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I want an upholstered headboard for a full sized bed. I have found some I like. But I was thinking that I could make one for a lot less.
Have any of you made one before? If so, what link did you find it on, with good instructions. I might want it tufted, but not sure. I like the plain padded ones as well.
Should it have legs, to make it look nicer. Or should it just be attached to the wall? I think I like the legs, but not sure.
Thanks for your help.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lilsophie,

You'll need a good staple gun/compressor...hand staplers and even electric staplers are just too difficult to use and don't do the job.

My advice would be to cover it in muslin, then use slipcovers for ease of cleaning and change of seasons. If used regularly, they get soiled.

Good luck on your project!

Here are some detailed instructions.

It's really not that hard to do. Have fun and post pix when you're done.

I made one and it was quite easy - just time consuming. I basically followed the instructions in the Singer-More Sewing for the Home book. (I bought it on line for $5, or you can rent it from the library.) It does show you how to make and attach legs.

Here's a pic of the tufted headboard, the book cover, and some of the instructions.
I see the pic of the headboard is in there twice...couldn't figure out how to remove one of them wo removing key parts of the other pictures. Don't know why Picassa does that when making collages. Anyone know?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nance425,

You got some great advice here! I hope you can post photos of your project!

I upholstered both the headboard and footboard of this old bed. Used first a layer of foam then a layer of muslin, then a layer of batting, then a layer of muslin, then the fabric. I did just use a stapler (not electric) and followed the directions in my head. (the gimp was glued on to cover the staples.)

Probably the most difficult part of this was piecing the material and having it come out right in such a visible place.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady of shallot,

Here is the whole bed. I also made the shams including the down pillows to put into the shams. The bedspread I did not make. Bought that at a yard sale with all the additional fabric.

I also upholstered this headboard for my DGS's attic bed here. I found this shape of masonite at the transfer station, and I also found the fabric there. Again I covered the masonite in the same layering way ending up with the fabric on top and stapling (again just a regular heavy duty stapler, not like for paper) on the back.

Because this was going on a wall made just out of tongue and groove, my husband put a cleat on the wall, rested the headboard on it and then fastened it securely in place by screwing it from the other side.

Great, thank you all for the responses. Really helps a lot. I will check out all the links, you provided.

LOS, you did a fantastic job on your headboards. Thanks for the info. Like your fabric choice too.

I do see some on JCP.com. that I like. Just don't know if I want to spend the money. lol

I will let you all know what I decide.

Hi Lilsophie,

Here is another HOW-TO for you. It's a little different idea but you should be able to make it one piece using these directions.

HB how-to

Good Luck!

ETA: Another link.

HB how-to link

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Beau's Rose,

It's so easy! We have ours attached to the wall with a cleat, and then we have a platform bed with storage. I just figured it out from watching design on a dime and shows like that.

You tube has a lot of teaching videos. You may find something there as well.

http://www.youtube.com/results...7.1020.0j8.8.0...0.0.

As far as the foam you will need, if you can't find reasonalbly priced upholstery foam you could also use the foam bed toppers. You'd only need a twin bed size.

I want to make one too. I'm thinking of using a blue vinyl just for cleaning purposes but I'd love to have a blue velvet.

What color are you doing?

LOS, great job you did on your beds.

I am so in love with this headboard.

Love the blue too, mine may be in blue.

Love the elegance of this one.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: victoriangirl,

This shows how simple a piece of wood you can use. This is turned into something fabulous once beautiful fabric and padding is added.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: victoriangirl,

VG, if you are going to make a headboard like one of these, I sure LOVE that elegant third one, love the tacks, that brings out silver to tie in mirrors!

If you start one of these, I sure hope you are going to take photos and share them! Can't wait! Gee the color of the first one, the white/cream with mirror edge, wow! That could be done with wood parts and silver leafed, then gloss protective finish???

LOS,
Why is it I love all you post? Your projects are amazing! I love that toile headboard, and the DGS's attic bed headboard is so appropriate for the attic room atmosphere and so well executed!

I know what strength and extra 'tapping' that hand stapler needed as I attempted to use one for a chair I worked on. Older wood is harder and the staples do not always want to go in, especially where they might have been joined as in curved pieces. GREAT JOB!

Here is a diagram I had of a cleat as mentioned above.

Oh and there are a lot of 'frames' out there to use on Craigslist using existing headboards! If you are going to 'hang' one on the wall, you can cut the legs off!

I just LOVE this thread!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

OMG I am in love with that last one VG posted. It makes me want to get rid of my bed and get one of those.

I made two for my boys twin beds when they were younger. I used faux black leather, plywood, batting, etc. It wasn't fancy, just kind of square, but it worked out well.

quote:

want to make one too. I'm thinking of using a blue vinyl just for cleaning purposes but I'd love to have a blue velvet.

Yeah, I know Brenda, that is what I wanted to warn Lilsophie about. Tufting is great but it does catch the dirt and a vinyl would be much easier to keep clean than a velvet say. BTW who would not love that mirrored, beautifully shaped headboard?

MaryRuth, thank you so much for your kind words, they will make my day. The funny thing about the attic headboard is that the board itself and the fabric on it are both from our town dump (except now they call it a transfer station.)

MR, you could cut those shapes out of wood. You could also add the stainless film. Have to say though, it would be a lot more work than a basic one. I love it so much though. It would definetly always be the focal point of your room.

LOS, did you use an existing headboard and add the fabric to it?

I was going to use my own but I find it too low.

My husband made a headboard which is in the guest room. He hooked it to the wall when it was in our bedroom, now it is just loose, never got around to hooking it to the wall again.

Lilsophie? do you have some styles saved that you could share? are you doing yours right away? do you have your fabric yet?

I'll post a pic of the headboard dh made. It's basically made the same as the cut wood I posted and with the back that MR posted but we didn't cover it.

quote:

LOS, did you use an existing headboard and add the fabric to it?

Wow VG that is a very beautiful color in your bedroom.

The guest room bed was a whole bed I got at a church sale for $10. I painted it and then did the upholstery work. the masonite I found for DGS bed in the attic, I got from the wood pile at the dump. It was actually that shape. But it would not be a difficult shape to cut out of plywood.

Emily, this is the guest bedroom in the basement. That box houses the breaker box. Wish it wasn't there but it is. So was it just wood inside and you uphostered over the wood? I like that is has a frame around it.

quote:

So was it just wood inside and you uphostered over the wood?

Wow that is a luxe guest room! I dearly love that color. . .

Yep the bed was made with sort of a frame like thing to the headboard (and footboard) the "inner" wood is thin and so even with the layers it doesn't protrude too much.

You guys are great, thanks for all the info and pictures and links.
Love the pics VG posted very nice beds and headboards. Love them.
You guys are a big help.

Going to post a few pics of headboard from JCP. Thinking of either buying one or making one. Since y'all said it was pretty easy. I just may give it a try. I think it will be fun to make. But anyways here are a few pics.
What do u think could I make it or just buy it. LOL

1. This one is a slipcovered one. You can take it off and wash it.

2. How about this one?

3. This one is a little more formal. What do you think?

Emily, I love the idea of having a frame around it. My dd mainly uses this room when she comes home. I want to switch it from french coutry to a more beachy style. Basically, just change the art is all it would take.

Lilsophie, they are all nice headboards. The first one would be the more practical one since you can wash it. You could also make different covers for the seasons (if you are ambitious and enjoy sewing).

I love tufting, it is my favorite look. I will tell you though, with tufting, it is higher maintenance. The dust settles into the grooves. Of course, that depends on how deep they are too. The ones on your last pic arn't very deep but they will still gather dust. Nothing a vacuum won't handle though.

They are all nice. I take it, they are between $200 to $400. in price. You could make one less expensive but it is more work for sure. A simple one like the first one, wouldn't be very difficult but it all depends on how handy and patient you are with things like this.

A more practical one would be with a removable cover for washing or something like a leather or vinyl or a stain resistent fabric.

Hi VG, Yes they do run around $200 - $400. Not really a bad price. There is another one on the jcp site. It's about 300. It's a slipcover too. But I cant' get the picture to save..shoot. It's a really simple one, and I think I really like it. I figure with that one, I could make extra covers in different fabrics. How fun would that be : )

L, only you know how much work you want to put into it. If you arn't up to the task of building it, then I say buy it if you can afford it. Is that the color you are going for? cream/beige?

quote:

Originally posted by victoriangirl:
L, only you know how much work you want to put into it. If you arn't up to the task of building it, then I say buy it if you can afford it. Is that the color you are going for? cream/beige?

Yes VG, I want to go with a neutral color. Like a linen or what they call and oatmeal color. I think that would be wise.

We will see if we make one or not. My DH says he thinks we can do it and should give it a try.
BUT I like the idea of buying one with a slipcover to be able to wash it. Plus I could make extra covers by looking at the design of the slipcover, I think.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lilsophie,

lilsophie, neutral would be wise if you plan on keeping it for awhile. You could make your own pattern for extra covers even if you did make one. You just have to figure out how much fabric you need then pin it around the headboard. Take it off, sew it and voila, you have another cover. You could velcro the bottom to keep it in place.

What a great idea and the back does not need to be the same fabric, could be muslin (less expensive).