How To Make A Wooden Headboard: A DIY Project

A wooden headboard can help protect your wall from getting cracks and, it is one of the most practical and classic kinds of the headboard. Aside from that, it is also straightforward to make that you can make it at home during this lockdown. Today, I will discuss the steps on how to make a wooden headboard to help you protect your walls and frame your bed.

Prepare the Materials and Tools

1. 120 grit sandpaper,
2. 80-grit sandpaper,
3. Hammer,
4. Wood chisel,
5. 150 grit sandpaper
6. 2-inch finish nails(fifty= twin size bed; A hundred=king size bed)
7. One by four white wood boards,
8. A quart of paint,
9. Carpenter’s glue,
10. Faux finish glaze,
11. Clear primer,
12. Three-inch paintbrush,
13. One ¼ finish nails (fifty= Twin size bed; A hundred= king size bed
14. Wood filler,
15. 1x2 furring strips,
16. Water-based primer,
17. One by six whitewood boards 

How to Make a Wooden Headboard

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Select the Wood

Ensure that the kind of wood you select has a unique texture or natural stains so that you can have that added rustic feel. However, if you intend to paint it with darker colors, you can select a straight wood and disregard its looks. 

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Front Legs

1. Lay the wood for two legs on the floor
2. Make sure that the 1x2 55 inches long goes on top, and the 1x3 55 inches long goes in the bottom.
3. Apply glue in between the wood before nailing.
4. Nail the top with one ¼ inch nails for every 8 inches through the 1x2 into the back of the 1x3.
5. Keep the outside of the wood flush.
6. Do this to both sides of the legs.

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Panel Boards 

1. Apply glue to the ends of the ¼ panel board at the top of the headboard.
2. Lay ¼ board at the top of the legs,
3. Nail down with one ¼ inch nails using two nails for each end,
4. Nail the remaining panels to the legs by using the glue and the 1 1.4 nails,
5. You can paint the headboard, or chisel it for added texture and design.

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Leg Pieces

1. Apply glue to each of the two one by three leg pieces
2. Nail every six to eight inches using 2-inch nails
3. Make sure that the top and outside edges are flush.

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Panel Trim

1. Trim the headboard tops,
2. Trim the headboard bottoms,
3. Apply glue to 1 by four panel trim boards,
4. Nail panel trim boards to the top and bottom sides,
5. Use one ¼ inch nails,
6. Remember to keep the outside edges flush.

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Outside Trim

1. Place the headboard face down,
2. Apply glue,
3. Nail the two remaining leg pieces to the sides of the legs,
4. Use 2-inch nails for every 6-8 inches of the wood,
5. Keep the front edges flush.

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Top Trim

1. Apply glue to the top of the headboard,
2. Line the top trim piece with the outer leg piece and nail it down,
3. Make sure to nail it down every six to eight inches,
4. Keep the outside and front edges flush. 

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Top of Headboard

1. Apply some more glue to the top of the headboard,
2. Overhang or elevate the headboard,
3. Make sure that you can center the two-by-four top pieces on the headboard with a ½ inch overhand on all sides,
4. Nail every six to eight inches with two-inch nails.

How to Make a Wooden Headboard: Finish the Headboard

1. Fill the nail holes with wood filler,
2. Let the fillers dry,
3. Sand the headboard using the 80-grit sandpaper,
4. Fill the nail holes again since the wood filler can shrink once it dries,
5. Sand again using the 120-grit sandpaper,
6. Sand with 150-grit sandpaper,
7. Vacuum the headboard using a soft-bristled brush attachment to remove sanding residue,
8. Wipe the surface using a damp cloth,
9. Lightly coat the headboard with primer,
10. Let the headboard dry,
11. Paint it if you want to,
12. Let it dry,
13. Rough up the edges with sandpaper,
14. Chisel between the plank boards,
15. Apply the glaze to distressed areas,
16. Wipe off until you achieve your desired look,
17. Spray with a clear coat or finishing.

Related Articles