Want to make a contemporary upholstered headboard for your bedroom, but don't want to spend the three to four hundred dollars or more to buy one? Using a contemporary style headboard is a fast way to update any style bedroom and freshen your look. Here is a step by step home decorating project to make your own upholstered headboard for a fraction of what buying one would cost!
Supplies:
One sheet of pressboard or plywood
(We found a 4'x8′ sheet at Home Depot for less than $11!)
Foam mattress pad or other padding
(Used a twin foam mattress pad on clearance for $9)
A flat sheet of your chosen color, large enough to cover and wrap around your board
(We used a twin sheet to cover our headboard from Walmart for less than $5)
Staple gun
Staples
Glue gun
Glue sticks
4-8 Buttons
(We bought plain metal buttons for $2 at Hobby Lobby)
You could also use buttons that can be covered with fabric of your choice, also at craft store.
An extra person to help move the headboard while working on the project.
Step 1:
Cut your wood to the size of the finished headboard. I had the home improvement store do it for me, and the first two cuts are free. For a queen headboard I recommend to have it cut to 62-65 inches wide, and to whatever height you prefer. I simply used the 48 inch side as my finished heigh
Step 2:
Lay the foam padding on a firm surface, then lay the board on top. Wrap the foam tightly around the back, then staple into place, every couple inches or so, Be sure to keep pulling it snug every time you staple to keep the edges consistent. Wrap it over the top and sides. If your foam sheet is too short to reach to bottom of the headboard, make sure it at least covers enough so that the un-padded area will be below the level of the pillows behind the bed, and therefore will not be seen. If you don’t wrap the foam around to the back, or if your foam is too thick, use a batting layer over the foam to soften the look. You could buy quilt batting at the craft store, or you could save money and pick up a quilt at the thrift store for just a few bucks. Make sure you wash it in hot water and dry on high heat. Also, have the back side face out so that you wont see a color or pattern through he finished fabric cover on the headboard.
Step 3:
Lay your sheet or fabric right side down on a firm surface, and then the board on top, face down. (That is foam side down on the back side of the fabric.) Now wrapping the fabric around to the back, staple every couple of inches until all four sides have been secured to the backside. Remember, it is VERY important to pull the fabric taut as you staple each opposite side, you want the front side to be snug and smooth.
Step 4:
Turn your headboard over to the right side. Measure out and mark on the fabric where you want your button tufting to appear. Remember, in a contemporary headboard, less is more and simplicity is key. We simply marked six equidistant buttons, keeping them at least 6 inches from the top, and 12 inches from the side. We did two rows of three. You could also do a single row of three or four buttons, or a double row of four if you are doing a king size headboard. Work out your design on paper. Remember, measure twice, mark once!
Step 5:
Use your staple gun to staple a “tuft” in your button tufting marks. Make sure you press down hard with the staple gun to make a secure tuft. You can do two staple if necessary in a crossed pattern.
Step 5:
Using your preheated glue gun on low temp, fill your tuft partially with hot glue, then place your button on the glue and press gently. Don’t use too much glue, you do not want it seeping up around the button. If you find it seeping up, don’t press down on the button just let the glue set. Make sure you do not touch the tip of the glue gun to the fabric, that could possibly ruin your entire project! If that happens, just cover with another sheet of fabric, re-staple the tufts and continue. (Ask me how I know this…:))
Step 5:
It's time to place your headboard! My headboard is simply help in place against the wall by the weight of my bed, and doesn’t move at all. If you would prefer to attach it, you can either use bolts to attach it to the bottom of the bed-frame (you will have to drill holes into your headboard) or you can use special hardware for attaching it to the wall called flush mounts. They attach to the wall and then the headboard and then slide together. Ask at your hardware store.
Done! Make a contemporary upholstered headboard for less than $30!
Kathy Woodard is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator. For thousands of free budget home decorating ideas visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com
I have such respect for people who are so handy. Cool idea!
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Thank you for the great idea’s and taking the time to do so. I am going to start doing things different now
Thanks for a great idea–we just moved into our new house and I am redoing my tween’s room===this will help out tremendously!
Thanks for this great review. I need a headboard and knew that a person could make their own but I had no idea how to do it. I am not a ‘crafty’ or imaginative person and always need instructions to show me how to make these wonderful things. I am definitely going to use your instructions.
Thank you for posting this!! We have a king-size bed with no headboard. I remember seeing a show on how to do this years and years ago, but couldn’t remember exactly how to do it. Thanks again!
i love this! can’t wait to give it a try. 🙂