DIY Upholstered Headboard

I’ve been busy working on the guest bedroom. On the headboard to be exact. I’ve always loved the upholstered headboard look. Like the Crate and Barrel one below, but they typically come with a hefty price tag. Since I can be crafty I figured why not DIY one myself! And so I began — mission upholstered headboard.

What you’ll need:

1 sheet of plywood cut down to 36 x 64 (For a queen bed — $20 and the store cut it for us!)

2 Yards Fabric (I found some at Joanns on the 50% off rack for a whooping total of $16)

Staple Gun & Staples

Quilt batting (I bought two 72 x 90 pre cut at $5.50 each from Joanns)

Rubber Mallet ($5 Lowes)

Nailhead Trim ($21 delivered)

Jigsaw (only if you plan to cut a design) 
Mounting bracket ($4)
Nail-nosed pliers (optional)

Step 1: 

Lay plywood on a nice sturdy table.

Step 2:

Draw pattern

Step 3:

Slowing start making your cut using the jigsaw. Nick sat back and watched.

Tip: take it slow don’t force it.

After the first side was cut I used it to mark the other side to ensured symmetry.

Ta-Da…

Step 4:

Using a clean surface (in the house) I laid out the first roll of quilt batting. Next I stapled one end down then moved to the other end where I pulled the batting tight then stapled. Once each end was stapled I moved to the bottom of the headboard then the top and repeated — pull tight and staple.

 Nick was laughing because I must have used a few hundred staples. Once the first layer was finished I checked out the front for wrinkles etc before proceeding with the second layer of batting and finally the fabric.

Note: If the headboard was going in the mater bedroom I would have used three layers of batting.

Step 5:

Nail in the trim. Sorry I didn’t take any photos — I was too busy getting pissed at the trim. This is not an easy step. I used needle-nosed pliers to hold the nail with one hand and hammered with the rubber mallet in the other. What is nice about the trim is you only need to hammer every fifth nail.  Those little nail’s kept wanting to go sideways. I definitely had a few “re-do’s.” Good news, the further along I went the better I was.

Note: The trim is sharp and might cut your fingers.

Step 6:

Hang it on the wall or attach it to your bed frame. We opted to hang it on the wall. This was another frustrating step for me. We decided to use interlocking D hooks and will NEVER use them again. It was a major pain hanging the headboard and resulted with scratches on the wall! not a happy camper. I think something like this would have been better/easier for mounting it to the wall or even just attaching it to the bed frame.

When all said and done it looked a little like this…..

another angle

fabric and trim up close

There you have it — a DYI headboard all in a weekend for about $70. So who’s ready to tackle their own headboard? Or maybe you’ve made one. I would love to hear your thoughts on wall mounting vs. attaching it to the bed frame.

• purchase down alternative comforter – looking at the one at Costco for $150 (not to mention we’ll get 2% back)
• purchase duvet cover
• move headboard from master bedroom (made one instead)
  
• re-purpose/paint two nightstands currently in room
• change ceiling lamp
• fix built- in hinges
• change built-in handles (not sure I want to keep the current ones) 
• order art & frame
• find long mirror
• purchase occasional chair or pouf — maybe even make one.

Linked to:

Not Just a Housewife  
DIY Showoff 
Six Sisters Stuff
Young  House Love