May 11, 2010

project headboard

Since my last bedroom redo, I've been dying for a headboard. I've been drooling over this one from Crate & Barrell but $1,800 is really out of our price range. We haven't had a headboard since we got married which drives me crazy because David puts pillows behind him in order to create a make-shift one. So, I buckled down and made my own.

This has been a project on my list for months and months but I never got around to it because living in an apartment and doing a project that involves a jig-saw and a 72 inch piece of plywood don't really mesh. The last time I was in Arizona, I decided this was my chance since I knew I would be driving back to San Diego in my parents' SUV.

As much as I would have loved to find a lovely piece of fabric to upholster it with, I finally decided that a solid color was better for this project. I didn't want anything to compete with my pillows which I love and the cost was a lot lower for plain ol' colored fabric. First, we went to Tempe Sales (a great resource for anyone in Arizona) where I snagged this blue canvas for $1 a yard. Not the most exciting color but I like blue and, heck, it was $1! Tempe Sales also had a great price on foam so I purchased a 2 inch thick piece of foam for roughly $10. Home Depot was next and I bought a 72" piece of plywood as well as some mounting brackets. I think that ended up being about $40 total.
I've seen some amazing tutorials on upholstered headboards (this one is my favorite) but I was OK with something much more simple so I patterned my design off the Crate & Barrell one. I simply freehanded the design on a large sheet of butcher paper from IKEA (which my mom already had) and cut it out. Then I placed it on the plywood and traced the design out.
Then, I borrowed my brother-in-law's jigsaw and went to work. A note about jigsaws: I had never used one before and was scared to mess up my carefully drawn design. However, it was extremely easy. You really just need a sturdy table and steady hand. Earplugs aren't bad idea either but not necessary.
I look tough, don't I?

After this, I got lazy with the picture taking mostly because the upholstery part was a pain in the you-know-what. It's really not that hard as long as you are able to pull the fabric really tight - I suggest having someone pull the fabric while you staple. My mom and I have reupholstered many things (like this chair that I love) and she is a wizard with a staple gun. I was going to put legs on it made of 2x4s but when I realized that the Home Depot guy cut my plywood to 82" instead of 72" like I asked, I figured that mounting it to the wall was a better way to go.
Anyway, here's the finished product. I think it turned out pretty good.
It's not perfect, but then again, what is?

21 comments:

  1. Very cute!! And it looks pretty professional to me...

    Also love how you mixed the floral and stripe cushions :)

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  2. Wow! That is awesome! I love seeing homemade goodness like this. Someday I'll take your idea and make one of my own.

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  3. It's lovely! I love the color and shape!

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  4. oh I LOVE IT! I also love that you are in your cute shirt and necklace sawing away! haha

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  5. It looks great! & I love the pillows with it, the blue makes the floral pillows just pop:):)

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  6. It is really really cute and looks so good with your pillows. It makes the pillows pop! Nice job!!

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  7. It looks great Liz! You are handy.

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  8. Love it! Great job, Elizabeth!

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  9. you did such a fantastic job!

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  10. oh my gosh its so cute! looks perfect in your room! i'd be scared to try something like that, you made it look so easy though

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  11. Not only are you crafty, smart, beautiful, an amazing cook, and the list goes on... but you're HANDY TOO??? What the heck? That's so not fair! I love the headboard!!! It is so cute! Good job Liz!

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  12. I've been looking forward to this post! It looks great! And I love those pillows. Nice job!

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  13. So cute!! I love the way it turned out, I would love to muster up the courage to do a headboard...someday!

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  14. This is amazing! What a clever idea!

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  15. This looks so great! I recently did a DIY headboard and it feels so good to come out with a great looking piece of furniture for a fraction of the price you would have paid at a store. And let's face it, tastes change every few years, so why spend so much money on something you'll be ready to swap in 3 years? Loving the blue fabric.

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  16. That headboard is amazing! I saw it over at YHL. And like I said over there, though I love the headboard, I REALLY love your mix of strips and florals. So modern and pretty!

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  17. Hi - I came by way of YHL. Wow...this looks so great...and I love how at the end you say, it's not perfect...what is? So cool!

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  18. It looks so great! The shape was such a good choice.

    Also - i love your lamps. Where are they from?

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  19. Great job on this headboard, it looks very professional! I have to say I admire how you look while working on this project. Jigsaw in had, cute top and necklace. Me I would have been in holey yoga pants and sweatshirt! You've got style!

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