How to Make an Upholstered Headboard With a Nail-Head Edge

Measuring Your Headboard

• 1

  Measure the width of your mattress. Add between 2 and 6 inches to this measurement, depending on how far beyond the mattress you would like the headboard to extend. Write this measurement down.

• 2

  Determine the height of your headboard. If you intend to rest your back and head against the headboard, sit with your back against the wall on the assembled mattress and box spring. If there is a frame underneath, include that as well. Measure from the mattress to the top of your head. Add any additional height you want to this measurement. Write this measurement down.

• 3

  Add 12 inches to the width and height of your headboard. This will be the yardage for the fabric and the batting. Use two layers of batting. If your headboard is short enough that one layer of batting can be folded over, use this measurement. Otherwise, double the measurement for the batting.

• 4

  Determine how many rows of nail head you would like on your upholstered headboard and where they will go. For example, do you want them right at the edge of the headboard, or would you rather have them sit 2 inches in? Using the height and width measurements of your headboard, determine how many feet of nail-head trim you will need. Divide by 36. This will be the yardage of nail-head trim you will need.

• 5

  Purchase your materials using the measurements you have taken.

Build Your Upholstered Headboard With Nail-Head Trim

• 6

  Draw the shape of your headboard onto the plywood and cut it with the jigsaw.

• 7

  Sand the cut edges of the plywood.

• 8

  Lay the foam on a flat, clean surface. Place the plywood on top of the foam and trace the outline of the plywood onto the foam.

• 9

  Cut the foam with an electric carving knife or scissors.

• 10

  Lay the fabric on a flat, clean surface and place two layers of batting on top of the fabric.

• 11

  Lay the foam and plywood on the batting, with the plywood on top.

• 12

  Center the plywood and foam so that there is 6 inches of batting and fabric around them in all directions. If your fabric has a pattern, center the plywood and foam on the pattern.

• 13

  Fold the fabric and batting over the top of the plywood and foam. Insert two staples to secure it. Repeat this with the bottom, and then each of the sides.

• 14

  Pick up the headboard and confirm that the fabric looks the way you want it to and that the pattern is centered if your fabric has a pattern.

• 15

  Lay the headboard down. If you are satisfied with it, continue stapling all the way around the headboard, alternating between top, bottom and sides to keep the fabric even.

• 16

  If you are not satisfied with the way the headboard looks, remove the staples, readjust the fabric, center the plywood and foam, then reapply staples.

• 17

  Trim away excess fabric and batting.

• 18

  Turn the headboard over so the fabric is face-up.

• 19

  Measure in from the edge to where you would like the row or rows of nail-head trim to go. Make small marks all along these lines with a fabric marking pencil or tailor’s chalk.

• 20

  Lay the nail-head trim out on these marks.

• 21

  Hammer the tacks into the nail-head trim with a rubber mallet as directed by the trim package or kit.