How to Make Upholstery for a Headboard

Enhance your headboard with homemade upholstery.

Upholstered headboards are beautiful but expensive. Follow these steps to make your own custom headboard that will not only cost less than a store-bought one, but will match your bedroom and tastes perfectly.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Electric staple gun
• Battery-powered drill
• Four bolts with washers and nylon locking nuts
• Hammer

Instructions

Measuring and Gathering Materials

1. Measure the width of the bed frame from outside to outside and the height of the holes where the bolts will go. Decide how tall you want your headboard to be.

2. Go to a home improvement warehouse that has a lumber yard. Select 3/4-inch plywood or better quality. Furniture grade is best but is heaviest and most expensive. The store will cut your plywood to your measurements for free.

3. Purchase your desired fabric and batting from a fabric store.

4. Drill holes in the bottom of the plywood to match the holes on the bed frame.

Assembly

1. Stretch the batting around the front of the headboard and over the back and sides, leaving about 3 inches extra on the back. It is not necessary to cover the whole sheet of plywood, just the top portion not hidden by the bed. Staple in place.

2. Stretch the fabric over the batting. Start at the top center with one staple, then pull straight down and staple again at the bottom to make sure the pattern is lined up. Work from the top center out to the sides, pulling the fabric as you staple. When you reach the corners, stretch and fold as if you were wrapping a present.

3. 

   Add accents such as piping around the edges, using a hot glue gun, or decorative brass nails, using a hammer. You may also add a second contrasting strip of fabric down the middle, accenting with more piping or nails.

4. Cut the excess fabric from the back

5. Attach the headboard to the bed frame using the bolts.

Tips & Warnings

• As you are attaching the fabric, periodically take a step back to make sure the pattern is lined up. Use the pattern as a guide.

• If you want a curved headboard, simply mark your measurements with a pencil, and the home-improvement store employee will make the custom cut for free.

• Experiment with different fabrics, such as velvet or leather.

• If the staples stick up, tap down with your hammer.

• Do not cut the fabric until you are finished stretching and stapling it over the headboard to be certain you have enough.

References

• William Covert, professional upholsterer, Melbourne, Fla.