Upholstered Headboard How-To
- Kraft paper or newspaper
- Masking tape
- Pencil
- Two sheets of 4'8-foot medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
- Two sheets of 4'8-foot, 1-1�2-inch-thick insulating foam board
- Two packages of mending braces
- Foam board adhesive
- 6 yards decorative fabric
- 4 yards muslin
- Piping cord
- Measuring tape
- Level
- Scissors
- Jigsaw
- Sewing machine
1. Piece kraft paper to the finished headboard's size. Ours measured 63�63 inches to fit a queen-size bed.
2. Mark the headboard's center, drawing a vertical line to divide the paper in half. Draw the desired profile on one side of the center line. Fold the paper in half vertically at the center mark, and cut along the design's edge.
3. Tape the pattern on top of one piece of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or plywood, aligning one side edge of the pattern with the MDF's side edge; trace the pattern.
4. Using a jigsaw, cut out the headboard. Tip: To make cuts at tight curves and corners, drill a small hole large enough to fit your jigsaw blade. This hole gives you room to move the jigsaw blade and should be right beside the point where you need to make a turn.
5. To create the extended height of your headboard, mark and cut out of the second sheet of MDF a rectangular piece the same length as the top portion and tall enough to create your desired finished height. (Our board was 16 inches tall by 63 inches long.) From insulating foam board, repeat steps 4 and 5.
6. Align the top MDF panel with the long bottom board. Apply four mending braces to span the seam where the two boards meet. Turn the headboard over and install the remaining braces on the opposite side.
7. Using adhesive designed for insulating foam board, attach the foam board to the MDF. Let dry according to product directions.
8. To cover the headboard, cut one headboard shape from decorator fabric and another from muslin, adding 3/4 inch all around for seam allowances. For the boxing strip, cut and piece a 4-inch-wide length of decorator fabric to follow the perimeter of your headboard shape. For piping, cut 1-inch-wide strips on the bias.
9. Create piping, following the directions below.
10. With right sides together and starting at an end, pin the piping to the headboard front fabric. Clip the curves to ease the sewing. Using 1/2-inch seam allowances, a zipper foot, and easing the piping as you go, sew the piping to the front fabric piece. Cut off remaining piping. Repeat with the headboard back fabric.
11. With right sides together, pin the boxing strip to the headboard front piece, clipping the curves. Sew, using 1/2-inch seam allowances, as with the piping above. Repeat for the headboard back.
12. Hem the bottom edges of the headboard cover (press the fabric under 1/2 inch, then an additional 1/2 inch, and sew).
13. Turn right side out, then ease the slipcover over the base.
Tip: Insulating foam board gives our headboard visual heft without physical weight. You can choose to fill out the MDF headboard with foam or batting from a fabrics store.
Tip: Secure your headboard to the bed frame using bolts, with the foam facing the wall. With a utility knife, carve out two small foam rectangles to secure the bolts firmly to the headboard and bed frame.
Create Piping: Give your projects dressmaker detail with decorative piping, following these four steps.
1. Cut the fabric on the bias into 1-inch strips with scissors or a rotary cutter.
2. With right sides together and using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, sew short sides of the piping together, sewing at an angle as shown.
3. Unfold pieces, press, and trim excess fabric.
4. Center piping cord on the wrong side of the fabric strip, fold over, and sew close to the edge of the piping using the zipper foot.
Tip: Buy an extra yard of fabric to yield enough piping to create this project. Piping cord is available by the yard and in various sizes at fabrics stores. Look in the home decorating section.
Watch this Bedroom Transformation!
Every woman dreams of a personal space where she can retreat from the clamor of the outside world. I'm Lacey Howard, editor of Decorating Magazine, and today, I'm going to show you how we turned a blah bedroom into a sumptuous retreat where a busy woman can kick off her kitten heels and relax. In stage 1, this bedroom is comfortable but plain Jane. Color is nonexistent, beige carpeting begs for a pick-me-up and plenty of style opportunities are missed. Still, the room begins with a good foundation that is loaded with potential. Quality furniture and a neutral palette are a perfect springboard for improvement. This pink drawer set offers a hint of what's on the horizon. It's our inspiration for what the room could become with a bit of imagination. Midway through the transformation, a sense of this bedroom's new personality emerges. The walls take on a deep taupe tone and the bed benefits from a triple dose of color, pattern, and texture. In the sitting area, a slip-covered armchair and a pair of ottomans add instant charm. We ditched ho-hum mini blinds for soft Roman shades. Fun pattern pillows and a sparkly chandelier make this settee an ideal perch. Just think of the potential this cozy niche has! We moved out the dresser to make way for an ornate mirror, a trendy translucent desk, and a regal chair. Now, this vanity nook is the perfect place for the lady of the house to perform her morning ritual. Look at this bedroom now! Here in the final stage, this sumptuous space invites relaxation with soft, touchable fabrics and furnishings all wrapped in a color scheme fit for a femme fatale. Color comes full circle in stage 3 where we indulged our urge for pink. The bedding is transformed from demure to dramatic thanks to an exquisite duvet that boasts a bold graphic print. Flirty artworks, ceramic plates, and a new side table round out this romantic boudoir. Get ready for all-out glam! In addition to chic, shimmer, and shine, silk taffeta panels on the windows afford an extra measure of privacy in the bedroom. Oranges, pinks, and juicy lime greens jump out from pillows on the settee while a white felt rug with fun cutout shapes perks up beige berber. In stage 3, the vanity nook becomes a true multipurpose powerhouse. The tri-toned pink drawer set that inspired the room's color scheme is better suited here. It houses hair dryers, calligraphy pens, and anything else a gal needs to keep handy. Now this room offers the woman of the house a beautiful space where she can prepare for a morning full of meetings and decompress after a challenging day. Remember where we started? This monotone bedroom was off to a great start with quality furniture, but it lacked style. Color, pattern, and texture to the rescue! Deep pinks and effervescent oranges injected much needed personality into slip covers, pillows, and bedding. The windows went from drab to fab when Roman shades and luxurious silk panels replace off-the-rack blinds. By starting off with a single piece as inspiration, we made over this so-so sleeping space as a romantic bedroom in no time. Don't let a blah bedroom get you down. It's easy to create a space that speaks to you. Start by choosing a color scheme that makes you feel beautiful. Add comfortable furnishings that encourage you to linger. And the crowning touch, fashion forward accessories and art. For Decorating Magazine, I'm Lacey Howard!
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