How to Make a Padded Headboard for a Bed

Make your own custom padded headboard in just a few hours.

The cost difference between buying a custom-made headboard and making your own can be quite large indeed. Making your own padded headboard might sound beyond your abilities, but it's not really that hard at all. The supplies are inexpensive, and you can have the plywood, fabric, foam and batting cut to size at the store. Choose the exact fabric you want, and when it's done, you'll feel pride in your accomplish every time you walk into your bedroom.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch plywood cut to size
• Spray adhesive
• Upholstery foam, 8 inches wider and taller than the plywood
• Fabric, 8 inches wider and taller than the plywood
• Polyester batting, 8 inches wider and taller than the plywood
• Staple gun

Instructions

1. Spread out old newspapers in a well-ventilated area and lay the plywood on top of them.

2. Spray the plywood generously with spray adhesive.

3. Carefully position the pre-cut upholstery foam over the plywood. Spread it out so the edges evenly hang over the edges of the plywood. Make sure there are no air pockets, or places where the foam doesn't adhere to the board.

4. Spread out the fabric on a flat surface, right side down. If you want extra padding, use a bed comfortable. You'll save even more money if you find a comforter you like at a clearance sale price.

5. Spread out the batting evenly over the fabric, making sure the edges of the batting are even with the edges of the fabric.

6. Carefully center the plywood over the batting/fabric with the upholstery foam facing down. You should now have everything layered, from bottom to top, in this order: fabric, batting, upholstery foam, plywood.

7. Begin at the top center and fold over the fabric, batting and foam as one unit, pull tight and staple it to the back of the plywood. Work your way to the ends of the top, alternating left and right to keep fabric from wrinkling.

8. Pull tight on the bottom center section and staple it to the back of the plywood. Work your way to the bottom corners, alternating from left to right.

9. Check the front often to be sure the fabric is free of wrinkles.

10. Repeat these steps for the two sides.

Tips & Warnings

• Iron the fabric before stapling it to the headboard if it's wrinkled.

• The headboard should be about 6 inches wider than your bed. Make it as tall as you like -- taller headboards work well in larger rooms, while shorter ones work better in small rooms.

• Attach the headboard to the wall, or simply make your headboard tall enough so it can rest on the floor. Just push the bed up against the headboard and it will stay in place.

• Be careful using the staple gun. It doesn't feel to great when you staple your finger to the board!

References

• HGTV: Headboards