Handmade Padded Headboards

You can use an old headboard, like this one, to figure out what size your headboard should be.

If you're looking for a way to add a little romance or color to your bedroom, make a padded headboard to spice up your space. You can make a padded headboard in less than a day, and the look of the headboard itself is completely up to you. Stick with a basic rectangle, or go curved at the top. Choose a basic color fabric, or select a funky pattern. If you want your room to almost effortlessly come together match the fabric you use on the headboard to your curtains, but make sure the fabric looks good against the wall and with your linens.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Jigsaw
• 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick sheet of plywood
• 2-inch thick foam
• Black marker
• Electric carving knife
• Batting
• Fabric
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Scissors
• Mounting brackets
• Drill
• Screws
• Needle-nose pliers (optional)

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your bed using a measuring tape. Add 1- to 2-inches to this measurement to get the width measurement for your headboard. Look at the wall where your headboard will go. Decide how tall you want your headboard to be. The headboard should start at least at the bottom of the mattress on your current bed. Measure up the wall from where the bottom of the mattress sits to where you want the top of the headboard to stop. This is the height of your headboard.

2. Use a jigsaw to cut a piece of 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch plywood to size.

3. Place a piece of 2-inch thick foam, larger than your plywood piece on the floor. Put the piece of plywood on top of the foam. Trace the shape of the plywood on the foam using a permanent, black marker. Remove the plywood.

4. Cut along the lines on the foam with an electric carving knife.

5. Add 6-inches to both the width and length measurements of the piece of plywood. Cut a piece of batting and a piece of your fabric to the new measurements.

6. Check to make sure your floor is clean. Place the fabric design side down on the floor. Set the batting on top of the fabric. Make sure the edges of the batting are flush with the edges of the fabric. Center the piece of foam in the middle of the batting. Place the piece of plywood on top of the foam. Adjust the plywood until the edges of the plywood are flush with the edges of the foam.

7. Fold the batting and fabric over one side. Use a staple gun to staple the batting and fabric into place every 2-to-4 inches. Repeat the process on all the other sides. Check the front of the headboard as you work to make sure you've folded the fabric in the back to create the best possible look on the front.

8. Trim any excess fabric on the back of the headboard away with a pair of scissors.

9. Attach the headboard to the wall using mounting brackets. Follow the package instructions to figure out how many brackets you need for your particular size headboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Get creative and use the jigsaw to cut out a headboard with an unusual or curved shape, instead of a basic rectangle. If you want to jazz up the rectangle, cover multiple strips of plywood in different color fabrics, and then place the strips together to form a headboard.

• If you make a mistake during stapling, use a set of needle-nose pliers to pull out the staples and start over.

• Add buttons, ribbon or other embellishments to your headboard to create a bit of detail.

• Always wear protective gear, such as safety glasses, when using power tools, like a jigsaw.

References

• Be Jane: Make Your Own Upholstered Headboard
• Simple Sewing Projects: How to Make a Padded Headboard
• Apartment Therapy: How To: Build Your Own Headboard
• Furniture and Design Ideas: Make Upholstered Headboard
• TLC: Trading Spaces: Padded Headboard