Try This TikTok Hack To DIY Your Own Luxe Upholstered Headboard
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Having a cushioned headboard can make your bedroom look cozier and create a more comfortable space for you to relax in bed, but upholstered furniture can be pricey. Luckily, this TikTok hack allows you to DIY a luxe upholstered headboard quickly and easily with affordable materials. With some plywood, a few 2-inch-by-4-inch wood boards, upholstery foam, quilt batting, fabric, and a staple gun, you'll be able to craft a gorgeous headboard that perfectly matches your style and bedroom decor. The roll of foam can be found on Amazon for $35, but an old foam mattress topper would work great as well. If you don't want extra cushioning, skip the foam and only use batting ($5 per yard at Joann Fabric and Crafts) and thick fabric. Plywood and MDF or wooden boards can be found at your local hardware store, and they can also help you cut it to the appropriate size.
Since this DIY headboard hack is so versatile, you could easily customize it with the number of panels you use. Create a simple, one-panel headboard or craft multiple upholstered pieces that fit together vertically to give it more texture and dimension. If you're looking for an easy way to have a tufted design or a nailed border, furniture tacks ($9 on Amazon) can make this project look even more sophisticated.
Crafting your DIY upholstered headboard
First, you'll need to decide the style you'd like your headboard to be. If you prefer a classic look with one panel, cut a piece of plywood to the size you need and attach 2-by-4s with screws to create legs for the headboard to hold itself up. To do this, take one 2-by-4 that's the length of your headboard and screw three shorter ones into it, creating a frame that is the height needed to stand your headboard behind your bed. Now, you can attach the plywood, and you're ready to start upholstering.
For a different simple design, skip making the legs and simply get a piece of plywood that is tall and wide enough to cover the area behind your bed. With this method, you will upholster the entire piece, and it will stretch from the floor to the space over your bed. If you're looking for a more unique headboard, try cutting several pieces of plywood to go side by side for a paneled headboard. You could leave them rectangular like the previous versions or round the edges at the tops to create a different aesthetic.
Upholstering your headboard
Once your plywood is cut and your frame is attached (if you're using one), it's time to upholster. Start by spraying your plywood with an adhesive and placing your foam on it. The foam should be the exact same size as your wooden plank. Now, lay your batting over the foam, letting it extend past the edges of your board. Flip the project over and staple the batting to the backside of your headboard so it is taut. Do the same thing with your fabric — which could be bought or repurposed from an old curtain or tablecloth — and cut off the excess material behind your staples. For those using multiple panels, you'll need to complete this process with each one. If you choose a frame design, upholster the legs with batting and fabric if you think they'll be visible.
If you'd like, hammer furniture tacks along the edges of your headboard or across it for a tufted appearance. For headboards with a frame or that reach the floor, simply place the upholstered furniture against the wall and move your bed in front of it. If you're worried about it moving, you could use command strips or velcro to secure it to your wall without damage. This should also work with headboards that have several pieces. Additionally, you could screw D-rings into the headboard or panels, place screws in the wall, and hang your headboard.