How to Do Diamond-Tuft Upholstery
Diamond-tuft upholstery is a decorative type of upholstery often used to add an elegant element to walls or headboards. It is popular in dressing rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms because of it's Hollywood glamour style. While the diamond tufting process requires quite a few materials and a bit of your time, making a diamond tuft headboard or wall on your own, rather than purchasing one at a store can save you hundreds to even thousands of dollars. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Mask
- Spray adhesive
- Measuring tape
- Knife
- Scissors
- Fabric
- Thread
- Straight pins
- 1/2-inch thick plywood sheet of desired length and height
- Large upholstery needle
- Upholstery floss
- Thick foam
- Staple Gun
- Staples
- Drill
- Drill bit
- Protective mask
- Meat carving knife
- Straight edge
- Short piece of pipe (2 inches in diameter)
- Large buttons
Instructions
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1
Place the piece of plywood on supports such as benches or chairs so that you can work both above and below the plywood.
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2
Put on a mask and cover the plywood with a spray adhesive and quickly place the foam on top of the plywood, evenly covering the entire piece of plywood.
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3
Trim any extra foam around the edges of the plywood with a meat carving knife.
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4
Start at the top of the headboard or wall and draw horizontal lines on the foam eight inches down, 16 inches down and 24 inches down the entire way across the width of the foam.
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5
Place a dot at the center of each of the three horizontal lines. Then place dots every eight inches to the left of the center and every eight inches to the right of the center on each line.
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Place a straight edge diagonally between all of the dots you made as if you were connecting the dots from top to bottom, but don't draw the diagonal line. Instead, mark an "x" at the center of each diagonal. This is where each button will be placed.
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On each "x" mark, drill a hole as quickly as possible to avoid tearing the foam.
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Twist a piece of pipe that is two inches in diameter into each hole you just created to enlarge the holes to the size of your buttons.
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Drape fabric evenly across the foam. Use several layers of fabric for more professional-looking results.
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Thread the upholstery needle with upholstery floss and loop through the back of a button. Then insert the needle into the center "x" mark on the foam and pull the whole way through the foam and plywood until the fabric is showing pull, but is not pulled tightly. Make a knot under the plywood with the thread and staple in place with a staple gun. Repeat the process for each "x" mark moving down from the center first and then up from the center.
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Fold the remaining fabric over the edges of the plywood, pull very tightly and staple underneath the plywood with a staple gun. You should see diamond shapes between all of the buttons.
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Tips & Warnings
Moving slowly when drilling the holes can cause the foam to rip.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
