IN THIS POST
– DIY plywood headboard
– DIY pallet headboard with lights
– DIY tufted headboard
– DIY cardboard and fabric headboard
– DIY tapestry headboard
Headboards usually serve as the focal point of a bedroom. Regardless of the size of your room, a creatively crafted headboard can completely transform your space and upgrade your décor. If you have a large bedroom, a headboard is the best way to fill up the boring empty space behind your bed. On the other hand, if your bedroom is relatively small and cosy, a headboard can instantly add a flair of colours and brightness to your space without taking up any precious square footage. However, as you might already know, buying a ready-to-install headboard can be a little heavy on the pocket, which is why we’ve put together a list of DIY headboard design ideas that are both budget-friendly and easy-to-accomplish.
In case you are feeling a bit daunted by the idea of building a headboard for your bedroom, there is no need to worry because you have a lot of options to choose from. Depending on your crafting and/or carpentry skills, you can mount your headboard directly to the wall behind your bed, hang it through a rod or attach it to the bed frame.
DIY Headboard Design Ideas
These are some quick and easy headboard ideas that will instantly upgrade your bedroom décor.
- DIY plywood headboard
- DIY pallet headboard with lights
- DIY tufted headboard
- DIY cardboard and fabric headboard
- DIY tapestry headboard
Here is a detailed explanation for each of these ideas to create your own one-of-a-kind headboard.
DIY Plywood Headboard
If you are a fan of minimalist home décor, a plywood DIY standalone headboard will be perfect for your bedroom.
Plywood is an engineered wooden material that is widely used to build kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and furniture. It is made from thin layers of wooden sheets that are glued together and then compressed to form a single wooden board covered with a veneer. It is fairly sturdy, highly durable, resistant to moisture and heat, and stands up well to general wear and tear. More importantly, plywood sheets are fairly cheap, available in a range of shapes and sizes, and you can easily find them at any hardwood store.
For this cheap DIY headboard, all you need to do is buy a plywood sheet big enough to cover the vacant space behind your bed. The height and colour of the sheet depend solely on your personal preference. You can either nail the plywood headboard to the wall or secure it using mounting brackets.
If you find this DIY headboard too simply, you can add one or two horizontal plywood sheets to it to create open shelves, which you can then decorate with potted succulents, photo frames or books.
DIY Pallet Headboard with Lights
Nothing can brighten up your bedroom like a DIY headboard with lights draped all over it.
Repurposed pallets make for one of the best DIY headboard design ideas, as they are cheap, widely available, versatile and easy to work with. Granted, you will need some basic carpentry skills to assemble the whole thing, but as long as you follow our instructions, you will be perfectly fine.
So, here it goes.
Step 1: Gather your pallets and remove the wooden boards
Step 2: Remove all the nails from the wooden boards
Step 3: Use sandpaper to sand down the surface and the edges of the wooden boards
Step 4: Paint the wooden boards and let them dry overnight
Step 5: Measure and boards and make a basic frame by cutting two pieces of lumber for the height of the headboard and another three to fit within the width. You can use a drill and screws to attach the pieces together
Step 6: Attach the painted pallet boards to the frame in whichever pattern you prefer
Step 7: Secure the DIY pallet headboard to the wall behind the bed
Step 8: You can build an exterior frame or add a shelf to give your DIY pallet headboard a finishing touch
Step 9: Cover the frame and wooden boards with a fresh coat of paint. Once it dries, drape fairy lights over the boards to complete the overall look
This is one of the best DIY headboards ideas for your room if you are a fan of farmhouse aesthetics.
DIY Tufted Headboard
Tufted headboards are the perfect way to give your bedroom a complete makeover. These headboards look elegant, luxurious, classy and essentially timeless. You can just add some fuzzy blankets and plush pillows to your bed to complete the look. It is also one of the best DIY headboard ideas for a master bedroom.
Here is how you can create tufted headboards all by yourself using easily-available tools and materials.
Step 1: Prepare the base of your tufted headboard by cutting a plywood sheet into the desired shape and size. You must then attach the plywood base to a same-sized wooden frame using a drill and screws.
Step 2: Apply glue to the front of your plywood headboard base to attach about one and a half-inch thick foam sheet to the surface. If there is any pattern on the foam sheet, make sure the patterned side is facing the plywood board. Also, the foam sheet should be about 6 inches larger than the base headboard all the way around.
Step 3: Take an old ironed bed sheet, preferably something in a lighter colour, and use it to cover the headboard. It’s better for the sheet to be of the same size as the foam sheet. Once the material is evenly covering the surface, start from the centre of the board and pull the fabric sheets towards the back of the headboard along with the foam underneath. You can use a regular staple gun to fix the bed sheet and foam behind the plywood headboard. When you reach the corner of the board, fold and tuck the sheets for a clean look before stapling them to the surface. Make sure to properly stretch the sheets before stapling them to avoid any wrinkles.
Step 4: Choose a patterned fabric sheet for your headboard and stretch it over the headboard. The colour of your chosen fabric must complement the rest of your bedroom décor, so make sure you are completely satisfied with your decision. You should attach the fabric sheet to the headboard using the same technique as above.
Step 5: Depending on the pattern you’ve chosen for your tufted headboard, mark the backside of your plywood headboard according to the button placement on the front. Then, use a drill to make about 1/8-inch holes in the plywood. Be careful not to drill through the foam and fabric sheets.
Step 6: Thread a thick upholstery needle with thin, flexible aluminium wires and push it through the hole of a button. Bend the wire back and push the needle through the fabric sheet all the way to the drilled hole at the back of the headboard. On the backside, tug the wire and staple it in place before wrapping it back toward the hole and stapling again. Repeat the process a few more times for each button.
You can also use this technique to make a headboard for a king-size bed.
DIY Cardboard and Fabric Headboard
This is one of the most inexpensive and probably the least complicated DIY headboard design ideas on the list.
If a DIY tufted headboard seems too costly or too difficult to you, you can instead create a cardboard and fabric headboard to add some creativity to your bedroom décor.
Step 1: You can start off by taking two sheets of cardboard and sticking them together for added strength using an adhesive.
Step 2: Use a cutter to shape the cardboard headboard base as per your personal design and size preference.
Step 3: Once you are satisfied by the design, stretch a foam sheet over the headboard base and staple it towards the backside.
Step 4: Cover the whole board with your chosen fabric sheet and repeat the process.
Step 5: Use wall brackets to mount this cardboard and fabric headboard on the wall behind your bed.
As far as DIY fabric headboards go, this one is certainly a winner.
DIY Tapestry Headboard
A strategically hung tapestry can also serve as one of the best DIY headboards ideas.
This chic and cheap DIY headboard design only requires a handful of tools and materials, such as fabric, curtain rods and some dowels.
Step 1: Select a statement-making printed fabric for your headboard tapestry that is enough to cover the area behind your bed. It’s better to choose a material that is a little heavy.
Step 2: Cut the fabric in two vertical pieces to create panels. Then, sew a 1-inch hem on each side.
Step 3: Measure the diameter of your curtain rod and sew a pocket on the top of each fabric panel
Step 4: Sew a slimmer pocket on the lower edge of each of the panels for wooden dowels
Step 5: Measure the length of your finished fabric panels and install a curtain rod above your bed accordingly
Step 6: Thread the fabric panels onto the curtain rod and insert a wooden dowel into the bottom pocket of each pocket, to make it look taut.
That’s it. Your custom-made tapestry headboard is now ready.
So, which of these DIY headboard design ideas will you be trying out next? Let us know your thoughts and comments by dropping an email on blog@zameen.com.
If you want to make your space look brand new, here are some décor ideas to make your bedroom look warm and cosy. On the other hand, if you want to freshen up space with a fresh coat of paint, check out the best colour schemes for bedrooms according to colour psychology.
Meanwhile, for more quick and easy home improvement projects, stay connected to Zameen Blog – the best home décor and real estate blog in Pakistan. You can also check out our guides on DIY bookshelf ideas and creating your own rock garden for some home décor inspiration.
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