How To Upholster A Headboard
After a bunch of people wrote to us asking how we upholstered the green headboard in our guest bedroom…
… we thought we’d invite you to join us for a quick tutorial. And since John’s sister Emily was itching to make a pink headboard for her daughter Olivia’s bedroom, we got to show her how simple the process can be as well. And don’t be nervous, it’s truly a super easy undertaking. If you can wrap a present, you can upholster a headboard. Honest.
First, visit an art store and purchase a wooden frame that’s meant to stretch canvas. A craft store won’t carry these, but any true art store will. As for the size, you should aim for the exact width of the bed but the height is up to you (you can use painter’s tape on the wall to experiment until you find a height that you like). You’ll also need enough fabric to cover the canvas frame with a few inches to spare, the same amount of batting (the thickness is up to you- the plusher the batting, the plusher the headboard). Then all you need is a regular old scissors and a staple gun (you can purchase a manual one for about $12 at Lowe’s) and you’re ready to roll. *Note: You can substitute a piece of plywood for the canvas frame if you’re looking to create a headboard that’s extremely durable (ie: for people who lean against it all the time to read or for a boisterous child’s room) – it will be stiffer, heavier and a bit trickier to hang, but virtually indestructible.
Step 1: Cut your batting a few inches larger than the frame, wrap it around the back of the frame and staple it in place. I like stapling things at twelve o’clock, three o’clock, six o’clock and nine o’clock first to keep things tight and straight (sometimes starting at one end and working your way around can cause it to slowly shift or loosen, and you want a straight, tight fit). Continue to staple the batting around the frame every two to three inches until you’ve worked your way around the frame and the batting is snug and secure.
Step 2: Cut the fabric a few inches larger than the frame and follow the same stapling steps outlined above. Be sure that your fabric is straight if it has any sort of pattern (line it up carefully and be sure to check for any shifting as you go). When it comes to the corners, just treat them as if you’re wrapping a present and fold them over so that they have a seamless look from the front. (Note: staples can be easily removed, so if you need a do-over or two it’s no biggie).
Step 3: Hanging this type of headboard is easy-peasy since it’s super light (thanks to the canvas frame construction) so it’s just like hanging a picture frame. All it calls for are two nails placed on the wall for the frame to hook over. Using a level can insure that your headboard hangs straight- and look how cute this step can be. Adorable.
Step 4: Enjoy your swank new headboard. Olivia loves her plush pink palace and the polka dot headboard is the perfect punch of personality (say that three times fast).
So there you have it, headboard upholstery 101. And here’s a bonus fabric tip for ya: visit the fancy fabric store in your neighborhood. Every town has one (it’s where the interior designers go) and in Richmond it’s called Willaims & Sherrill. This may seem like a surprising suggestion from bargain hunters like us, but you can often find fabulous deals in the remnant section of the store. There’s usually a table full of remnants (leftover pieces of fabric that have been marked down dramatically)- and most are still one to two yards, which is more than enough fabric for this project.
In this instance, Emily and I snatched up two yards of this thick woven swiss dot fabric (originally $24/yard) for around $19 total. Score.
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Comments
This is the best blog! I am going to try and make this headboard but I have a question. Since I love to sit up in bed and read and I would be leaning against the headboard, do you think the batting will keep its shape?
Hey Jane,
If you use pretty thick batting and staple it a ton around the edges (not just a few times each side) it should have some pretty great resistance. Maybe you can even use two layers of batting for even more strength. Then as long as you lean up against pillows so it’s not just your body pressing directly into the headboard all the time you’ll probably be just fine, even over time. If you’re still doubtful you can use a piece of plywood instead of the canvas frame, which would definitely not have any sagging issues. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I recently found your blog, and I’m going through some of your older posts to get *great* ideas on making some DIY upgrades to my condo. I love this idea for the spare bedroom!!! Thanks!
So so cute. Thanks for the tips! Whats the best way to hang a headboard if you’re making it out of plywood? I think I’m going to go that route!
Hey Katie,
If you scroll back through the comments I think you’ll see some more descriptions on that very subject. It’s called a “cleat” so you might want to google it to get more images and info. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hi – I just saw this on AT and I LOVE the hot pink throw on the bed! Do you think you could find out where that is from, pretty please. Thanks a million!
This weekend my boyfriend and I are moving my parents old guest bedroom bed into our spare room. My parents want to give us their old squeeky brass headboard which is definately not our style! I can’t wait to make this headboard! Thanks for the directions.
I swear your blog covers every topic I ever look up! Thanks for such a helpful, and fun, resource!
I will be giving my daughter a big girl room sooner than I’m ready; and love the idea of a custom headboard. I will be buying her a full bed and mattress as well. Do I just need a basic frame if I’m making my own headboard? Suggestions on places for cheap ones since it won’t be seen?
Also, completely random, but the bedding I’ve had saved for two years is that french poodle on a vespa bedding that is in your neice’s room! I spotted it on overstock and had to have it. Do you have more pics of her room with that bedding? (I think it’s since been changed.)
We would look on craigslist or even at thrift stores for a cheap bed frame and if that doesn’t turn anything up a mattress store like Sleepy’s should sell them for around $29-49. Hope it helps! And it’s so cute that you picked up the same bedding that Olivia had in her bedroom- unfortunately we don’t have other pics of her room with that bedding for ya.
xo,
s
just followed your tutorial, but instead of a frame or plywood, i used pegboard (you know, with the grid of holes already drilled). hanging it is simple–thanks to all the holes, there’s no need to add a bracket as is necessary for plywood–and tufting will be easy also. i don’t even have to use buttons on the front (just a cross-stitch to tuft it down) but i’ll put buttons on the back, to brace against the holes. simple and awesome, and definitely a project i will repeat in the future. breaking in the staple gun was fun, too. =)
I’m thinking of using pink foamboard from Home Depot to make a headboard. It comes in a 4×8 sheet in 2 different thicknesses. Lightweight!
Is there any reason not to use 1/8″ wool felt instead of cotton batting? I know it will retain more heat as we lean up against it, but can you think of anything I am not thinking of? I happen to have some extra yards of 1/8″ organic 100% wool felt and I would love to use it on this clever project instead of spending more on cotton batting. What do you think? Thanks!
Nope, 1/8″ wool felt should work just as well so go for it. There’s definitely more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to DIY!
xo,
s
I too came across your blog by accident. You two are TOO cute! Love your house, style and ambition! Can’t wait to see more. You guys are now in my favorites!
Hey guys – when you’re stapling the batting and fabric like this, it’s always good to staple in the following order: 12 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 9 o’clock to assure even balance when you’re tightening the fabric. Once you get those 4 staples in, go back to 12 o’clock and staple from the middle, going outwards, then hit 6, then 3, then 9 again in the original order.
Just a little tip from all those painting classes I took in undergrad ;)
Do you love your West Elm parsons table? I want to buy one but worry about durability. The ones in the store look nicked up and I wonder if I should spend the extra money to top it with 1/2″ glass? Thoughts?
Love it! I’ve had it since a few months before our wedding almost three years ago and it looks as good as the day we got it (no nicks at all- it’s a super thick lacquer so it’s very hardy). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Dear YHL: I snapped up a great square, padded headboard (with 12 covered buttons) at Garden Ridge Pottery last year. Loved the style and price, but hate the dreary, not-quite-taupe, micro-suede fabric. Want to recover in a bright, crisp white. Can your headboard-wrapping technique be applied to an already-made headboard? I’m concerned about achieving a clean edge on the corners. What do you think? Thank you.
p.s. Also have had my white West Elm “Parson’s Table” for 3 years. Love it.
You can definitely get nice clean corners, just act like you’re wrapping a present. Another post that will help is our chair upholstering tutorial: http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/07/how-to-upholster-a-chair/
It’ll show you a photo of the corner up close, which would be the same process for your headboard. The only potential issue we could see with covering your existing headboard would be that the covered buttons might create a lumpy look. Try pulling fabric taut around it to see how it’ll look. Good luck!
xo,
s
Hi
I just came across this blog today and i can’t wait to re-do my headboard. I live in an apartment and i’m always looking for ways to re-do my tiny space.
thank u
I made a tufted headboard years ago and it has held up well. I made the frame of 1×4′s in an Art Deco stepped pattern and then I screwed a sheet of Hardboard (I think this is also called Masonite – the same material as pegboard, but without holes) to the front and used 1″ thick upholstery foam and then batting and then the fabric. Hardboard is very durable, but lightweight. There is no need to use plywood or MDF (way too heavy); 1/4″ plywood is lightweight, but Hardboard is more durable and cheaper too. It is also flexible, so it will withstand abuse from kids and such.
I glued the foam down with a spray glue made for foam. I stapled the batting and fabric, but I didn’t wrap the corners because I covered the edges in wood trim. I mapped out the tufting pattern on the hardboard and drilled holes and then I used big fabric-covered buttons and threaded through with heavy carpet thread. These buttons are great because they have a metal loop on the back so it is easy to tuft with. You can also use twine if you cannot find carpet thread. I mounted the headboard with a cleat made from a 1×6 that I cut in half on a bevel. I screwed the bottom of the cleat (with the open “v” shape up against the wall) to the wall and then screwed the top of the cleat to the headboard (with the upside-down open “v” facing down against the back of the headboard). Then I simply slid the headboard onto the cleat from above – the beveled cleat locks into place so it can easily be removed in the future, but it hasn’t moved at all in years.
The person who was having trouble tufting was trying to tuft without a button – I don’t think this would work unless the fabric is extremely heavy since the thread (or wire) will just pull through the fabric because of the tension. For a non-button tufted look I would use a clear glass bead to stop the thread from pulling through the fabric (I have a pillow made this way and you cannot even see the beads except up close). You could also use a colored bead (like pearl on a white headboard).
I love your blog and check it daily! You have such simple, yet fantastic and creative, tips. I am the busy mom of an 18-month boy, so I am anxious to see what kid-friendly design ideas you share as your little one becomes mobile! In the meantime, I am trying to decorate a guest bedroom and love yours. I love the brown and white quilt! We have a neutral printed Crate and Barrel duvet cover with geometric squares (same color) on our guest bed. Our walls are very similar to your sandy-taupe color. I love the contrast you have with your green headboard. I have the frame for a headboard of my own and am curious if there are any colors you would suggest to make as big of an impact as your green one! The room is very neutral right now, so I could go any direction, but the majority of the furniture is black. Thoughts?
Does the back of the headboard connect to anything but the wall? (it’s separate from the bed?) Love the blog! Thanks so much.
Yup, it’s separate from the bed. You just place the bed in front of it.
xo,
s
Love your blog!! I would like to make my own upholstered bed and came across this in your how to. I really like the look of a headboard attached to an upholstered bed frame. (I have never been a big fan of bed skirts.) I just wanted to see if you knew of a good site with a plan to make a bed frame, I will probably attach some cool legs so I really just need a plan for the basic box. I don’t think it would be too hard but I just want to make sure it is sturdy enough to hold my mattress and me! :) Thanks!
Hey Tiffany,
We don’t know of a site offhand, but there’s probably something to be found by googling around. Happy hunting!
xo,
s
What about if you want your headboard to be a different shape? like even just curved on top? that wouldn’t work with the art store frame i’m guessing? would need to go the plywood route?
Yup, cutting plywood to the shape that you’d like and then using batting and fabric to wrap that piece of wood should do the trick!
xo,
s
I cam across your blog by accident – and absolutely love it –
I recently moved on my own – and can’t wait to create this head board !
thanks xx