DIY Upholstered Headboard

I love combining different finishes and textures in any room I decorate, which is the reason I’m not a big fan of buying a complete matching bedroom set at the furniture store. I want the rooms to reflect a more personal style that is unique to the client. No worries, though, if you’ve already bought a set and/or are looking to update your bedroom decor. The easiest way to break up the “matchy-matchy” look is with an upholstered headboard. The best part is you can make it yourself!

Begin with the most basic step: take a piece of plywood, cover it with a layer of batting, and then staple fabric of your choice over it. A large sheet of plywood comes in a 4x8 feet size and your local home improvement store can cut it to your specific measurements, so there’s no need for electrical tools. Keep in mind that you want it to be the same width as your bed mattress, but you can go as high as you wish for a more dramatic look. In some cases, you might have to use two sheets of plywood to get your desired size, but it’s no big deal because since it will be covered with fabric anyway, the end result is the look of one piece.

Now, for a twist on this idea you can use a floor length mirror, too! Yep, you read correctly and it’s the actual project featured in the photo. I purchased a 3x7 feet floor mirror for only $99 and simply removed the mirror portion.  Follow the same steps above for reupholstering the panel insert, but use a thinner material (such as luan plywood) because it needs to fit inside the mirror's groove. I love the floor mirror-turned-headboard idea because it’s the best of both worlds—combining a wood frame with the fabric panel for a custom look!