Upholstered Headboard Tutorial

Howdy!  I'm currently working on redesigning our oldest son's room and have several projects in the works.  The biggest one is this upholstered headboard that I just finished up today.  His bed is a full size but it doesn't have a headboard so I spent several days drawing up what I had in my head and then got to work on it today.  It's not ready to go in his room yet but I wanted to share it with you anyway, as well as, the instructions for how I put it together in case anyone would like to make one. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYdk535yaAu6huw7tChqglvfx8UxgzAzBICfSA8suwIKchAqJBxLTR5zNVteVy2pKz1eDDE0kf38tJrc7paU2_Mjqi4lfnrk95OsYXMrBUw65WWYI8StmwRdMNwNuDk80wa9qKgqDv98/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYdk535yaAu6huw7tChqglvfx8UxgzAzBICfSA8suwIKchAqJBxLTR5zNVteVy2pKz1eDDE0kf38tJrc7paU2_Mjqi4lfnrk95OsYXMrBUw65WWYI8StmwRdMNwNuDk80wa9qKgqDv98/s640/022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It wasn't hard, just time consuming.  I started by buying a piece of 3/4 inch thick subfloor/plywood at Lowe's.  I was feeling lazy so I asked them to cut it to size for me, which they did at no extra charge.  The size of the plywood part is 53 inches x 3 feet tall.  With the legs on the bottom, the total height is 4 feet.  I bought 3 - 1 x 3's to attach to the back of the plywood as shown in the photo below.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALnTTdzps-w9rsmlPnwS4EQsRIPj58PIMCdPJTMDPR3CmdmP7PlBKJGVxA-B1G7qtu0P2O7THGc70vTyrzh6yaCZBlW6GMPyrYFq-GshRC5iuI9QLatbF_x3KkH-DR8q7JsKNurmd8LA/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALnTTdzps-w9rsmlPnwS4EQsRIPj58PIMCdPJTMDPR3CmdmP7PlBKJGVxA-B1G7qtu0P2O7THGc70vTyrzh6yaCZBlW6GMPyrYFq-GshRC5iuI9QLatbF_x3KkH-DR8q7JsKNurmd8LA/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Next, I laid high loft quilt batting on the floor that I bought at the craft store and placed the headboard on top.  I bought the largest size and then folded it over 3 times, so it would be pretty thick.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1AtFC8agiKiG4dxdGez1PK3qk8DaRJCv0EXrWZnNJnH9wDh5Y8lIOvQdRhBsFit-ynhoGeL2XndOM8UttZDlp59pjxTJONSfIvudg2c7DoD2Z28xJ-B6CJc8OsK3C9FNWPDZj411HVw/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1AtFC8agiKiG4dxdGez1PK3qk8DaRJCv0EXrWZnNJnH9wDh5Y8lIOvQdRhBsFit-ynhoGeL2XndOM8UttZDlp59pjxTJONSfIvudg2c7DoD2Z28xJ-B6CJc8OsK3C9FNWPDZj411HVw/s640/003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Without pulling too tightly, I pulled the batting around and began to staple it to the back of the headboard.  You don't want to pull it too tightly or it might come apart.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5iQZTkx6WPJbRaTtg8ex5xGScgYE9cdBJPrp_D747OqbSFGa9gtbISI4rAyIKZqaskBYULzkXoH6SZ6UdKyD0dXLpNGbtRrdWIl-mK_NhFs9ynZyRQDsWAT6ZIlGFzX0jbGkDPKttkQ/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5iQZTkx6WPJbRaTtg8ex5xGScgYE9cdBJPrp_D747OqbSFGa9gtbISI4rAyIKZqaskBYULzkXoH6SZ6UdKyD0dXLpNGbtRrdWIl-mK_NhFs9ynZyRQDsWAT6ZIlGFzX0jbGkDPKttkQ/s640/004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I continued this all the way around the frame.  Corners are a little bulky and tricky, but here's a closeup of mine.  Not perfect, but doesn't need to be.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0SpLkbPgj_pSAUxX1ajAu-nwyR_HcFbUFsUg_s4JbIQAi-zqnP72UOJmGQaVcKmNQznqVtbQFc0RyfmybO0lpYFgfq5Emq7I7azF1ySnGiqJhfM21RJUyKrq_OWUN1DaQVgDf5OEmAc/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0SpLkbPgj_pSAUxX1ajAu-nwyR_HcFbUFsUg_s4JbIQAi-zqnP72UOJmGQaVcKmNQznqVtbQFc0RyfmybO0lpYFgfq5Emq7I7azF1ySnGiqJhfM21RJUyKrq_OWUN1DaQVgDf5OEmAc/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />To get rid of the excess batting at the legs of the headboard....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2TlqpQY9TrgHtnVNmpFzTYy_Fa-J54iISAl_JX2RMq7cD9JWna6XDeRrhCvVuMqPK_kM5BKblamJZVFJ3CAnkNTjKNHTfc-LAN2s-uStJ3mquyebt94bd1hNYswCMXCrwdJ6GnXjL2c/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2TlqpQY9TrgHtnVNmpFzTYy_Fa-J54iISAl_JX2RMq7cD9JWna6XDeRrhCvVuMqPK_kM5BKblamJZVFJ3CAnkNTjKNHTfc-LAN2s-uStJ3mquyebt94bd1hNYswCMXCrwdJ6GnXjL2c/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I simply cut about an inch off the batting, tucked it under and stapled it behind the headboard.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnJzFw6bxwKld4Nv8MW1-6MCDYaTp_eOvPIafOOa-5dZVMyoOj7NjFbSVbtjNJnlUv-GEjISv_msLz0zNYe_y4Mq17FsNKgPCSgtkPebpuZBX1LLS_K9OgBcbNNAMEyTH8SFLDl2C_B4/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnJzFw6bxwKld4Nv8MW1-6MCDYaTp_eOvPIafOOa-5dZVMyoOj7NjFbSVbtjNJnlUv-GEjISv_msLz0zNYe_y4Mq17FsNKgPCSgtkPebpuZBX1LLS_K9OgBcbNNAMEyTH8SFLDl2C_B4/s640/007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />When the batting is all attached, it will look like this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWz6xtZdkoxbSoZK1uUEXwuWC-3yGEH2vGXRMZMLSszBro8kzHwkHljLPQOvPxNaboXql3SKDDXYAVSYY_bhigghAEA4aEmOCdcmujUBriTZPRqcexa6MKIZLzGpvZKfrYzuBRhoExm8/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWz6xtZdkoxbSoZK1uUEXwuWC-3yGEH2vGXRMZMLSszBro8kzHwkHljLPQOvPxNaboXql3SKDDXYAVSYY_bhigghAEA4aEmOCdcmujUBriTZPRqcexa6MKIZLzGpvZKfrYzuBRhoExm8/s640/009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Next up, is the fabric.  Because I was keeping cost down, I used canvas painters drop cloth that I already had.  I basically repeated what I just did with the batting.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-iiXU_kPUi21KQsZTmhivwB097edrknEoxNbo69yLRJ60bVCwamFL4Stv8oM_iyV54isQBN4xbh2EBUWB-reRVqjyiGMgKnLPZxKhkcB3c3GP-4Kk_zPphA-rTRpThZWZAFVwes-tYQ/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-iiXU_kPUi21KQsZTmhivwB097edrknEoxNbo69yLRJ60bVCwamFL4Stv8oM_iyV54isQBN4xbh2EBUWB-reRVqjyiGMgKnLPZxKhkcB3c3GP-4Kk_zPphA-rTRpThZWZAFVwes-tYQ/s640/010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Take extra care when working on the corners so you don't have a wrinkly mess since the corners will show.  I found that folding it over like you would wrap a Christmas present worked well.  And I also worked on the corners last.  I then cut off all the extra batting and fabric.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcDSdg_ThmsMUQfR2Updy_QE_T416Xx2hoUVrsYacyeyDuEKYY0by8gEmu2zRgnSVWbDxr8dnwtjkTucNynKvJGTuwrrpGqzNcJUqOutz6QEVRkjE52r1c2NPsOc1la1j9EKf0ANyda0/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcDSdg_ThmsMUQfR2Updy_QE_T416Xx2hoUVrsYacyeyDuEKYY0by8gEmu2zRgnSVWbDxr8dnwtjkTucNynKvJGTuwrrpGqzNcJUqOutz6QEVRkjE52r1c2NPsOc1la1j9EKf0ANyda0/s640/013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />And here's the front...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru9Vzmg8__QRTtR_hjzOIIh0jRuZzTqZypJqAPJS2YDCi3pdQhEWyn3DWeYK_L1yiC3ytomqxjOvApvD-nMQij8uqf9O8NJKJppMSEyoiTIbEIgcr-y4fRB2Q0WghoWMV4dRPtOmY0_M/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru9Vzmg8__QRTtR_hjzOIIh0jRuZzTqZypJqAPJS2YDCi3pdQhEWyn3DWeYK_L1yiC3ytomqxjOvApvD-nMQij8uqf9O8NJKJppMSEyoiTIbEIgcr-y4fRB2Q0WghoWMV4dRPtOmY0_M/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I really wanted nailhead trim, however, I couldn't find that where I live so I used bronze upholstery tacks that I picked up at Lowes.  Very time consuming but I definitely got the look I wanted.  I was actually happy I couldn't find the trim because I really preferred the nail heads being spaced a bit instead of touching. <br /><br />To perfectly line them up, I measured inside the corner 4 inches on both sides and marked with a pen, then gently tapped in one tack, but I did not hammer it in all the way in.  I looped a piece of twine around the tack, then did the same thing on the other end and tied the other end of the twine to that tack.  This created a perfectly straight guideline for me to line up the tacks.  When you're finished, remove the twine and hammer in the end tacks the rest of the way.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfVYBEVX2s3DnS2LYKtbqP6enK1sXTaG6cqbntdJM3kuID6th3EJdrx3sy042OIRJYAWubbDN0rLG3ytsptT5UBsKTXDdUXdGwaXSZbVLfSCSpy0zWpek5SE95p1hvEcWciD1gW7svI8/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfVYBEVX2s3DnS2LYKtbqP6enK1sXTaG6cqbntdJM3kuID6th3EJdrx3sy042OIRJYAWubbDN0rLG3ytsptT5UBsKTXDdUXdGwaXSZbVLfSCSpy0zWpek5SE95p1hvEcWciD1gW7svI8/s640/017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It took all afternoon, but I am soooo happy with it!  I can't wait to put it in his room. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYdk535yaAu6huw7tChqglvfx8UxgzAzBICfSA8suwIKchAqJBxLTR5zNVteVy2pKz1eDDE0kf38tJrc7paU2_Mjqi4lfnrk95OsYXMrBUw65WWYI8StmwRdMNwNuDk80wa9qKgqDv98/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYdk535yaAu6huw7tChqglvfx8UxgzAzBICfSA8suwIKchAqJBxLTR5zNVteVy2pKz1eDDE0kf38tJrc7paU2_Mjqi4lfnrk95OsYXMrBUw65WWYI8StmwRdMNwNuDk80wa9qKgqDv98/s640/022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I've got a couple more projects to do for the space and then I will put the whole room together and blog about it next week.  I can't wait to get this finished up for him!<br /><br />Have a great weekend!

Upholstered Headboard Tutorial

Howdy!  I'm currently working on redesigning our oldest son's room and have several projects in the works.  The biggest one is this ...

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