How to Make an Easy Headboard

The headboard of a bed satisfies several functions. According to Jeff Miller, author of the book “Beds,” a headboard acts as the defining focal point of a bed, prevents pillows from falling to the floor and protects the wall from dirt through contact with hair oils. Headboards can be ornate or simple. Making your own headboard is less expensive than purchasing one. An easy homemade headboard requires just a few supplies and can be completed in a short amount of time.

Things You'll Need

• 1 sheet plywood
• Circular saw or table saw
• Table clamps
• Upholstery foam
• Scissors
• Spray adhesive
• Batting
• Heavy-duty stapler
• 6 yards fabric
• Stud finder
• Drill
• Screws
• 2 flush mounts

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your bed. Headboards are usually as wide as the bed, but you can make it as wide or narrow as you wish. Determine how high you want the headboard to be. In "Beds," Jeff Miller suggests a height of at least 10 to 12 inches above the mattress to protect the occupant from knocking his head against the wall during sleep. Mark the measurements on the plywood.

2. Use a circular saw or table saw to cut the plywood. Clamp the plywood to a sturdy, flat surface if you are using a circular saw. Follow the markings you have made on the sheet of plywood for an accurate cut.

3. Measure and cut the upholstery foam to the size of the plywood plus 1 inch on all four sides. Spray the adhesive onto one side of the plywood, which will be the front of the headboard, and cover it with the upholstery foam.

4. Cut the batting to the size of the plywood plus 2 inches on each side. Place the batting on top of the foam and staple the edges to the back of the plywood with a heavy-duty stapler.

5. Place the decorative fabric, right side down, on a large flat surface. The floor may work best. Place the frame, batting side down, on the decorative fabric. Cut the fabric to the shape of the plywood, leaving a 4-inch allowance around the sides.

6. Pull the top edge of the fabric to the back of the plywood frame. Fold about 1/2 inch of the edge under, as you would when hemming a garment, and staple it down. The fold will keep the fabric from fraying. Pull the fabric just tight enough to make it as smooth as possible while you staple.

7. Pick a location on the wall for the headboard and decide how high up on the wall you wish it to hang. Use a stud finder to locate the stud in this area of the wall. Carefully mark on the wall, over the stud, the two spots where you will mount the hardware to hang the headboard (approximately 2 to 3 inches from each end of the width of the headboard, but over the stud). Mark these exact two spots on the back of the headboard also.

8. Use a drill and screws to attach the wall--or bottom--piece of two flush mounts to these spots. Flush mounts are interlocking pieces of hardware that you can use to hang the headboard on the wall instead of connecting it to the bed frame. The flush mounts will hold the headboard flush against the wall.

9. Locate the two spots you marked on the back of the head board. Drill holes and screw the top piece of each flush mount to each side of the back of the head board.

10. Mount the headboard. You may require the help of a friend with this step. Lift the headboard until the flush mount pieces at the back of the headboard are in line with, and just above, the flush mount pieces on the wall. Slide the headboard down so that the pieces interlock. The headboard will then be hanging on the wall. Push the bed against the headboard.

References

• Beds; Jeff Miller; Taunton Press; 1999
• "Easy Upholstery"; Heather Luke; Krause Publications, 1994