once the paint has thoroughly dried. According to firemountaingems.com, use a glue that is specifically designed for metal such as E-6000, Jewelers Epoxy, Loctite 454 Gel or The Ultimate Adhesive. Tip: Give your newly painted bed several coats of a spray-on clear varnish to protect your paint designs before gluing on the decorative stones.
  
  

Dazzling Decoupage

• A great way to express your personality at home is to decoupage furniture, according HGTV.com's guest artist, Kyla MacTaggart. Start by lightly sanding and painting the bed frame with a paint designed for metal. Make color photocopies of your favorite fabrics or select portions of the fabrics. Tip: Use the photocopier to scale the image to the size you need or adjust the brightness. Trim out your designs as needed and adhere them to the bed frame using a coat of spray adhesive. Finish with several topcoats of a clear varnish to seal and protect the decoupage.