DIY Project: Headboard

Three months after moving into our new place, I finally got around to making our headboard. Inspired by Just Dandy, who is an interior design queen, I set about to create a headboard for our bed. Given the fact that we move multiple times per year, I wanted a headboard that would be lightweight, easy to transport, and easy to install/take down. I decided on a three-piece headboard made of plywood, fabric and batting.

Let me preface this post by stating the obvious: I am not much of a DIYer. The whole experience renewed my admiration for DIYers because this stuff is not easy. We had some minor setbacks (you know, like I didn't buy enough fabric, and I bought the wrong size staples for the staple gun), but after some blood (rested the saw on my leg, oops), sweat (it was hot as the blazes) and, well, no tears, the end result is nice and will do. There are, however, some things I'd do differently, and I'll share them with you in each step.

Here's what I did:

Step 1: Gather Materials (3 pieces of wood, fabric, batting, scissors, staple gun and the right size staples. Not pictured: a saw, hammer, picture framing kits, screwdriver and an iron.

Step 2: Cut the wood down to size. (Note that my husband took over the job after I cut my leg with the saw.) If I were to do this over, I'd probably just have Home Depot cut it for us. It just so happens that their saw was broken today and being the impatient one that I am, I just decided we'd do it ourselves.

*Tip: Do not rest the saw on your leg. (aka practice common sense)

Step 3: Lay out the fabric and iron out the wrinkles. 

If I were to do this again, I'd add an extra foot in width to the material. That would give you enough fabric to easily wrap the sides of the boards. I really had to stretch the fabric to get it to wrap. I also might consider choosing a different fabric. I chose silk shantung and I learned the hard way that silk shantung rips slightly when stapled. Oops.

*Tip- Buy enough material. (aka use common sense)

Step 4: Cut the material

*Tip: There is probably a better way to cut the fabric. I just eyeballed it, and although I didn't have enough fabric, my cut was just fine. 

Step 5: Convince your dog that the batting for the headboard is not actually his bed.

Step 6: Cut the batting.

If I were to do this over, I'd probably use a marker and a ruler and draw a line to cut on instead of eyeballing it along the side of the wood.

Step 7: Layer.

Fabric, batting (we did two layers of batting), board. (Note how little material I had left over to wrap the sides of the board!!) If I were to do this over, I'd add a step where I fasten the batting to the board. I'm nervous that over time the batting will sink and bulk at the bottom of the headboard...maybe it won't because the fabric is so tight, but maybe it will- time will tell!

Step 8: Staple. Hammer in any staples that don't make it all the way through the wood on the first attempt.

*TIP: You should probably measure the staple placement ahead of time and evenly space them....I just stapled wherever, and you can kind of tell. 

Step 9: Put the hooks on with the screwdriver.

Step 10: Hammer some nails in the wall and hang the headboard.

Here are the before and after pics:

 

Before

After

 After (in the daytime, which is clearly the best time to take pics!)