DIY Simple Tufted Headboard
January 18, 2010
Greetings all, how was your weekend ? It was rainy and wet here in Northern California, but I say that’s perfect weather for watching football and a good DIY project.
You’ve seen tufted headboards in boutique hotels, everywhere in interior decor, in designer bedrooms, and lately even in Betty Draper’s bedroom. Fabric covered headboards are a great way to add an elegant touch to a bedroom with all kinds of different fabrics. Last weekend I decided to tackle a simple tufted headboard for my teenage daughter’s bedroom. We didn’t want anything too fancy or formal, just some soft curves, a few buttons, and a little tufting for some subtle sophistication.
It took about five hours from start to finish, with the tufting taking up most of the time, but I’m really liking the final headboard in her room, especially how tall it is !
Sneak peek:
There are plenty of tutorials to be found online for fabric covered headboards, and for tufting, including my own how-to from this bench project, but here’s the step by step on how I created this this casual look for a fabric covered headboard.
How to Make a Simple Tufted Headboard
Supplies: 1/2 inch plywood, cut at the home improvement store to your bed’s specifications for width and height; 2 inch foam to cover plywood; batting; 1.5 inch finish nails; ‘D’ ring hooks; button cover kits; embroidery or upholstery thread; decorator needles.
Tools: Jigsaw (if your design is not square); drill and drill bit; staple gun and staples; sawhorses (if available, for convenience).
Step One (optional): If you want to add curvature to your headboard, create a template and mark it on your plywood. I used simple paper, then marked it with a pen.
Cut out your design with a jig saw.
Step Two: Mark your holes where you want your buttons to go. I spaced mine ten inches apart. For more drama, mark for buttons spaced closer together.
Use a drill and drill bit (between 7/32 to 5/16) to drill holes where indicated. Make sure you have a clean hole all the way through on both sides.
Step Three: Cut your foam to the size of your plywood. I chose to use 2” foam squares since it was more cost effective than paying for 2” foam by the yard. You can use 1” foam too, but I wanted a really thick headboard so I went with 2” thickness.
Result using 2 inch thick foam instead of 1 inch:
Here are my new sawhorses that hub bought me for Christmas. Isn’t that romantic ? How did I ever ever ever live without them ?
If using squares like I did, I think it helps to turn your foam flat side out to guarantee a smoother edge around the sides.
Thicker foam and the flat side out gave me a very smooth edge.
Step Four: Use your batting to secure your foam to your plywood with a staple gun. I didn’t use any spray adhesive to secure the foam to the wood. In my opinion, it’s not necessary if you use good batting.
Step Five: Attach your fabric to your headboard using a staple gun. For this smaller degree of curvature, I was able to get away without sewing a slipcover with seams. For these specific cutouts, start in the middle of the curve, secure with single staple, then slowly work your way out. Then secure your fabric on all four sides.
Use the natural corners to pinch fabric and create and attractive edge by overlapping the fabric. Secure with staples.
The gray/blue fabric I used is an upholstery grade fabric called ‘Bedouin’ in Blue Smoke from Calico Corners.
Step Six – Tufting: Use button cover kits to create fabric covered buttons. Thread your decorator needle with embroidery or upholstery thread.
I do not recommend these metal ones for thick fabric – they just don’t work. I found that out too late. I’ve used the plastic ones from Joann’s before, and they work much better.
These ones are better:
![tufting supplies_thumb[5]](http://c497280.r80.cf2.rackcdn.com/2009/05/tufting-supplies_thumb5.jpg "tufting supplies_thumb[5]")
Because the metal button cover kits were too flimsy for my upholstery fabric, I had to hand stitch my fabric to each of the buttons – bummer. That little setback added an entire hour to this project.
Push your threaded needle up through the pre-drilled hole, leaving plenty of thread underneath. Then attach your button to your thread. I recommend running your thread through the button twice to get a really secure button.
Push your needle back down through your fabric and foam and pull needle out on other side of pre-drilled hole. Pull your thread taught, then twist it around a finish nail to hold it in place against the plywood. Staple thread to plywood, and criss cross across several times and staple again. Sorry no photo, I forgot !
Repeat for all buttons and holes in headboard.
Locate the wall studs on your wall, then determine placement of ‘D’ ring hooks. Drive nails into studs, secure ‘D’ ring hooks to back of headboard, then hang on wall.
Stand back and enjoy your handiwork !
Update: I ended up lowering the headboard on the wall just a a few inches:
Be sure to check out the entire feminine bedroom space, plus the project breakdown, including the silver leaf lamp and how to upholster a rush seat chair.
Tags: tufted headboard, tufting
Great job. Beautiful fabric.
Thanks for the tip on plastic vs. metal button kits; I’m about to tuft my headboard, so this will come in handy.
That is fantastic! I was just thinking about headboards like this and wondering how you would get the buttons make the little indentations. Of course you would drill holes! Love it!!! Great tutorial!
This came out beautiful, Kate! I have been researching DIY headboards for the past few weeks and yours just jumped to the top of the list. Fab.
xo,
Erin
Gorgeous headboard! Thanks for the tutorial – so thorough. Just what both of my guest bedrooms need =) I’ll be putting your help to good use in just a couple weeks!!!
Fabulous result!! I have an antique rocker I am going to restore using your tutorials. It will be my first DIY project!
I am itching to do my first upholstery project. Perhaps once we get to the decorating part of the basement, and I can make some fun stuff. :-) Love the headboard, and that fabric is beautiful. Looking forward to the full reveal!
WOW! I am impressed with anyone who can make something this beautiful. Tufted headboards are my absolute favorite. I actually bought one on line at Target and I love it. It adds so much to the bedroom. Beautiful job!!
I think a starburst mirror would be lovely! This is such a pretty, sophisticated look. I bet she’ll be happy with this for some time. Two thumbs up, Kate! :)
That looks great!! You did a fantastic job! Thanks for the tutorial!
That looks amazing. You did a great job and thanks for the wonderful tutorial. Might have to do something like this in the guest bedroom.
Wow!! Gorgeous and you make it sound so simple.
I say yes… and stunning!
You did a wonderful job! I really like the bedding you used. Very attractive.
It looks just beautiful. I made one for our bed but didn’t do the tufting, I think the tufting adds so much. Maybe I will take ours down and do that. Thanks for the tutorial. Hugs, marty
As someone who doesn’t even have a headboard at the moment this was very inspirational. Can I ask if you did much research when buying foam? I seem to remember it being rather expensive. What store do you think has the best price for foam? I can’t wait to have a proper bed again.
headboard looks fabulous. the fabric is exactly what i want! i still haven’t made my headboard yet…
Can you do a bit of a cost breakdown? Just curious, if you don’t mind… I have no idea how something like this costs. Thanks :)
The headboard is great! Thanks for the tip of using d rings to hang. Fantastic idea!
Oh, an absolutely stunning job! I’ve love to see the whole room…looking forward to your posting pictures! Janell
It looks great! Thanks for the tutorial!
Girl, you are SO good with these projects! I love how this turned out. I wish I had another bedroom with no bed to try this on.
OMG I would love to try this project, it turned out beautifully!You make it appear to be very easy!
Karena
How fab! Love that fabric and the project – it turned out beautifully!
fabulous work – it turned out so beautifully!
That headboard is gorgeous! And what a well written, simple tutorial! Thanks so much :). I’ll be adding this to my tumblr files!
Blessings,
Stacey
I’ve been wondering how to shape the top part duh, thanks for sharing
This is stunning! You really make everything look so easy :)
This is beautiful. How much does a project like this cost?
Also, where do you nail the finish nails into the backside of the headboard or do you?
Insanely beautiful!
Gorgeous! You did it again!!! I was thinking last night about moving our headboard-less bed from under a window to the only plain wall in our bedroom and now I have to do it. I’ve been needing :) a headboard and one like this would be perfect. Thank you so much for inspiring me yet again!
I made one of these but a) forgot to predrill holes, so it did not get tufted and b) didn’t hang it with D rings, but attached to frame. The D rings would have been easier.
OK OK – it’s been on my list for almost a year – you make it look so easy. I’m having a hard time picking the perfect fabric! Yours is gorgeous!
Beautiful! Any chance you could give a rough cost breakdown?
That turned out so beautiful. My daughter just has the standard metal bed frame on her twin bed. I have the bed pushed up against the wall with pillows to to make it look like a daybed but something like this will really make it look really nice. Thanks for the tutorial! Now just to find the perfect material!
Wow, Kate!!!! That is sooooo lovely!!! You keep amazing me day by day. I would love to try this someday soon! Your stepdaughter is sooooo lucky!
Gorgeous!! You are a pro at the upholstered headboard and make it look so easy!
Yea! Thanks for this-I am planning ontaking on this task soon!
You did a fantastic job on the headboard. I could definitely see a starburst mirror about it, or anything else round/oval, like plates and platters, or a large monogram. I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of the room.
The headboard is absolutely lovely! Thank you for the great tutorial.
Simply FAB!
I love, love, love it and can’t wait to see the finished room! You are definitely not an evil step-mother!
I am so impressed. I bounce back and forth between inspired and feeling like a complete failure when I see a post like this. It would take about a month for me to do one button!
Congrats on jobs well done! The head board is lovely.
MORE SO…. being a GREAT Step-Mom, and Mom. Good job. Pictures do say a thousand words.
Hugs your way,
Brenda
I LOVE the height! It looks so grand. Plus, I’m a big reader and I love to have something soft to lean up against when I’m reading in bed. It’s perfection! Great job.
I would like to make this and a lot of other stuff you’ve made. Thanks for sharing and being an inspiration.
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Great project. Well done!
Paula Grace ~
I love your tutorial. I can’t wait to make one. You are such an inspiration.
you did a great job!!!