Everyday Clever: How-To Headboard

Ahhh, I can FINALLY check "Make Headboard" off of my To-Do list. I've been wanting to make one forever, it seems like, and it's finally done! There are numerous how-to's for DIY headboards, but I used the free handout from Jo-Anns, so that's what I'll share with you.

Supplies Needed:

1/2" Plywood
1" x 4" Lumber
Wood Screws
Staple gun & 1/2" staples (I don't think they necessarily have to be 1/2", just make sure they won't stick through the wood)
Polyester batting-enough to cover the headboard with 3 LAYERS + EXTRA FOR WRAPPING
Fabric
Scissors
Bolts

*Note: The total cost of this project was $18.62 (wood and lumber from Lowe's with a 10% off coupon) + $37.89 (fabric and batting from Lowe's on sale, 50% off) =$56.51

How to Calculate Headboard Size:

Measure width of bed frame
Measure from top of mattress to height you want headboard to be
Cut (or get it cut at Lowe's for free) 1/2" plywood to the size of the measurements above

How to Calculate Leg Size:

Measure from the floor to the top of the mattress
Add 25" to the above measurement
Use the total measurement to cut two legs from 1"x4" lumber

*Note: According to my instructions, the main thing is to have the legs within 5" of the top of the headboard, so, depending on the size of your headboard, you may need to add or subtract inches.

How to Calculate Fabric Needed:

Width of Headboard: __________ + 10"-15" extra for wrapping
Height of Headboard: _________ + 10"-15" extra for wrapping.

Here are the steps I used to make the headboard once I'd figured out the sizes and amounts of all of the supplies and purchased the materials.
From start to finished installation of the headboard, this project took about 4 hours with my husband's help, so it's not a quick project, but it's definitely worth it!

1. Attach legs to back of plywood (Make sure that they are spaced correctly in order to be mounted to the correct place on your bed frame. If you don't have a "headboard friendly" frame, this headboard can also be propped-up behind the bed)

2. Wrap 3 layers of batting around plywood and staple to the backside. Cut the batting to wrap around the legs. I wrapped and stapled each of the 3 pieces of batting individually.

(First layer of batting wrapped and stapled--notice how I cut the batting to fit around the leg. I added an extra middle support because I made the legs shorter than the instructions suggested)