How to Make a Queen-Size Headboard With Plywood & Buttons

Mark the pattern of the buttons as they will be on the headboard onto a piece of 30-by-60-inch 1/2-inch-thick plywood. Drill a 1/8-inch hole at each button position right through the plywood. The button pattern can be in any design you choose.

Place the plywood over a 30-by-60-inch lumber frame -- this could be a basic picture frame or an artist’s canvas frame or a homemade lumber frame. Secure the plywood to the frame with 1-inch screws driven every 8 to 10 inches around the edge of the plywood into the frame.

Spray a piece of 30-by-60-inch 1-inch-thick foam with spray adhesive, and stick it to the front of the plywood. Don’t worry about covering up the button holes; they will still be accessible from the back.

Lay a piece of batting out on a work surface, and place the headboard frame plywood- and foam-side down on top. Pull the sides of the batting up and over the frame, and staple in place before trimming off the excess with scissors. This adds an extra cushioning layer and creates a deeper indent with the buttons are applied.

Spread out the chosen headboard fabric with the right-side down, and place the headboard face-down on top. Pull the fabric over the sides, and staple in place as you did for the batting.

Turn the headboard over so the back is exposed. Hammer a staple three-fourths of the way in beside each of the button holes. Thread a long needle with strong cotton, and tie the end off onto the staple next to the first button hole.

Poke the needle through the hole in the plywood and straight out the front through the foam, batting and fabric. Take care to keep the needle straight, so that it is in line with the position of the hole.

Pull the cotton thread through taught, then thread on a button over the needle, and push it down into position on the front of the headboard. Pass the needle through the button holes and back through the fabric, batting and foam and out the hole in the plywood.

Pull the thread tight so that the button is pulled back and creates that classic tufted indent in the front headboard. Tie the thread off on the staple, keeping it taut as you do so. Hammer the staple the rest of the way in to secure the thread and button. Repeat on all the button holes to complete the queen-sized button-tufted headboard.