How to Make Your Own Button-Tufted Upholstered Headboard

Measure the width of your mattress with a tape measure. Add 1 inch to that measurement.

Determine how high above the bed you would like the headboard to be. Measure from the frame up to the height you want your headboard.

Make a template of the headboard out of a large piece of craft paper. Cut out the template with scissors.

Lay your template on top of a ¼- to ½-inch-thick piece of plywood. Follow your template to cut out the headboard with a circular saw or jigsaw.

Sand the edges of your headboard with an edger or belt sander to prevent snags.

Decide the locations of your buttons. Mark the button locations with a marker. Drill holes through the marks with a ½-inch drill bit and a drill.

Lay the 2-inch foam padding on top of your headboard. Cut around the edges of your headboard with scissors or an electric carving knife so the padding and headboard are the same size. Spray a foam adhesive spray over the face of the headboard. Lay your foam padding over the headboard so it is lined up perfectly, and press the padding into the adhesive spray.

Purchase a large piece of upholstery fabric and a piece of foam batting that is at least 1 foot larger than your headboard on all sides. Lay your upholstery fabric on a flat surface with the right side facing down. Iron out any wrinkles with a warm iron. Lay foam batting on top of the fabric so it is lined up.

Lay your headboard with the foam side down on the center of the batting and fabric. Make sure you have extra material on all sides of the headboard. Pull the fabric and batting onto the back of the headboard, and staple it around all of the sides of the headboard. Staple the material to the headboard every 2 inches, using a staple gun and ¼-inch staples. Trim the excess material off the back of the headboard, using scissors.

Thread upholstery thread through the holes in the back of the headboard to the front of the headboard, using upholstery needles. Attach your shank buttons to the front of the headboard.

Lean your headboard against your wall and mark where the sides of the headboard lie. Use a stud finder to find studs that are wide apart yet still inside the markings to attach your flush mounts to. Attach the bottom section of both flush mounts to the studs with screws and a screwdriver. Measure between the flush mounts and mark their locations on the back of your headboard. Attach the top section of the flush mounts to the back of the headboard with screws and a screwdriver so they will slide into the bottom sections that are mounted on the wall.

Secure the headboard to the wall by having a helper help you lift up the headboard and slip the headboard's flush mounts into the tops of the wall-mounted flush mounts. Check to make sure the headboard is secure. Slide your bed against the headboard.