Build Your Own Headboard..Step by Step Guide

You can build your own headboard! It's simple, as long as you follow these thirteen steps.

Things You'll Need

• Paper for Pattern
• Tape Measure
• Upholstery foam and Batting
• Muslin or sheeting

Decorative Fabric

• Plywood, Saw, and Sandpaper
• Electric Drill, screws, and staple gun
• Cording, braid or other trim (if desired)
• Method

Measure Your Bed

Headboards are either equal to, or slightly wider than the width of the mattress. So decide how tall you was your headboard to be. With pillows leaning against the headboard you need to have 8 inches of the headboard to be visible.

Create A Stencil

Decide the shape you want your headboard to be and create a stencil of that shape. Rounded corners are create for a softer look.

Cut the Headboard Shape

Now lay the paper stencil you just created onto the wood. Trace around your stencil on the wood. Using a power saw create the headboard.

Sand the Headboard

Lightly sand around the edges of the headboard, using a medium-grit sandpaper,

Prepare the Foam

Next cut a sheet of upholstery foam to the size of the wood frame plus 1 inch. Lay the foam over the frame and staple in three or four places, then secure with spray adhesive.

Upholstery Batting

Cover the layer of foam with a sheet of upholstery batting, cut 2 to 4 inches larger than the size of wood. Using your staple gun, tack the batting to the back of the frame, making sure that the top and side edges are smooth and even.

Attach the Sheeting

Cut a piece of plain white sheeting 4 to 6 inches larger than the headboard shape. Staple the sheeting to the back of the wood, making sure all corners are even.

Decorative Fabric

Iron your outer layer of decorative fabric and smooth it face-down on the work area. Place the covered headboard face down on top of it. Cut the fabric the same size and shape, adding about 4 inches extra to wrap around the back of the headboard.

Staple the Top

Starting at the center top, begin stapling the fabric to the back, making sure that any pattern on the fabric is properly centered and straight. Pull it just enough to get a smooth front side, but not so much that it puckers.

Staple the Bottom

Once you have about 12 inches of the top stapled, switch to the bottom edge. Smooth the fabric around the wood and staple several places on the bottom edge. Continue working in sections along the top and bottom.

Staple the Sides

If everything looks good, set it down and begin to secure the fabric to the sides, folding over the outer sides and staple the fabric to the back. Make sure the corners (if you have any) look neat and tidy from the front.

Linen Backing

If desired, staple a plain lining fabric onto the back of the headboard, covering all the raw edges of fabric, batting and foam.

Attach the Legs

Now is the time to attach legs to the headboard if necessary. Set the headboard in place. You may wish to stand the headboard against the wall behind the bed, using the mattress to stabilize it. You can also drill holes in the legs and attach them to the frame of the bed. Or you can attach the headboard directly to the wall behind.