How to Make a Headboard Out of Moulding

Headboards help define the style of your bedroom, but they need not be expensive to have a designer look. You can make a headboard out of plywood and molding to fit any size bed with minimum building skills and a few supplies from your local home store. Select molding as ornate or as simple as you like to create a definitive and interesting décor for your bedroom.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape
• 1/2-inch-thick plywood
• Polyurethane
• Paint roller
• Primer and paint or stain
• Shoe molding
• Saw
• Construction adhesive
• Decorative molding
• Stud finder
• Drill
• Drill bit
• Wall hangers
• Screw driver
• Screws

1. Measure the space behind your bed mattress to determine the size for your headboard. You can extend the headboard beyond the mattress edge to encompass the bedside tables if you like. Your headboard will hang on the wall, so begin your vertical measurement a few inches below the top of your mattress and extend it as high as you like.

2. Take the headboard measurements with you to the lumber supply store and have them cut a sheet of 1/2-inch-thick plywood to fit. This will save you a step.

3. Apply a coat of polyurethane to the back and the front of your plywood for moisture protection. Let the polyurethane dry completely according to the manufacturer's instructions.

4. Cut strips of shoe molding to fit around the perimeter of your headboard. Cut the strips of decorative molding to fit the face of the plywood, either vertically or horizontally.

5. Prime and paint or stain all of the molding for your headboard. Your sense of design comes into play here; stain or paint the molding different colors for a striped effect, or create a monochromatic look with one color. Remember to coat the side edges of the molding. Allow the finish to dry between layers.

6. Add a coat of polyurethane over the painted or stained finish on your molding. Allow the finish to dry.

7. Attach the shoe molding over the raw edges of the plywood with construction adhesive.

8. Cover the face of the plywood with the decorative molding strips. Begin at the top, bottom or one of the sides and add one strip at a time. You can use construction adhesive to attach the molding. Lay the strips so that they are touching, with no space in between.

9. Locate studs in the wall behind your bed. Drill pilot holes and then attach your wall hangers to the studs on the wall and to the back of your headboard. You can find a variety of wall hooks and hangers to hang your headboard at your local home improvement store. Make sure that you attach at least one hanger to a wall stud to bear the weight of your headboard.

References

• About Clear Liquid Nails

Resources

• How to Cut Wood