Hollywood headboard - making an upholstered headboard

Sunset, April, 1999 by Mary Jo Bowling

Upholstered headboards made their silver screen debut in the 1930s. Today, updated upholstered headboards can still play a starring role in the bedroom.

You can complete this project without ever driving a nail. Cost depends on the fabric you select. If Oscar wanted a place to lie back and rest his head, this might be it.

TIME: 90 minutes

COST: About $100

MATERIALS

* Sheet of 1/2-inch plywood

* Polyester batting

* Scissors

* Staple gun

* Upholstery or canvas-weight fabric

* Hot-glue gun

* Cording for trim (optional)

* Ribbon

* High-strength spray adhesive, such as 3M Hi-Strength 90 Spray

* Felt

DIRECTIONS

Measure your bed; its width will determine the width of the headboard, The top should be about 2 feet above the mattress. For a queen-size bed, we used a standard 48-inch sheet of 1/2-inch-thick plywood cut to a width of 60 inches.

To determine the width of the batting, add 10 inches to the width of the plywood. To determine the height of the batting, measure from the top of the plywood to a point that will be 3 inches below the top of the mattress. Add 5 inches to this measurement. Cut the batting and spread it on the floor.

1. Place plywood on the batting so the batting extends 5 inches beyond sides and top.

2. Cut a 5-inch-square notch from each of the top two corners of the batting. This will keep the corners of the headboard from getting too bulky Fold batting around plywood, pulling slightly to get a good stretch. Staple in place about 2 inches from edges of the plywood; trim excess.

3. Cut fabric to the same size as the batting (you may need to sew lengths of fabric together to make a panel wide enough for a large bed) and lay the fabric facedown on the floor. Place the padded face of the plywood on the fabric so the fabric extends 5 inches on the sides and top. Fold the material around the plywood, pulling slightly for a smooth fit, and taking care to keep the fabric straight. Staple to the plywood beyond the trimmed edge of the batting. Trim excess fabric.

4. If desired, you can give the headboard a more finished look by hot-gluing cording along the edges.

5. Turn the headboard over and hot-glue ribbon over the rough bottom edge.

6. To keep the stapled edges from rubbing against the wall, use a high-strength spray adhesive to attach a piece of felt to the headboard's back. Place the headboard against the wall behind the bed or bolt it to the bed frame.