PROJECT: VELVET TUFTED HEADBOARD
the looooooooong awaited headboard DIY is finally here !! okay, maybe you haven’t been waiting for it, but i’ve been waiting to share it with you!! this was a big labor of love during my 2020 summer of quarantine + lockdown, + it was so therapeutic to get my creative juices flowing in a time when life felt very bleak + cooped up! when i originally got the itch to redecorate my room, i was so inspired by emmy jones’ headboard which was inspired by brady tolbert’s diy published on emily henderson’s blog, here! i loved the elegant look + knew it would work perfectly within my room. i’ve finally mustered up the energy to finish this post + share it with you all + i can’t wait. it’s the perfect project if you’re craving a change + it’s great to work on as a kickstart to your 2022 new year, or if you’re stuck inside with omicron [hopefully not!!]. keep scrolling for the full diy, + let’s get creative!
SUPPLIES for the headboard
plywood boards
desired fabric
batting
half-round foam, pool noodles, or anything curved!! [i used plastic tubing, cut in half!]
super glue
staple gun
scissors
metal support beams
drill + wood screws
L brackets [optional]
DIRECTIONS for the headboard
gather your supplies — i ordered my fabric from an online site. i tried to stay as cost-effective as possible, because, ya know, college student budget. i loved the green look from brady’s diy, + when i found this crushed velvet online, i couldn’t pass it up. also, i used plastic drainage pipe from the hardware store instead of the half-round foam, which can get a little pricey! exercise your personal creativity when it comes to making these swaps — this is what’s so fun about getting inspired by other’s projects, you get to make them your own!
do a little math — measure the width of the space you’d like the headboard to fill. i have an alcove in my room + wanted the headboard to fill it entirely wall to wall, so i made sure to purchase + cut the plywood planks to that size. next, decide on the height you’d like the boards to be. i believe i chose 6 or 8 inch boards [1 inch thick]. take the desired height of the headboard overall [i wanted mine to be about 4ish feet tall, + divide by the height of the boards to yield the number of boards you need. 48 inches [headboard height] / 6 inches [board height] = 8 boards needed!
adhere your half-round foam or substitute to each board — make sure the half-round item of your choice is the same diameter as your board height so it accurately touches every corner. you can use super glue or any other products that allows for the item to be securely fastened to the boards.
cut you fabric + batting to the size of your boards, leaving about 3 extra inches around each edge. wrap the batting, then the fabric around the boards + secure using the staple gun. you could even add a little bit of fabric adhesive or glue in between the half-dome object + your fabric to increase the security of the bond, but i found that the staple gun worked perfectly fine!
align each of the fabric-wrapped wooden planks into the headboard shape, fabric [or pretty-side] down, + use the metal support beams , drill, + screws to secure the planks together, leaving no gaps — this allows for the seamless tufted look.
OPTIONAL — add a hidden shelf! i had a leftover plank that i secured to the top of the headboard with L brackets . most L bracket packets come with the correct screws, but any wood screw that is less than the depth of your plank will work perfectly.
it’s a pretty simple, fairly painless process! it takes a little time + a little focus on the intricate details, but it yields an amazing result. however, i’ve got a few TIPS for you — if you’re finding that the headboard slips on your floor, add a pair of short wooden legs to the bottom! amazon has some really cute picks. additionally, if you’re finding yourself running out of fabric {….as i did…] you can skip adding it to the section of the headboard that will be covered by your bed. i did this, as you can probably see from the photos above, + no one is the wiser [except me :) ].
i’m truly obsessed with the color that this headboard adds into my room, + how the crushed velvet catches the light during the day. the hidden shelf is one of the best parts — i love the look of my art prints, letterboard, + the cute daisy mirror behind it. pair it with a hanging plant + rope light, + you’re set. i can also store small things, like lip balm or a journal + pen, on the shelf, almost eliminating the need for a bedside table.
THAT’S IT !! this might be one of my favorite DIYs to date [i may have said that about all my diys, but i’m actually obsessed with this one]. it has lasted me almost two years + i know it’ll be around for many more! when visitors come, this headboard is one of the things i get the most compliments on. it truly took me forever to get this post created, but i’m so so happy to finally have it shared with you! i hope you enjoy it as much as i did, + that you’re able to upgrade you space this new year! special thanks to brady + emmy for sharing their gorgeous creations + inspiring so many. sweet sweet headboard dreams, my friends! happy creating!
post + images by molly garvin