DIY Upholstered Headboard
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 10:14AM
Over the weekend I decided to build the headboard for my Mom's guest bedroom. I can not believe how easy this project was and I love the result! I added curved lines and nailhead trim which made the project a little more difficult, but it was still pretty easy. Since there are already a million tutorials on the internet I didn't take many how-to pictures but this is basically how I did it.
First I went to Lowes and bought a 4' by 8' piece of plywood and a large piece of MDF. Our table saw is broken and I didn't want to mess with the big cuts anyway so I had Lowes cut the pieces down for me. Since this headboard is for a queen size bed, I had them cut the plywood down to 48" X 65". Then they ripped the MDF into two 5" wide sections for the legs.
Once I got home I used our miter saw to cut the legs to the desired length.
To make the cutouts on the headboard, I used a compass to draw the curves and then used a jig saw to cut out the shapes.
Next, the legs were attached with screws and the extra MDF was cut down to make a frame around the rest of the headboard. When finished the frame looked like this:
I added the MDF pieces because I wanted to use nailhead trim and they provided a raised surface to nail into. I wanted to use a thick foam inside the frame to make the headboard soft but I only used a thin layer of quilt batting over the MDF pieces so the nailheads could tack into the hard surface. But even if I wasn't using nailhead trim, I still would have added the MDF pieces because they also give the headboard thickness. Since I was using the nailhead trim, the picture above shows the front side of my headboard. If I wasn't using nailhead trim then I would have flipped it over and used this side as the front and wrapped the whole thing in the thick foam:
Does that make sense?
Anyway, next I used 1 inch foam and spray adhesive (plus a few staples) to fill in the interior of the frame and make everything approximately the same thickness. Then I laid my fabric (P Kaufmann Jacobean Batik Floral - Inoteca Indigo) facedown on the floor with a layer of quilt batting on top. The headboard was laid facedown on top of the fabric and the batting and I got to work wrapping and stapling everything to the backside of the frame.
Once the headboard frame was covered in fabric I used extra batting and fabric to wrap the legs for a finished look.
I bought some nickel-plated nailhead trim and this nailhead spacer on EBay a few months ago and I decided to use it on this project.
Attaching real nailhead trim is tedious but the spacer definitely helped keep things straight. I ran out of nailheads so I had to order some more, but here is the final result (minus a few nailheads).
What do you think? I can't wait to see it in Mom's guest room!
Reader Comments (44)
I had originally found a headboard from Crate & Barrel that I just loved - but the price was way too steep! My husband assured me he could help me make my own upholstered headboard with nailhead trim. I was more than a little skeptical, but the lure of the headboard was much too great. So, I started searching the Internet for how such a feat could be accomplished and found many bloggers indicating what an easy job it would be. However, it was this stunner from Southern Exposure that sealed the deal; it is by far the most beautiful work I had seen. One key feature that impressed both my husband and I was the MDF framing (we ended up just sticking with left over plywood for our frame, but same idea).
Rachel, your talents are amazing!
I thought I would finally share the headboard my husband and I made that you inspired (I hope you like it!): http://www.flickr.com/photos/c-pf/sets/72157626514371519/show/
Tip for anyone wanting to try a nailhead trim - DO NOT do anything until you have ordered your nailhead spacer!!!!!! I did not want to do this and ended up having to make my own - which added way more time to the project - and it was a painstaking process. Just get the professional tool - it is worth it!
hey - this looks great, can you tell me where you got your nailheads and the spacer from? Thanks!
Hi, I LOVE this headboard and I am planning on using this post as a template for our master bedroom. I did have some questions. Was this a Queen sized bed? How many yards of fabric did you use? Sorry if you have already answered this! :)
Hi Kateri - This is a queen sized headboard and I would allow around 3 yds of fabric. Good luck with your headboard!
Hi! I finished my headboard too... can I attach a pic somewhere? thx... it turned out so nice!!!!
THIS IS AWESOME!!! I LOVE!!! You have just inspired me!!!! Thanks doll!!!! Your the BEST!!!
I have must finished my daughters headboard. Thank you for the wonderful idea and tutorial. I wish I knew how to post pic of mine. Not quite as good as yours but as a first time upholstery project I am proud.
I want to do this headboard!! Absolutely love it!! What would my dimensions be for a california king bed? thanks!!
this question may have already been asked, but i noticed that most bolts of fabric are 54 inches and your width was 65.. how did you make it fit? did you sew two pieces together?
Gorgeous!
Amazing work! Could you please share the measures for a Twin headboard? Thanks
Thank you for the inspiration! I was able to do my won headboard following your instructions!
Wow, this is amazing!! Question though, does the headboard stand up by itself, or did you attach it to your bed frame somehow?
Beautiful job! Since your headboard is 65" wide and home dec fabric is usually only 54" wide, did you railroad the fabric or piece it? I'm thinking of doing a queen size for one of my guest rooms.
Hi Clara! I used bolts to attach the legs of the headboard to a standard queen sized bed frame.
Phyllis - I railroaded the fabric. The headboard is only 48" tall so one width of fabric fit if I turned it horizontally.
Thanks for your comments!
Rachel
I know you made this some time ago now, but I just saw it on Pinterest. WOW... I love, love, love the headboard you made for your mom's guest room! It is the type of headboard I long for..
I don't know what you do for a living, but I bet you could make a boatload of cash making bead frames for people like me, who would love to make something like this, but a) don't have the time, b) don't have the talent or both!
The head frame is exactly, truly what I want for my bedroom...down to the colors and type of fabric! Hopefully I will find a frame that is already made, that I can add the fabric and nailheads... my fingers are crossed!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the headboard!! Did you use a standard queen metal bed frame? If so, what was the total height of the headboard? I am trying to figure the length I should cut the legs.
Yours is by far the most professional one I have come across in my Pinterest travels. Gorge! I am gearing up to make two of these bad boys for a combined unisex room for my kids. Any idea what width and height for a twin size bed? Also how did you attach it to the bed after you upholstered the legs?
I absolutely love this piece! What si the recomended with and height for a twin bed?