Project: DIY Headboard

It’s project time – DIY headboard time, to be exact. You can see from the photo below that I’m a little behind in sharing this project since it’s not all green outside. Nope, we have snow no grass right now.

This project started this past summer. We knew we wanted a headboard in our second guest room, yet we didn’t really like the idea of paying $800 for one. In browsing a few sites I came across an article from Apartment Therapy – Best Upholstered Fabric Headboards. We fell in love with the one from West Elm. So, we decided to take a shot and make it ourselves. We did it, too; and for less than $80! Here’s our tutorial!

DIY Headboard

First, you’ll need to decide on your size – that’s all custom and up to you, depending on your bed frame and personal style. We went with a queen size and made each section 14 inches high.

Supplies

2x4s – custom measurements
1 sheet of flake board
fabric
batting
wood screws
nails
metal joining plates (I think that’s what they’re called – Bryce is sleeping so I can’t ask)
staples
wood glue

Tools

table saw
drill
hammer
staple gun
clamps

Step One

Get all your supplies and tools ready. This project took about 3 hours, not including the time for the glue to dry (maybe an added hour or two).

Decide on all of your measurements and mark all the wood, then cut.

Lay everything down on the floor to ensure it’s all the right size.

To help us, we actually used painter’s tape in the guest room to map out the headboard and then checked on it day-to-day to see if it was the right size. We did make modifications, so I suggest doing that first so you know you’re happy with the dimensions of your project.

Step Two

Time to make the cleat. This headboard is heavy and we want to make sure it stays on the wall, hence the cleat.

Be sure the cleat fits inside of the frame.

Step Three

Time to assemble the headboard.

Make a comb or use a scrap piece of wood and glue all of your 2x4s to the flake board. Use wood screws for added strength.

Step Four

Let’s round the edges.

See the pencil line – that’s how we want to curve each section, making it look full and fluffy.

Use the table saw and cut on an angle and then use a belt sander to shape further.

Nice and round edges.

Step Five

Time to wrap up.

Each section is wrapped individually. Double layer of batting and then one layer of fabric. We decided on our pleating for the corners first – this took about 15 minutes of trying different folds out. Whichever way you pick to fold, just be consistent.

Step Six

Now time to join all 4 sections together. Do one at a time and use clamps to hold the sections in place.

We used these metal joiners with nails. They cause the headboard to be quite flexible when you’re lifting it, so be careful not to bend it, yet it provides flexibility along our no to perfectly straight wall (it’s only off by 1/8-1/4 of an inch).

All joined – and you can see one of Lily’s favour toys, Lara keeping an eye on us.

Step Seven

Install the cleat and then hang it up.

Done! Now you have yourself a fresh and new headboard. Stay tuned later this week for more photos of our guest room. I’ll show you some up close photos so you can see all the finishing details.