DIY Headboard

Mr. B and I bought a new bed. We were long overdue - we'd been sleeping on a double mattress that had been handed down to me by a girl that lived in the sorority across the street from my sorority in college. How's that for making the rounds? Really, you can't be picky about where you lay your head in college. Beer pong and jello shot induced passing out helps you not care. Several years after college, though? Time for a new bed.

Anyway, long story short. We got the mattress. I'm in love. I can roll over in the middle of the night and not break B's nose with my elbow - and vice versa. It's the little things in life, you know?


But, the mattress needed a headboard. Enter my darling sister-in-law. Do you have one of these? You should get one. I can't claim any part in my brother's picking of this amazing girl, but she's fabulous, and you need one. And she's a crafty little thing with a penchant for upholstering headboards. Love.

First, I grabbed my fabric and batting. I went with 3 yards of burlap ($1.99 a yard). Stick with me, here. For the batting, I picked up a $20 queen sized (for a king sized headboard) quilter's batting package on sale for $10.

Then, Sarah and I headed to Home Depot, where we picked a $10 piece of 1/2 inch plywood and had it cut down to size (78" long and 32" high for my bed).

Then, we folded the batting in thirds for a nice, cushy but not pillowy looking surface. And we stapled that to the board on the front, pulling tightly.


Next, we put the burlap face down on the dining room table and pulled very tightly as we stapled around the back, folding the corners neatly.


This seriously took about 5 minutes from bringing the plywood inside to the last staple.

We turned the board over and everyone immediately said, "Em, the burlap looks expensive". I think they'd had their doubts.


Then, I pulled out my final touch: nailhead trim. $12 for a 10 yard kit with matching nails. Totally worth it.


We just lined the trim up as evenly as possible close to the outer edge of the board, and nailed the nails in. Easy shmeasy.

The hanging was a different story, but some heavy duty picture hanging wire and some D rings (after consulting G&D's tutorial for hanging tips after two failed hanging attempts) and we were good to go.

Voila. I dot my "i"s with hearts LOVE it. I love the rustic and natural appeal of the burlap with the traditional yet edgy nailhead trim. And for $38, not bad.


Just have to move the mirrors out and down and we're good to go for awhile in this room.


And, since there are no original ideas here, I'll credit my inspiration.

West Elm's Nailhead Uphostered Headboard, $449 for a King

Restoration Hardware's Huntington Upholstered Headboard with Nailhead trim - Starting at $1015 for a King
Seriously, $1000 versus $38? Why would I ever buy a real headboard again?

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