Head of the Board! Headboard Tutorial
I have been living without a headboard for the last 4 years. Well, technically I have never had a “real” headboard, but I have been wanting one. In college, I made one out of an old door that we had sitting around, (in this post you can see it) it was a great headboard, but I wanted a “real” one so I left it when we moved, and I haven’t had one since! Such is life.
Well, the thought of having a “real” headboard has been on my mind for a while now. If you have read this blog, or searched the archives, you probably know I am not going to go out a buy one. . I just can’t swallow the price tag of the cardboard furniture that they make nowadays. That and I definitely cannot afford the “real deal”.
So, I’ve let the desire ruminate for a while.
And a golden idea struck me… Kitchen cabinet doors! Yea!..uh…What?
That is right kitchen cabinet doors. They are pre-made raised panels, which removes the need for expensive router bits and table saws.
So, now I am going to share the plans with you, because what are blog buddies for, right? Wanna sneak peek at the finished product first? I feel like a genie in a bottle granting your wish, and now I have that Christina Aguilera song in my head… not what I meant at all!
As we made this, we learned some things and figured out how we should have made it (to simplify it). So, we have a TON of pictures that are not exactly right. So, we built a model, and made an instruction sheet so when building this follow the steps on the instruction sheet and not the order in the images. And as always if you have any questions, please just leave me a comment, I will clarify when necessary through the comment section below.
We have worked very hard on this project, and have spent a lot of time creating this tutorial, so I have a request, please! This project may not be reproduced on any blog without receiving written permission before posting. If you receive permission, you may use the finished headboard image only, and link back to Remodelaholic for the tutorial. No part of the tutorial may be copied except for personal incidental noncommercial home use. If you build the project, and post about it, please link back to the instructions on Remodelaholic. Thank you.
Now that the tough stuff is out of the way, I want to clarify one more thing, this project is meant for those of you without a lot of tools, and just a basic understanding of building, so BE careful! On that note, IF I were going to spend real money on the wood (and buy walnut or poplar or some other nice hardwood) I would have built this very differently!
Headboard Tutorial instructions:
Supplies needed:
2 – 4 old kitchen cabinet doors
Various 1 x __ Mdf boards (size depends on cabinet doors!!)
(we used: 1 x 3’s approx 16 linear feet, for the bottom rail and all vertical stiles
1 x 6 approx 12 linear feet, for the top rail and top shelf)
9 linear feet of small base board molding
1 -8 foot 4 x 4 cut in half ( I had Home Depot do this)
3 – 8′ long 2 x 2’s
(optional: to hang on wall an 6′ long 2 x 4
cut in half on a 45 degree angle on a table saw)
Tools:
Miter box and saw
Screw driver, drill bits and screws
Hammer and finish nails
Nail set
Sanding block (or sanding paper wrapped around a piece of wood)
**Measurements are all relative for this project.
They depend on a number of things, like the size of bed you have,
the size of doors you find, how many doors you use etc.
So, I have attached an image with a few of our our measurements called out
so you can get a better understanding of scale, just keep in mind you will have to make it
according to your supplies.
*TIP*
When you buy MDF boards the length wise front edges are chamfered (or rounded off on corners) So, in order for butted edges to look clean, and well planned, after cutting all the vertical stiles to length, sand the top flat edge to match the horizontal edges. That way a straight angular end won’t butt up to a curved edge, instead both will be rounded off and look even, and well planned!
If you want to make a matching foot board,
instead of the 2 x 2 frame you would just attach the doors to another face frame on the back.
And use pocket screw on the inside of that face frame to attach it to the posts.
To better understand the headboard, and see clearly what is what,
I color coded an image, and called out some things on the next.
To hang this on the wall attach the bottom half of the optional 2 x 4 that has been cut in half at a 45 degree angle to the wall like so. The other will hold the headboard to the wall!
This project can easily be customized. I saw a headboard online while surfing that could be made using these instructions. See, you could easily make the headboard below as well, by only using two large doors, and aligning the top of the posts with the top of shelf and attaching that top shelf all the way across.
I must tell you that we actually spent much less than $30.00 on this project by using old scraps from other projects. That price is more likely what you will spend buying all the wood etc. But, I thought it would be fun to give you our cost breakdown anyway, because honestly I am such a deal lover that it is fun to share.
Our Final Cost Estimate:
$8.00 – 4 Kitchen cabinet doors
$7.00 – 8′ long 4 x 4 (we have scraps and an AWESOME project planned for these!!!)
Used old wainscoting molding(from Asheville Kitchen Remodel)
Used old 2 x 4’s cut to 2 x 2 (from Asheville Kitchen Remodel too)
MDF (left over’s from our Screen making tutorial)
Screws and nails from our stash
Tools already owned
Paint (left over from Laundry room remodel)
Caulk (laundry room remodel left-overs)
Plaster for patching (left over from our unfinished column project)
Grand Total: $15.00
Remodelaholic is written by Cassity and Justin. Cassity has a degree in interior design and Justin is a landscape architect, so we adore everything that makes up a HOME! We love to share home remodeling ideas and projects we’re working on. From huge kitchen renovation ideas to small bathroom remodels, there isn’t anything we won’t try to tackle (at least once!). We are in the midst of our third whole home renovation, so there should be a lot more inspiration coming your way. We hope that you will stop by often for home design inspiration, tutorials, interior design tips, delicious recipes and what is going on in our family life.
>Great project and I especially loved how you figured out how to hang securely and easily!
>This looks like an amazing project that I am definately going to attempt in my spare bedroom. Thank you for sharing the instructions with everyone.
>I keep reading "MDF boards" on the crafty blogs and I have no idea what MDF stands for. 😛
LOVE your bedding, btw!
>Holy crap that is absolutely amazing! And for only $15! I can hardly believe it. You did such a great job, seriously.
>Hey Gina-
MDF if Medium Density Fiberboard. Basically they take a ton of sawdust and glue it into a board. It is super smooth and pretty inexpensive!
Hope that helps
>I actually bought some doors the other day from Ikea (in the as-is section for $2 each) and plan to do something like this. Note that if you're going to cut/sand MDF, you need to wear a mask/respirator as the dust is poisonous.
>Just found your blog from Knock Off Wood and loving this tutorial!
Curious…where did you find the bedding? I have been looking for something simple in that color, and I am loving yours!
>This is gorgeous! I'm heading out today, to find out if we have any stores like that!
One question, what size is the bed you made this for? Queen, or King? I'm not so building savvy, and I've got my fingers crossed yours is a King, so I don't have to adapt the plans!
Thanks so much for sharing!!!!
>Beautiful! Amazing work for only $15! Love your blog!
Craftyjules.etsy.com
>love tgis blog! awesome tutorials! great work! wow
>WOW!!! I absolutely love this! I have bookmarked this post, to show my husband. Oh how I hope he will want to *help* me do this! I am right in the middle of our Master Bedroom Makeover on a Shoestsring Budget–so this would be PERFECT. Your instructions are amazing!
And now…I plan to spend a LOT of time peeking around your blog at all of your other great-looking ideas. Thanks so much or letting me stop by! 🙂
>I have pillows made out of the same fabric as you used above your headboard. So fun to see the same thing used different ways!
>I am a woodworking purist and I would normally turn my nose up at this stuff, but I have to say this is sheer genius! Now I cannot look at my current kitchen cabinets without want to tear them out just so I can try this!!
>You all have mad skills!
>THANKS so much my daughter needs a head board for her new twin "big girl" bed but she is a climber and I did want to buy press board junk! THANKS YOU !!!!
>i'm so impressed to your incredible tutorial,amazing!love your bed too,you have it dressed to perfection,thanks
>this is a great project I'm so happy to find this blog
>Ok, so I'm new to your site through Ucreate's post about your headboard. You may have mentioned this in your blog, but I haven't had a chance to stalk it and read through all your material to find out where you got all your adorable bedding and pictures over your headboard! This is exactly what I keep pushing around my head for ideas of what to do in my new bedroom!! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Loooove this post! I'll admit it now… I'm definitely going to be a copy-cat!
Thanks!
-Sara
sara.garrison@yahoo.com
>Hey Sara,
I am so glad that you found my blog, and am flattered that you want to copy! Go right ahead.
The bedding I have had for about 4 years, I actually purchased it at TJ Maxx. But i have seen similar blankets on Pottery barn (go figure, if you have the budget) or West Elm. I guess it just really depends on how much you want to spend, but don't over look TJ Maxx of Home Goods.
As for the art above the bed, that is easy and totally do able. I need to write a post about this but for now here are the basic instructions.
I bought a 8' x 4' pieces of 6.00 OSB board at Home Depot and had them cut it into 2' x 2' squares. (so technically I had a lot!, but I have been using them for other random projects…)
I bought 1 of those cheap felt blankets at Walmart. (instead of the expensive batting, but if you have some you can use that.)
Fabric that matched my room ( I got mine in the home decor section at Joann Fabrics)
Glue gun
Pull the felt blanket tight over the OSB and hot glue in place.
Then the fabric over that, be careful to keep the fabric lined up properly. Start from the center on each side. Glue the center, let the glue harden, pull tight across to the opposite center and glue it in place. Then do the other two center then work your way out from the center points. Fold around the corners sorta like gift wrapping.
Add hanging hardware to the back, and you're done!
Hope that helps. And I really hope you keep reading the blog, welcome!
Cassity
>That is so stunning….great step by step. I love it!