Making your own custom designed and fabricated headboard can bring lots of personality to a bedroom. Less expensive than most purchased headboards, a fabric-covered style also provides softness and a comfortable resting place for reading.
Though creating a custom headboard will require some basic know-how and tools, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to make.
Basically there are 6 steps:
1. Assemble tools and materials
2. Decide on the size and shape
3. Cut the wood for the headboard and legs
4. Cover wood with foam and batting
5. Secure fabric to the back with staples
6. Attach the legs and secure to the wall
Let’s get started.
1. Assemble tools and materials
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 8-foot tape measure
- paper taped together to be the width of the bed
- plywood for the main fabric-covered area (the cheapest grade is fine since no wood shows)
- plywood for 2 legs: about 30” x 4”
- jig saw to cut the top curve of the board
- medium-grit sandpaper
- 1” thick sheet of upholstery foam (from a home fabric shop or upholstery supply store)
- roll of upholstery batting or cotton batting
- a beautiful piece of fabric for the cover
- a screwdriver and screws
- a power drill (if you have one)
- a staple gun (preferably an electric one!)
- Optional: cording, braid, or other trim