DIY: Tufted Headboard

I'm really excited to share my most recent and probably favorite ever DIY with you today.

When I started I wasn't even sure I could pull this off, but I knew I had to try.  I used a bunch of coupons and got all my supplies for about $110. It's worth the saving to make a couple of trips

What you need:

• 1/2" Plywood cut to 62"x 34"
• (1) 2x4 cut to 62"
• (2) 2x3's cut to 56" - these are your legs measure the height of your mattress to make sure this isn't too tall. My headboard sits perfectly at the top of the mattress, but if you want it below or above, measure for that.
• 2-1/2" or 3" nails or screws (with the 3" they come all the way through the plywood. The 2-1/2"should work just fine)
• Batting
• 3" Foam - If you have a coupon go to Joann's instead
• Spray adhesive or gorilla glue
• Button making kit - number of buttons depends on your tufting
• 3/4" #8 screws - for tufting
• 1/4" #8 washers - for tufting
• 3 yards of Fabric of your choice (I only got 2-1/2 and I could have used the extra) - don't forget your Joann's coupons
• Nailhead trim

Alright first things first, head on over to you local Home Depot for your wood, screws and washers. You can get your foam and adhesive here too but if you have coupons for craft stores I'd get it there.  Have your Home Depot helper cut all the wood down for you...its FREE!

Screw or nail the 2x4 to the top of the plywood. I used (2) at each corner and (2) in the center

Next nail the 2x3's to the sides - (3) spread equally

Now you have your frame!

Please excuse the pictures, I did a lot at night time in the backyard.

I should mention that protective gear is probably a good idea...don't follow my lead here.

I screwed up a little bit at this corner but I forged on...as I was nailing the board shifted. Also, my 3" nails were too long so on either the front or back you need to bend them. Go ahead and just use         2-1/2" nails instead.

Next, glue the foam to the frame. One piece of foam will just barely fit a queen size headboard. 

Now its time to mark your tufting pattern. Since I work on cad for a good part of the day, I was able to easily layout my pattern so it was ready to measure out when I got home.

First row - 4" from each side and then 8" segments across. (if your measurements are different than mine you'll need to check your outside widths)

Second row - 8" segments all the way across

From the top going down - 4" from the frame, 7" segments all the way down.

I fudged up a little bit and had to correct, but you can see the diamond pattern

This part is pretty important, you want to cut out a 1-1/2" diameter circle around your markers. Make sure you are cutting at an angle, your hand is pretty much touching the foam as you are cutting. This is going to help you find where your tufts will go and it will help your buttons sink into them.

Next, cover the whole thing with batting and staple to the back side of the frame...sometimes I wonder if I needed this step because I had fairly thick fabric. If you have thin fabric definitely do this, it smooths out the foam underneath. With scissors, find your holes and poke through the fabric.

Alright, with 3" foam you have pretty deep tufts, hence the 3 yards of fabric. Drape the fabric over and be sure you have lots of extra at the sides and bottom. I started at the top so I didn't need a ton of extra fabric up there but I'd say leave about 14" to be safe. The first couple of tufts are trial and error. 

Here is the hack, instead of actually tufting/sewing the buttons, I used screws and an electric drill and I'm so glad I did. Start at the top of the frame and in the center. Find the "center of you hole, put a washer in between the screw and the fabric (this will stop the fabric from catching on the screw) and drill in your 1/2" screw.You can see the diamond shape takes form even on the first one!

First row complete

Start in the center again and work your way to each side. Don't pull the fabric too tight either, remember the tufts are deep.

All the tufts are done!!

Now its time to make the buttons. Use your button making kit...duh. I used hammer to help get the button into the button holder and to put the backs on. Just a little tip. I gotta be honest, I did not glue in my buttons...haha! The tufts are so deep that they hold the buttons just fine. You probably should glue them in, but I decided that I didn't want to mess with glue and getting it on the fabric, so until one falls out they are just tucked in there. shhhhhh

I slacked on photographing the finishing touches friends....I'm sorry. 

Next step is to pull the fabric tight and stable to the back of the plywood. Another tip that I learned after the fact...while you are pulling the fabric tight, at each tuft, make a straight fold toward the outside like this. For me it was hard to get this at each one, but next time I'll be sure to do it correctly. I could go back and redo it but I'm just not going to do that because I don't want to ruin the fabric.

Once the fabric is stapled to the back you can go ahead and add your nailhead trim. 

Also, don't forget to wrap the legs of your frame with the excess fabric. 

I'll admit that it's not perfect, but I love it! I learned so much on this first one and I know my next one will be even better!

And that is it my friends!

What do you think?

Will you make yourself a tufted headboard!?