Building an Upholstered Headboard

For a long time I have been eyeing upholstered headboards in magazines and department stores, but I could never justify paying the prices that some places charge for them (i.e. Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, etc.), so I decided to take matters into my own hands.  I started to do my research online and found out that with the right tools, Steven and I could build one for a lot less. 

First, we went to Lowes and bought a 1/2 inch piece of plywood, which was on sale for $10.00.  We also spent about $3.00 on the washers, nuts, screws, and bolts that we would need to attach the board to the bead.  Later that week, I went to the fabric store with Mrs. Theo and Katie while they were visiting.  They helped me pick out a beautiful fabric that matches our beadspread perfectly.  With all of the materials handy we were ready to begin.

Step 1- Cut the piece of plywood to the size and shape of your choosing.   We chose a rounded, curvy style, which I must admit I stole from a Restoration Hardware catalog.  Next, choose the spots that you would like to add button tufts (I measured out places to add 8 buttons, but you can have as many as you would like), and pre-drill small holes in the plywood.  Then, cover your wood with gorilla glue or contact cement and place 2-inch foam padding on top (we actually used an old mattress foam from a twin bed we don't even own anymore).  Then cut off the excess foam in order to match the pattern on the plywood.

Step 2- Cover your top with extra-soft batting, securing it underneath the table-top with a staple gun.  Then, trim the excess.  

Step 3- Cover the batting with your chosen fabric.  If your fabric has a pattern, make sure it is straight before placing all your staples.  When upholstering a simple square or rectangle put a few staples in one side, then go to the oppisite side, pull it tight, and add a few staples there.  Do the same for the other two sides.  This ensures that your fabric is taut and you don't end up with bunches and bulges that you didn't expect. 

 Step 4- Now it's time for tufting!  You can find buttons and cover kits at your local craft or fabric store; however, at New Bern Fabric Outlet the ladies showed me how to use the button maker, so I finished all eight in the store for only 89 cents!  String a very strong thread through the eye of a large needle.  Push the needle and thread through (from the back to the front) of your piece, through a pre-drilled hole where you want your button tufting to appear.  You may need to use pliers to grab the needle and pull it through.  String your button onto the thread and then push the needle back through. Thread a washer onto one end of the string and then push the button in on the other side while you tie a knot to ensure that all your tufts are the same depth. 

Step 5- Now it is time to connect the headboard to the bead.  First, remove the matress and boxsprings from the frame.  Next, cut a 2x4 in half and connect to the frame with two bolts and washers.  Then, measure how high you want your headboard to be placed.  After marking, hold the headboard in place while your partner drills in the appropriate screws (honestly, I haven't the foggiest idea what type of screws we used because that was Steven's part of this whole process, but if anyone wants to know, I will get him to call you--promise!).  Below is a picture of the frame with the 2x4 legs connected.

Finished!!!  Below is a picture of the finished product.  We are so happy with the way it turned out!



Disreguard our mismatched night stands.  Hmmm....that may be our next project :)

Total Cost of Headboard:

fabric- $34.95

batting- $4.00

buttons- $0.89

plywood- 10.99

foam-  (repurposed and already had at the house) $0

Total: $50.83

Take that Pottery Barn ;)

The Meadows are coming to visit :)

Steven and I are incredibly blessed to have so many people in our lives that care enough to make a 12 hour road trip to North Carolina to see us.  This weekend we are hosting Steven's parents, brother, and Katie for the weekend.  We are so excited to see them because we haven't been together since Thanksgiving.  I am looking forward to catching up with them, laughing at all their funny stories, playing Rook, and taking them to our favorite New Bern restaurants.  I will tell you all about it next week.  Have a great weekend everyone!