We sometimes get paid at no cost to you for the links you click. Learn more about why you should trust our reviews and view our disclosure page
Since ancient times, headboards have been used to protect the head from drafts. This was when houses were not as warm and cozy as they are now. Even though we no longer need them in the old sense, you can attach a headboard to make your room look more stylish or blend in with your other bedroom furniture. Your adjustable bed frame may already come with headboard brackets, which will make attaching the headboard very easy. If not, you will have to take some additional steps.
Preparation of material and tools
The original headboard serves as the final stage of any sleeping place. With it the bed looks impressive and beautiful, it gives the bedroom a unique style and originality. How to make a headboard with your own hands is a question for those who want to create new or update old furniture themselves. This work requires a certain time, a special set of devices, materials and diagrams, drawings for making a bed with your own hands.
For this you will need materials:
- sheets of plywood of medium thickness - it is advisable to take the furniture version;
- foam rubber, batting necessary for a soft headboard for a bed with your own hands;
- nails – preferably 1.5 inches thick;
- decorative fabric - you need to buy it in furniture stores. The cut size is selected based on the area of the product, but do not forget about the margin for the hem;
- a set of bolts and hinges with which the headboard is attached to the wall or bed frame;
- required number of buttons, snaps. It is better to go with metal ones, since plastic buttons have impractical legs. You will need regular buttons with holes to secure them on the wrong side;
- needles are thick and durable;
- threads - nylon threads are suitable, they are quite durable.
Tools you will need:
- a jigsaw is a necessary tool when you need to make a figured headboard with your own hands;
- furniture stapler - it’s safer to take a metal one, with a device for staples of different sizes;
- drill and drills - without them it is impossible to make the necessary holes;
- construction sawhorses - useful for dismantling large sheets of plywood;
- knife with a wide blade and scissors;
- an ordinary hammer and screwdriver;
- a set of sewing accessories - necessary when decorating.
Carpet or tapestry
Carpets never go out of style, but what is truly valued today are vintage and hand-woven items with unusual patterns. You can attach the carpet directly to the wall or to a wooden strip. The second method will allow you to easily remove the canvas for cleaning.
Patterned rugs, tapestries, appliqués and patchwork items will replace the headboard and give the bedroom interior a bright, individual character.
Fixing the decor “Crown” and others
Various decorative elements for decorating furniture are popular. Curtains and canopies are often used. How to attach a curtain frame over a bed:
- “Crown”: made in the shape of a circle, semicircle or square, equipped with hooks or slats for hanging a curtain. Mounts to the wall above the headboard or to the ceiling in the center of the bed.
- “Racks”: the frame starts from the legs. Often it is connected on top in the form of a square, so you can hide the bed completely or just its corners.
- A “crossbar” made of a pipe attached to the wall. A canopy is thrown over it.
- “Arc”: the frame is mounted to the wall above the headboard, the fabric is attached to it with clips or clothespins.
- “Cords”: hooks are attached to the ceiling opposite each corner, and slightly sagging cords are tied to them. A curtain is hung over them.
- “Independent circuit”: a frame is welded from pipes or assembled from other materials and mounted above the berth. In appearance it follows the shape and size of the bed.
Materials from which the headboard can be made
To create soft headboards, you will need a rigid base: a sheet of plywood, elements of old furniture. Its appearance is not very important; it will still be hidden behind the upholstery. You can use natural or artificial leather as the outer layer. Textiles look very beautiful. Velvet for baroque, golden satin for rococo, floral motifs for ethno style and so on.
Options for soft headboards in the photo
A soft headboard can also be assembled from pillows using textiles and filling.
A soft headboard made of pillows is a comfortable device for reading or watching movies
Do you have unnecessary window frames? Then you can make a soft headrest out of them by adding beautiful textile upholstery with filling.
A soft headboard with a rigid frame made from a window frame is an easy-to-make and very convenient option.
A popular and simple technique is decoupage. With its help you can create a unique design of the bed parts.
Decoupage is another way to create an original headboard for a bed
The simplest option is a headboard made from an old mattress. You can embroider it in the desired style or upholster it with suitable material.
The easiest way to make a soft headboard is to use an old mattress
All that remains is to think about the fastening of such a structure, although if the mattress is large enough, you can simply nail it to the wall.
The internal soft lining between the frame and the upholstery is made of foam rubber. This is the cheapest option for manual work.
Rigid headboards are most often a decorative element, with the exception of a shelf headboard. The materials for their creation may be different.
- One of the simplest options is a headboard assembled from ready-made purchased boards. All that remains is to fix them on the wall and add sconces.
A wooden headboard made from ready-made boards is the simplest homemade option.
Use wooden pallets as headboards
A wooden headboard on a metal figured base will require skills in working with metal
Wooden gates can serve as an original headboard for your bed
Carved woodwork looks very beautiful and original.
A headboard with mosaic elements perfectly complements the style of the entire bedroom
Openwork metal forging in the shape of a peacock's tail will make a wonderful headboard
A headboard woven from wicker will complement the eco-style
Methods for attaching a headboard to a bed
Headboards are not necessarily a structural element of the bed. They can represent a completely independent type of furniture or room decor. Based on the installation method, there are three types of headboards:
- Stationary - attached directly to the bed frame.
- Side tables are cabinets or chests of drawers that are located between the wall and the bed.
- Wall-mounted – the load-bearing basis of such a headboard is the wall behind the bed.
Headboard shapes
The impression the sleeping place will make depends on the shape of the headboard itself The simplest shapes are rectangular or slightly rounded at the edges. Semicircular shapes are also often used. But why not give the room a more interesting look and make the headboard, for example, in the shape of a shell or crown , a large flower or a rainbow? Children will certainly like such bright headboards and will always cheer them up, even on the coldest and cloudiest day. Even small curves will look more interesting than a regular rectangle. You will need to spend a little more time giving the headboard a custom shape, but the results will be worth it.
I think you have already decided on the style in which your bedroom is designed, if not completely, then in its overwhelming majority, an image of a pleasant headboard shape has probably already popped into your head, then it’s time to get down to business .
Woven fabric
One of the most popular trends in recent years is the use of natural materials when decorating a home. The color scheme of light brown, sand and wood shades has a positive effect on well-being and mood.
To decorate your bedroom with eco-style elements, you can use woven tatami mats instead of a headboard or a round jute rug.
Interior styles that will successfully complement the headboard
There are many different interior styles where a headboard helps create a unique setting.
- Baroque. This style is associated with luxury, pomp, and wealth. Brocade, velvet, fringe, stucco, wood, marble, gilding are the main materials for creating interior elements.
The headboard is made in the Baroque style: soft gold velvet inserts and elaborate forging
The headboard is made of boards painted white, creating a feeling of lightness and weightlessness of the structure.
Vintage headboard made using wood carving technique
A soft rectangular headboard is an element of the design of a bedroom in the art deco style
The combination of a soft headboard and a brick wall gives the bedroom the effect of an unfinished renovation
You can easily make a bed headboard using patchwork technique yourself.
Doors are often used as the head of the bed when decorating a bedroom in eco style.
Oriental style bed headboard: forging with Moroccan motifs
Boho style in decoration: colored wooden boards are used to add brightness
A headboard made of boards painted in rainbow colors perfectly complements the restraint and simplicity of the overall style of the room.
How to make your own headboard for a bed
A new headboard will completely change the appearance of your room and create a unique accent at a minimal cost. In just a few hours you can transform a boring bed into a luxurious sleeping bed with your own hands. The main thing is to choose a comfortable shape that will harmoniously fit into the overall design of the room, and an angle of inclination so that you can not only relax in the evening, but also, leaning on your elbows, read before going to bed or watch TV.
Hard
If you decide to make a rigid back with your own hands, it is important, first of all, to choose the material for the frame. Most often, fiberboard, plastic, wood, MDF, parquet boards, laminate, metal, ceramics or even mirror panels are used for the headboard. Let's look at some of the simplest options for making a backrest.
Wooden backrest
We will use a sheet of plywood as the basis of the rigid headboard. The dimensions of the backrest can be the same width as the bed or protrude symmetrically on both sides. For finishing, bars of the same size are suitable; it is better to cut them using a miter saw.
It is necessary to glue the bars to the base with wood glue, after the structure has completely dried, paint it with matte white paint. There are a lot of options for creating compositions; you can make a niche for pillows, come up with an interesting pattern or ornament. All that remains is to secure the headboard to the bed frame.
To glue the timber, use wood glue PHOTO: ivd.ru
From the bars you can create a pattern for each bed or highlight the center of the bed PHOTO: ivd.ru
As a result, a stylish headboard was made from ordinary bars PHOTO: ivd.ru
Wooden headboard
Boards are an ideal material for making a backrest. Both new and used products can be used for work. First, you should assemble a shield from wood, and then use a jigsaw to give it any shape, including a shaped one.
A wooden headboard can be decorated in any way that suits the overall decor of the bedroom. The artificially aged surface looks interesting and stylish; even stain will give the back a beautiful look. Complete harmony can be achieved by treating the remaining elements of the structure with impregnation.
Key points when choosing a headboard
If you decide to create a headboard for your bed yourself, consider several important conditions.
- Functionality. If you are going to use the headboard as a support while reading or watching movies in the evening, then it is better to choose a soft product made from a material that is easy to clean.
- Room size. In small bedrooms, where it is not possible to install a bedside table, it is convenient to make a wide headboard in the form of shelves. For a spacious room with high ceilings, choose a large structure.
- Style. If the room has a certain stylistic direction, then the headboard should emphasize and continue it. By creating a new image of the room, you can make the original headboard the central part of the composition.
You can visually lengthen the walls by making the height of the headboard greater than the width.
How to sew a cover for the head of a bed.
You will need: • Cotton upholstery fabric 100 cm long and 137 cm wide • Cotton fabric for lining 120 cm long and 137 cm wide • Sintepon or batting 94 x 97 cm • Cord for piping - 2 m • Threads to match • Pins
1. This cover is designed for a headboard measuring 91 x 94 cm. From upholstery fabric, cut out a rectangle 94 x 52 cm for the front part of the cover and a rectangle 94 x 48 cm for the back part, as well as 8 strips 30 x 9 cm for the ties. From the lining fabric, cut out one rectangle 94 x 97 cm and 2 rectangles 67 x 33 cm for the side flaps. Make 2 m of piping: cut out the bias tape from the lining fabric and sew a cord into the middle, stitching along the front side as close to the cord as possible.
Hanging headboard
A very unusual solution that you can easily implement. The idea is to attach various elements to a frame located above the bed. As a frame, you can use a piece of chrome pipe or a wooden plank, or even a handle from an old wooden mop, the main thing is that its length is enough to cover the entire width of the bed. You can use anything as hanging elements This headboard is a pleasure to lean on. And the pillowcases are easy to remove or wash. These could be small wooden circles with pictures painted on them, metal disks with various emblems, or your collection of favorite items. Pillows with beautiful ties the most comfortable To make such a headboard we will need: a pipe, chrome-plated or blown with powder paint, end caps in the color of the pipe, 2 pieces, wall mounts, 2 pieces, pillowcases and small pillows.
To reduce the cost of the process, you can not buy ready-made pillowcases and pillows, but buy pieces of fabric and sew everything yourself. You can also make your own pillows. To do this, you need to buy white bed fabric and filling. In any sewing store, padding polyester or holofiber is sold by weight.
Let's imagine that we decided to sew ourselves. It is necessary to make a pattern for the future pillow with a margin of a couple of centimeters on each side for the seam. Fold a piece of white fabric in half, attach the pattern, trace the contours and cut it out. Before you start stitching, baste the workpiece; this will protect you from uneven edges and distortions during sewing. Leave one edge not sewn to the end by approximately 10 cm. Turn the finished pocket inside out and stuff it with filling through the hole left. Choose the desired volume yourself. At the end, you need to sew the pillow up to the end using a linen seam or by hand. Our pillow is ready.
Now let's sew pillowcases from the selected fabric . The principle is the same, only on one side you need to add loops or ties to which the pillows will be attached to the pipe. To do this, sew not very wide strips of fabric from the inside out, folding them in half. Turn out the resulting tubes and iron them, giving them a rectangular shape.
Make a pillowcase pattern using the existing pillow pattern, adding another 2-3 cm around the perimeter. When you sew the pillowcase, don’t forget to insert our ribbons folded in half at one end, these will be the future loops. For ease of further use, a hidden zipper can be sewn into the edge opposite the loops. This will make it easy to remove the pillows. Choose the number of pillows, their size and colors according to your own imagination. Ready-made pillowcases can be decorated with embroidery or buttons, rhinestones, sequins or various stripes.
When all the sewing work is done, make a marking on the wall to guide you when attaching the pipe. Screw one mount to the wall, thread a pipe through it, and close the edge with a plug. After this, put the cushions on the pipe and only after that screw on the second fastener and insert the edge of the pipe there. This only applies to pillows with loops. You can tie pillows with ties at any time. Enjoy the look of the work done.
DIY soft headboard with cushions, tile imitation
Materials and tools:
a large rectangular sheet of plywood for the base (in the project 150 cm by 75 cm); small plywood squares (for this project 18 pieces measuring 25 by 25 cm were needed); a piece of fabric; synthetic winterizer; furniture stapler; scissors; glue.
Progress
Prepare the plywood pieces. In large construction supermarkets, you can ask them to cut the plywood into pieces of the required size. Cut the piece of fabric into 18 squares (in your case the number may be different). The squares should have a margin of 5-10 cm on each side.
Place the plywood squares in the middle of the fabric.
Using a furniture stapler, attach the edges of one side. Be careful that the staple does not pierce all the way through the plywood and fabric. You can insert the staples at a slight angle.
Make a fold in the corner, stretch the fabric well and secure the corner with staples.
So, you have secured one side and two corners, making something like a “pocket”. Now, adding a staple on each side, fill the space between the plywood and the fabric with batting or padding polyester. Try to ensure that there is practically no filler closer to the edges, and there is a plump “slide” in the middle.
Having filled the square with padding polyester and secured the sides, secure the last remaining side and corners with staples in the same way.
Do the same for the rest of the squares. If the fabric has a pattern, try to keep it the same on all parts. You can also use different fabrics to create a multi-colored mosaic composition.
When all the squares are ready, place them on a large sheet of plywood and glue them with universal glue. Make sure the pattern is positioned correctly. Try not to have a large distance between the squares; the joints should be barely noticeable.
Fastening the upholstery
Once you have sewn on all the buttons, it is time to secure the fabric around the perimeter. To do this, place the headboard on the floor with the front facing down. You have already secured the upper part, but it won’t hurt to go through it with a stapler again. To make the corners neat, straighten and stretch the fabric on the sides and fold it horizontally so that a horizontal fold-seam is formed. Secure with a stapler. Continue all the way around the headboard. Don't try too hard: everything should be neat from the front, but the back doesn't have to be perfect.
Before securing the bottom section, lift the headboard and trim off the excess fabric in front of the legs, leaving a slight allowance. Fold the fabric over, stretch and secure at the back, just as in other cases.
Headboard with shelves
The most practical type of headboard, which is quite easy to make yourself. The material you can use is an old cabinet or an old countertop. If you don’t find anything suitable in your house, you’ll have to spend a little money and buy sheets of laminated chipboard and a special tape that covers the ends. One sheet should be enough for a medium-sized headboard, since chipboard is quite large. to make the markings correctly and cut the sheet with a minimum amount of waste. The same place where you will make the purchase can help you with this; they usually have their own small sawmill and cutters.
After you have the rectangles of the required sizes cut, you will need to assemble the entire structure together, having previously covered the ends with a special laminated strip. This is done very simply using a regular iron. Heat the iron to maximum temperature, apply the tape to the end of the sheet, you can cover it with a thin cloth on top, and iron it several times until it sticks, trim off the excess. This way you should finish all the edges except those that will be adjacent to the base of your headboard.
Now you need to mark the location of the shelves on the base and the distance for the mounting holes. When the work is done, drill small holes in the marked places, attach the shelf and use a marker to mark a dot on its end through the hole in the base, so you will be sure that the holes will line up exactly when assembling. To attach the shelves, you can use self-tapping screws, which must be screwed into the back of the base.
If you don't want to bother with a screwdriver and screws, you can use special glue. This way the work will be completed much faster, but remember that such shelves should not be overly loaded. They should serve as a location for decorative objects or lamps, but not books or massive figurines.