How to Make a Twin Headboard

Constructing a headboard for a twin bed can be completed in a weekend afternoon, and it doesn't have to require a lot of new materials. Look around the house first and see what you can find to recycle into a headboard.

Instructions

1. Measure your twin bed. Most twin mattresses are 39 inches wide. If yours is on a frame, measure the frame as well to be sure you build a headboard that suits the entire width of the bed.

2. Choose the material for your headboard. You can build one out of wood, use old doors, use a piece of fence for a rustic look, or make a plywood backing and cover it with foam and material for an upholstered headboard.

3. Decide how high you want the headboard to be. Have the owner of the bed sit on it and lean back against the wall. Measure the distance to that person's neck; that's a good spot for the headboard to end. Of course, you can make it higher or lower, depending on your preferences and the material you are using.

4. Cut the material to the appropriate width and height. The height should be from the point at which you will attach the headboard to the height you determined in step 3. The headboard does not have to go all the way to the floor. You will be attaching it either to the wall or to the bed frame, if you have one; determine where you will attach it and use that point to figure out how high to make the headboard.

5. Finish the material. If you are using an antique piece of fence, old shutters, or some other rough material, be sure to give it a thorough sanding, wipe it down to remove any debris, and use a sealer to keep it from flaking, chipping or splintering. Be sure that any paint on the material is not lead-based; if it is, it's best to find another material for your headboard. If you are making an upholstered headboard, you need to cover your cut plywood with a thick layer of batting or foam. Using a staple gun is the quickest way to do so. Cover the foam or batting with the material of choice, using a staple gun to attach it to the headboard and then adding ribbon or trim to the edges with a glue gun, staple gun or decorative tacks.

6. Attach the headboard either to the wall or to the bed frame. If you attach it to the wall, be sure you are attach it to at least one wall stud and not just the drywall. If you are attaching it to a bed frame, use appropriate hardware and tools to either drill a hole through the wood of the bed frame and insert screws and nuts through both the headboard and the bed frame, or use holes already in place in a metal bed frame and the appropriate hardware to attach the headboard through the holes.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Ten Creative Headboard Ideas for Frugal Decorators
• 6 Budget-Friendly Ways to Add a Headboard