How to Make a Kid's Headboard

Use colorful fabric for headboards.

Decorating your child's bedroom can be a lot of work. At the same time it can be a blast. There are many fun projects you can take on to customize your child's room. With some tips and ideas, you can give the room a professionally decorated appearance on a DIY budget. You can create a truly unique headboard for your son or daughter using only a few, easy to find items and tools while spending only an hour or two of your time.

Things You'll Need

• (For twin headboard)
• 40-by-40-inch piece of plywood
• Roll of quilt batting
• 4-by-5-foot piece of fabric
• Glue
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Drill and bits
• Anchors
• Screws
• Mounting brackets
• Tape measure
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Choose fabric that coordinates with the theme of your child's bedroom. If the room is decorated using a popular cartoon character, book or movie, you will probably be able to find material printed in that theme. If not, choose a color that complements the rest of the room. Iron the fabric if there are any wrinkles.

2. Cut a piece of batting to fit the plywood and glue it to the wood. If the batting is not wide enough, cut several pieces and cover the wood, wrapping it around the edges as well.

3. Stretch the fabric taut over the wood. Place it evenly over the wood so that there is fabric overlapping each of the four sides. Tuck the corners of the fabric like you would a flat bedsheet.

4. Start on one side of the back of the wood and staple the fabric into place. Punch several staples along the side. Staple an adjoining side next, while someone else pulls the fabric taut on the other side. Work your way around the wood, smoothing the fabric each time, pulling it tightly and stapling.

5. Screw mounting brackets near each corner of the back of the wood. Measure how far apart each bracket is. Make these same measurements onto the wall above the bed, starting at the spot you want the bottom of the headboard. Mark the wall with a pencil to determine where the screws should go.

6. Drill the anchors into the wall in the spots marked. Screw or drill the screws into the anchors. Hang the headboard onto the wall by placing the brackets onto the screws. You will likely need two people to accomplish this.

Tips & Warnings

• You can opt to use a quilt or a sheet that matches your child's bedding in place of the piece of fabric. Update the headboard as your child grows up by changing the fabric to something more mature. Add several layers of batting to create a cushier, comfier look. Embellish the headboard by gluing cord or braiding around the edges of the headboard.

Resources

• Quilt Batting
• Mounting Hardware
• Children's Fabric