Why buy it, when you can make it? 

My DIY Upholstered Headboard Experience 

The finished product!

After graduating college, it wasn't long before I wanted to redecorate my bedroom to have a more mature feeling to it. I kind of had an idea and theme floating around in my head, but the best way I can describe what I had in mind is to use a term I call "pinterest-y". I'm not sure if I'm alone in using this word, but I use it to describe something that you would find parked in your home feed on the popular site. I found myself spending time on Pinterest looking at styles I'd love for my future, dream bedroom. It didn't take too long before I thought to myself, "why wait, why not creative my dream bedroom right now?!". So my search began on upholstered headboards, and boy do they range in prices! I came across tons of headboards, but none that quite fit my color or style need, so that is when I decided I was going to DO IT MYSELF! DIY projects are taking over! After looking at tons and tons of DIY upholstered headboard tutorials, I combined different steps that I liked from various tutorials and began the biggest project of my life. I like a good challenge, so I was up for it! My headboard took about a good two weeks to complete while balancing work, social gatherings, laziness, and getting home at a decent enough time to nail in about 500 nail heads (give or take) without disturbing the peace. So below you'll find the steps I took to make my headboard.

(Source)

First I had to decide which shape I wanted for my headboard. I wanted something different and shapely, so I went with the Portman.

(3/4 inch plywood - 4'x8')

I began with purchasing plywood from my local hardware store, and had a sales representative cut three 5 inch (width) planks, which I used later for support. You can see the planks to the right of the plywood.

Once I picked out the shape that I wanted, I drew it on the plywood to use as a template for when the time came to cut the boarder of the headboard using my jigsaw.

Here is one side of the headboard after cutting along the lines I created as a guide.

After cutting the shape of the headboard out, I placed the 5 inch (width) planks that I mentioned earlier along each edge of the plywood to use as legs for the headboard. A drill and wood screws were used to secure the legs. I then took the third 5 inch (width) plank and used the jigsaw to cut the plank in half. I placed each half on the opposite side of the legs (not seen in this photo, because it's on the side closest to the ground) to make it sturdy enough to hold up the headboard. It was really heavy!

Next, I placed egg crate foam (pictured here) and foam padding on the front of the plywood. I positioned the foam padding over the egg crate foam for a flatter look and for extra plush! The second layer of foam padding was placed about 2 inches away from the edges of the headboard. By creating this 2 inch space, you'll know exactly where to place the nail heads when the time comes.

I used quilt batting around the perimeter of the headboard and used a staple gun to secure the batting and tighten it around the corners and edges.

Here you can see the fabric I chose for my headboard. You can also see that I started the longggggggg process of adding the upholstery tacks. I purchased individual nail heads because I liked the look of the individual nail heads versus the alternative connected nail head trim. 

The nail head trim process continues...

And continues.....

Pliers and a rubber mallet were my best friends for at least a few days!

Anddddd viola! After a lot of nail heads, loud bangs and sore fingers the trim was complete.

I decided that my headboard was sturdy enough to just place against the wall in my room versus adding anchoring equipment.

Finally!

To continue with the grey scheme of my headboard, I painted the wall that my headboard rests against Porpoise from Behr. Here you can see the nail trim up close and the fabric trim that I added to give my headboard a more "factory made" look.