How to Make a Simple Tufted Headboard

Cut plywood to desired headboard size. Use the 2 inch x 3 inch x 8 foot boards, wide side down and butt jointed, to make a stretcher the same size as the plywood. Screw the plywood to the stretcher every few inches all the way around.

Apply spray adhesive to the plywood front. Lay the 1-1/2-inch foam topper, pattern side down, on the plywood. Use scissors to trim the edges of the foam pad even with the edge of the plywood. Spray adhesive to front of the adhered piece of foam, then apply the 1/2-inch foam pad, pattern side down, on top of it. Don't trim the foam yet.

Iron the flat sheet and spread it evenly on a large work surface. Set the headboard facedown on top of the flat sheet. Trim the sheet and foam pad so 6 inches larger than the headboard all the way around.

Pull the sheet and foam pad to the back of one of the long side's stretcher boards; staple in place at the center. Do the same for the other long side, then repeat the process for the short sides. Working from the center of each board toward the corners, add a few staples at a time to each side until you reach the corners. At the corners, fold and tuck the sheet as you would if making a bed; staple in place. 

Iron the patterned fabric and lay it flat on the work surface. Set the headboard facedown on the fabric; follow the same stretching technique used previously. If desired, cover the buttons with fabric and decide on placement.

Measure and mark the backside of the headboard corresponding to the placement of the buttons on the front side. Drill 1/8-inch holes in the backside of the headboard at marks, being careful to only penetrate the plywood and go no farther. Drilling beyond the plywood invites the drill bit to snag and shred the foam.

Cut a 2-foot length of florists wire. Thread the needle with the florists wire by a couple of inches and bend the wire back. Insert the needle through the hole and push through the foam and fabric. Run the needle and wire through the back of the button, then back through the fabric and headboard.

On the backside of the headboard, tug the wire snug. Bend it against the plywood and staple in place. Wrap the wire back over the staple toward the hole and staple again. Repeat a couple more times. Repeat process for remaining buttons.