I love upholstered headboards. Especially the ones with nailhead trim. But at $700-$900 a pop from Crate & Barrel, buying a headboard  just wasn’t happening! So, I turned to the DIY upholstered headboard route.
Remember my Oceanside Guest Bedroom Inspiration post? In that post I describe, in detail, what I’d like for my guest bedroom, sea shells, starfish, and other beach-related items, but mainly I wanted an upholstered headboard.  Since I already made a sunburst mirror, I had to finish the guest bedroom.
I completed my headboard in about a week. I am still pretty proud of myself. Best of all? Not only did I make it for under $100, I can also proudly say that (save my husband hold the headboard for me in place) I did it all on my own. You can do it too!
For this project you will need:
- MDF particle board (about $9 at Lowe’s)
- jigsaw (around $29)
- nails (not longer than MDF thickness)
- nailhead trim ($17)
- quilt batting (had on-hand from this project)
- muslin fabric (3 yards for $8)
- staple gun (similar for $12)
- staples
- two “1x3x8” (cheaper than 2×4) for the legs ($1 each)
Most of these items I found at my local JoAnn’s Fabric. I provided you with some Amazon links for the items I used. In hindsight I should have bought the items from Amazon as there’s more variety and lower costs. I only found silver nailhead trim at JoAnne, but I would have bought these antique gold ones instead. If you sign up for their e-mail newsletters and their iPhone app, you can get many 40%-60% off coupons to help you save money. See how I made my guest bedroom’s headboard. It was easy! Dedicate a weekend with good weather and friends!
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Mal says
Good job Lisette!
I’m going to use your sunburst mirror tutorial, that sounds easy and it’s cute.
Have a good day.
Lisette says
Thanks Mal! Let me know how it works for you!
Kate says
Pinning this for the future, great tutorial!
Kate says
Lisette – just tried to pin this and it’s not working, comes up to pin a blank image with no details for it!
Kate says
To be more specific – it’s your “pin it” button. Hope you get it fixed, pinned from the bottom anyway :)
Lisette says
Thanks for your feedback. The button works for me and for another friend of mine. I’ll look into it. Thanks for pinning it!
Tami says
THIS IS AWESOME. Adding to my list of projects.
Lisette says
Yay! Let me know how it turns out!
Rachel says
I could never do this. We have alot of this stuff already, my father in law has a wood shop and I am to scared to attempt this. It looks so pretty!
Lisette says
You most definitely can do this! It was EASY! Don’t let people with wood shops intimidate you…but you could always have them do it for you ;)
Emily says
This is FABULOUS! So beautiful! Our bedroom furniture set is SO OLD (Andrew’s parents bought it for him at an estate sale when he was little-so we have the whole set-but I HATE it! I’m hoping to spruce it up a bit soon…this is great inspiration!
Lisette says
Ooh! This will be a great way to make your bedroom “all you.” Let me know how it goes!
Lauren says
WOW! I am so, so impressed! Your headboard looks fabulous! DIY projects that require power tools seriously intimidate me!
Lisette says
Thank you! Don’t be afraid of power tools. My little sister-in-law taught me how to use it! As long as you keep it flat against the wood you’re fine. I hope you try it!
Athienna says
GREAT TUTORIAL!!! First off your room looks fantastic and any guest would feel special staying with you. Second your tutorial broke everything down so simply I think this is going to be the first project of the winter for me! I have been wanting to do this for my daughters room and now I have great directions. THANK YOU!!
Sybil @ Peace it all Together says
That looks amazing! I would have gone with the nailhead trim too. I can’t imagine having to hammer in all of those individually!!
Lisette says
Thanks Sybil! I later noticed furniture in stores with LARGE nailhead trim that was very spaced out. It looked beautiful too!
Erica says
Ah this is gorgeous!! I am SO keen to try this in the future :D
Kaylin says
Great DIY, totally pulls the room together. I haven’t done too many big DIY’s and don’t have an extra bedroom to decorate, but maybe one day.
Madi says
I love this headboard! I think I’ll definitely be making one in our near-ish future! Hopefully when we are out of the apartment and into a house so I don’t have to carry it up/down stairs! ;) I think it’s such a classy and timeless look that is really perfect for making the guest room look like you spent a lot of time and $$ making it beautiful!
A total win in my book! Thanks for the tutorial! :)
Lisette says
Thanks Madi! You will love it! I loved how easy it was to make…and if I had a jigsaw beforehand, the headboard would have cost me only around $50 to make!
Kristyn says
I am so glad you did this! I love this headboard and it looks so easy. I will be doing this myself (sometime in the future) too! I am in love.
Kerry says
That came out beautifully. I love the nail head look and the strips are so much easier!! I need to add a headboard to by guest bed too!
lauren says
Wow, that is gorgeous! I absolutely love it, and that’s the kind of bed I’m looking for. Thanks!!
Tiara W. says
Love it! I made a similar one this past spring for our guest room.
Because Shanna Said So says
Um, you are AWESOME!!! Thank you so much for this! I am pinning it right now! And I cannot believe you did it all by yourself…this one I will definitely Ross’s help…I have no idea how to use a jig saw! :)
Lisette says
You can most DEFINITELY make it yourself! You are a dynamic and strong woman haha! As long as you “push down” on the jigsaw you’ll be ok. My husband legit only helped me hold it up for a picture and carry it into the bedroom. I’m the “handyman” around these parts :)
lauren (@pinkonthecheek) says
sleep over at Lisettes!
Brianne Bracco says
Pinned! Love it!! You did such a beautiful job!!! Be proud girly :)
Niki says
It looks amazing! I can’t believe you DIY’d it! And the sunburst mirror!
Jess Casey says
I didn’t even know that you were DIY-er. Great job!
Chelsea says
Gorgeous and so simple! I’ve been dying to get one!
Michele C says
So fantastic! Just a little monogrammed pillow cover to tie it all together and … ! — michele
Kelly says
It looks great, congrats!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
sandy says
I am going to try this! Two questions: what is the measurement down the side and across the top at the ends of the arc you cut out. And did you drill holes in the legs to attach it to a metal bedframe? (If so, is that before or after the fabric is on? Thanks! Love it!
Lisette says
Hey there! I never measured the distance between the edges of the arcs. I just drew it at one corner and used the cut out as a guide and traced the curve on the other corner.
I want to say it is 59″ in height. I drilled holes for a bed frame before upholstering, but since it is up against the wall I didn’t need it. The mattress pins the headboard in place and the carpeting also helps :)
I hope that helps!
Trina O'Neil says
Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been wanting to make a headboard forever for my spare room and spruce it up for my guest when they come. I love the mirror which I had planned on doing for a Christmas Gift. Your explanation on how to do the headboard is by far the easiest I have seen. Your room looks great btw.
Jessica says
I absolutely love this headboard and plan on making one ASAP! Just wondering though, is the headboard attached to the bed, or does it just sit against the wall and the bed? Thanks for the inspiration!
Lisette says
It is just sitting against the wall. The weight of the mattress is pinning it there. Since the legs are supporting it on the floor, there’s no chance of it falling over!
Monica says
This is so awesome! I’ve been wanting to buy one of these but they are SO expensive! This is inspiration to make it myself!