The functional benefits of a headboard are well known, whereas the design impact is often overlooked. Don’t sleep on (excuse the pun) the opportunity to elevate your bedroom’s interior scheme with a stunning oversized upholstered headboard that's beautifully simple to DIY if you want to add a touch of designer appeal to your bedroom space.
Choosing to DIY a headboard is a great idea for a number of reasons. Firstly, your bank balance will thank you for picking up your toolbox as you can save a ton by choosing the DIY route. Secondly, as chief designer you can be as creative as you like with the style and shape, why not recreate that expensive designer headboard you’ve been dreaming about?
You will need
1. Wood for the frame: I opted for 18mm MDF from eBay
2. Staple gun
3. Jigsaw
4. Upholstery foam: these are the large Upholstery foam sheets I used
5. Wadding: I chose a Fire Retardant Polyester Wadding Roll
6. Sander
7. Tape measure
8. Spray adhesive: Adhesive Spray Contact Glue Heavy Duty Mount from eBay
9. Pen
10. Wall brackets
11. Screw (used to create the circular shape)
12. Material from eBay
13. Drill
14. Screwdriver
1. Design Time
As I mentioned above, you can get creative with a DIY headboard. I opted for a two-part, circular design that was inspired by a fabulous designer brand whose products cost thousands, but you could keep it very simple and straightforward if you prefer. Introducing curves does increase the complexity of cutting out and covering the frame, but with a good jigsaw and a bit of practice, it’s achievable for even a novice DIYer.
2. Make the base
Measure and mark the outline of the headboard frame onto the wood of your choice. I chose 18mm MDF because it’s a super easy material to work with and provides a strong and stable base for a DIY headboard.
I drew the outline of the circle by attaching a screw to the center point, taping a pen to my tape measure, setting the length of the tape measure to the radius of the circle, clipping the end of the tape measure over the screw and then rotating the body of the tape measure around the circumference of the circle causing the pen to mark the cutting guide as it went.
Once the circle was drawn, I clamped the MDF down securely and cut out the shape using my jigsaw.
Once the shape had been neatly cut, it was time to sand the edges of the MDF to ensure a smooth finish. I repeated the process for both parts because my design was formed of two semicircles.
3. Get padding
When the frame is ready, place the wood onto the upholstery foam and draw around it to give a template. Do the same with the wadding/batting, this time leaving an extra few inches all around to allow you to pull it over the edge and attach it to the back later in the process.
Once you have cut both the foam and the wadding, cut the foam along the outline and place on the frame to check it fits perfectly.
Spray the adhesive onto the MDF and the underside of the foam according to the manufacturer’s guidelines then press the foam down firmly to attach it to the MDF.
Once the adhesive has dried and the foam is firmly attached to the MDF, it is time to stretch the wadding out and wrap it around the base of the headboard. Pull it quite firmly to avoid wrinkles and creases, but not too tightly so that it causes the foam to dent. Fold the wadding over the edge of the MDF and carefully staple it to the back of the headboard. Continue this process all the way around the headboard until you have completed the shape.
4. Cover the headboard
Iron your fabric to ensure it is crease-free then lay it out on the floor. Place the padded headboard base over the fabric and start the process to attach the fabric, you do this in the same way as for the wadding, firmly stretching it to ensure no creases remain then folding over the edge and stapling neatly to the back. Attach the fabric around the whole headboard shape until you are happy it is neat, smooth, and free of imperfections.
5. Attach to the wall
Once the DIY headboard is complete it’s time to attach it to the wall for safety. I opted for an oversized design for maximum impact, so there was even more reason to ensure it was securely attached. I used similar wall brackets to those you use for kitchen cabinets as they are easy to fit and great at holding heavy items securely in place.
And there you have it, a DIY headboard in five easy steps!
- With special thanks to eBay UK who supplied the materials, I was able to create this awesome tutorial.