My guests this weekend asked me about the headboard in the guest bedroom. Yup...I made it. I searched online for the dimensions to give her so she could make one herself and found this from the Real Simple website that was first published in 2003. This is pretty much exactly how I made my headboard except I put buttons in the middle to make it tufted and I mounted it on the wall using 100lb picture hangers instead of making the "legs."
That pic was taken the day I made it. The room is currently finished with the window treatments and accessories. Those things you see hanging from the window were swatches of fabric from my choices for curtains. I'm told the room is quite comfortable. Another secret is go to Sam's to buy mattresses. That is a queen sized Serta Perfect Sleeper. I think the set cost like $400. It's the same brand we have on our bed. To me they sleep wonderfully. I know folks spend a grip on mattresses and such...but these work for little ole us.
If you have a bed in your house without a headboard...you should try this. When I did it it took me all of like two hours. The dude at HomeDepot cut the wood for me exactly the size I needed it. I even made one for a friend.
How to Make a Headboard by Paul Whicheloe
Supplies
1 standard 3/4-quarter-inch-thick sheet of plywood cut 44 inches high and to the width of your bed (39 inches for a twin; 54 for a double; 60 for a queen; 76 for a king)
1 one-by-four cut into 2 pieces that are 12 inches longer than the distance from your floor to the top of the mattress
1 54-inch-wide piece of fabric cut at least 12 inches longer than the width of your bed
1 2-inch-thick piece of foam cut to the dimensions of your headboard (can be purchased from www.foamorder.com)
1 roll of cotton batting (90 by 108 inches; www.joann.com)
1 can of 3M Spray Mount
4 1 1/4-inch wood screws
1. Cover one side of the plywood with spray mount then attach the foam.
2. Wrap with a layer of cotton batting to smooth out any sharp edges and the corners. Attach with a staple gun.
3. With a staple gun, attach the fabric along one end of the headboard and then the opposite side, remembering to pull the fabric taut. Then attach the other two sides.
4. Turn the headboard over and place the one-by-fours 12 inches from the sides, making sure that the top of the one-by-four is 12 inches from the bottom of the headboard. Screw the one-by-fours to the headboard. Place the headboard against the wall and push in the bed.
May 2003
