our DIY upholstered headboard step-by-step! // how to upholster a headboard

This post is just for fun and has nothing to do with our photography whatsoever.  This post may help you to get to know Jeremy and I a little better…we love all things creative and Do It Yourself so we just had to share with you all what we’ve been up to!

We recently tackled this DIY upholstered headboard project as a surprise gift for my momma’s birthday that was this past weekend.  While browsing the web and doing research for the project, all the DIY headboard blogs that I found didn’t quite explain everything in detail which left me wondering which route I should take.  I found all sorts of ways to go about this project but it wasn’t until I found *THIS* blog post by Southern Exposure that I felt I could tackle this project AND it look good.  I am a very meticulous person and had very high expectations for the quality of our headboard once we were finished.  It HAD to look store bought once we were done.  Southern Exposure’s way of going about this project stood out among other blogs and looked the most high-end.  We decided to do a different shape than theirs which ended up changing and re-thinking their steps which also added major headaches along the way!  Stick to a simple shape!  At least for your first one!

Our entire headboard cost about $220!  Here is our supply list:

1. 1 sheet of thick, high quality birch wood 3/4 inches thick – $40 (Stay away from particle board – if it gets wet, it’s ruined.)

2. Screws $20 (Who knew screws cost so much?)

3. 1 inch thick foam – (You’d be surprised how much foam costs.  I was shocked!  Joann Fabric wanted over $200+ for just a 55X70X1 inch piece. Ouch!  After much research, we found a local place called The Foam Store that sold us the piece we needed for only $27!  SCORE!  You can also purchase this foam online if you don’t live in Houston.)

4. 4.5 yards of 3/4 inch thick polyester batting – $40 (We put on 2 layers.)

5. 2.5 yards of fabric – $55 (We used Liz Claiborne micro-fiber-ish fabric that was on sale for 40% off at Joanns!)

6. Staples – $20 (Get half inch long staples.  This birch wood that we used is very hard and you’ll NEED longer staples and an electric staple gun to get the staples all the way in.)

7. Electric Staple Gun

8. Fabric Shears

9. Drill

10. Spray Adhesive – $12

11. Sewing Piping – $4

 

First off, this was the headboard look I was going for.  This headboard is from Crate and Barrel and sells for $899!   I wasn’t crazy about this exact shape so I decided to change it up a bit.

Step 1: Draw your shape on your wood and make sure each side is perfectly symmetrical.  If doing any kind of circle shape, this circle drawing tool is very handy!  We were making a headboard for a queen size bed and our finished dimensions were 60 inches high X 68 inches wide X 1.5 inches thick.

Step 2:  Cut out your shape.  My Grandpa helped us out with this part.  It took a few days so we appreciate his help and his handy man skills, especially in the 100 degree Texas heat! =)

Step 3:  Once we cut out our shape, we also cut out a 5 inch border and screwed the pieces together.  This step helps makes your headboard thick which is what stood out about Southern Exposure’s way of going about this project.  This finished portion looked something like this:

Step 4:  Trace and cut out your foam to fit in the open space.  Help it stay put with spray adhesive.  Foam will help your headboard to be more plush so you don’t bonk your head when getting into bed at night!

Step 5:  Once our foam was put into place, we were so happy to move inside!  Now it’s time to apply your layers of batting.  We went with a 3/4 inch thick polyester batting that was sold by the yard.  With a queen size headboard, you’ll need about 4.5 yards for 2 layers.  Because the fabric we chose to use was a light color, we decided to do 2 layers of batting so that you didn’t see any wood coming through once it was complete.

Lay your batting flat on the ground and then lay your headboard upside down on top of it.  Cut 5-6 inches around the shape of your headboard and then stretch and staple the batting to the back of the headboard.

Step 6: Now it’s time to apply your fabric!  It is SO IMPORTANT to make sure your fabric is nice and ironed BEFORE applying it.  Also, MAKE SURE to lay plastic on the ground to protect your fabric from dirt, especially if your fabric is a solid light color like ours.  Lay your plastic and then your fabric upside down and then your headboard upside down on top of it.  Cut 5-6 inches around the shape of your headboard.  To apply and staple the fabric, we found it best to do so with it standing up.  We started with the very top of the half-circle.  My sweet hubby helped to hold it up while I stapled away.

NOW, this is where the headache I mentioned above began.  Southern Exposure said to pull tight the fabric and staple behind the headboard.  If doing this funky shape, this will NOT work!  Oh my, I went insane figuring this out and actually had to go out and buy another 2.5 yards of fabric to start this step over.  The corner angles (where my half-circle on top ends) make this extremely difficult.   The reason it was so difficult is because our headboard was 1.5 inches thick.  If it was much thinner, I would image stapling behind would work with this shape.  So, if your headboard is thick and this shape, you’ll want to cover the front of the headboard separately from the edges of the headboard.  To apply the front piece, pull the fabric tight and staple ON TOP of the headboard, not behind.  This part is difficult but stay with it, it’ll find it’s way.  You’ll have to do some creative cutting to cover the fabric flat around the corner angles to avoid bunching.  I wish I had a picture of this important step but I’m not sure why I missed it, so sorry!

Step 7:  Now, we covered the edges.  You’ll need a sewing machine and someone who can sew a straight line.  Don’t let this step scare you, it’s actually VERY simple!  A big thank you to my dear friend, Meredith, for sewing this for us!  Cut stripes out of your fabric 7 inches thick and then sew your piping in the middle like this:

Step 8:  To apply our piping, we pinned it into place first to make things easier.  Staple the bottom flap to the very edge of the headboard to keep your piping in place.  The piping creates a seam and covers your front fabric staples from Step 6.  The top flap is to cover these staples you’ve just done.  Staple the top flap over these staples and staple it to the back of the headboard.  Does this even make sense?  I hope so!  This will give you this finished product which is beautiful!:

And finally, our finished product!  A BIG thanks to my Papa, Meredith and hubby for your hard work and willingness to help!  I like to think it looks better than Crate and Barrel’s!  What do you think?

We did an entire bedroom makeover for my momma’s birthday and I’m going tease you and wait to post those pictures with this headboard later.  I know, I know, LAME!

If you have any questions about our step-by-step process, leave us a comment below and we’d be happy to help!  Good luck with your own headboard project! =)