Introduction: Fabric Upholstered Bed Headboard

About: Britex Fabrics is an amazing, family-run, 4-story fabric store in San Francisco. Britex sells a selection of our fabrics and notions online, and blogs about textiles at www.britexfabrics.com.

Estee and Judd made this amazing headboard using Britex Fabric home decorating fabric. We love how they utilized our beautifully detailed sea creatures linen.

She said: “I am happy to report that the headboard project went extremely well and we absolutely love the sea creature fabric we chose! This project took us the entire weekend, but we had the headboard installed first thing Monday morning! Judd and I are both crafty and love working on home improvement projects. He had made some readymade-esque items for the kitchen and I have reupholstered some dining room chairs. Other than that, this is our first major project together.”

Supplies
1. 4 ½ - 5 yards of 55” - 60” wide home decorating fabric
2. 25 - 11” by 15” wooden panels
3. 1 - 4’ by 5’ hardboard for the backing board
4. 1 - 4’ by 5’ piece of foam such as egg crate mattress pad
5. Staple gun and small staples to avoid sharp staples from poking through front of board
6. Glue such as Liquid Nails
7. 100 - ¼” screws (4 for each panel)
8. Screwdriver
9. Scissors
10. 2 – D-rings and D-hooks

Step 1: Cutting Fabric for Panels

Cut fabric down to size (large enough to wrap around panels and foam), approximately 16” by 20”. Cut a piece of test fabric first to make sure the size is sufficient.

Step 2: Cut Foam

Cut foam down to the exact size of the panels.

Step 3: Wrap Panels

Place the foam (egg carton side down) on panels and wrap the fabric around the foam-covered panel.

Step 4: Staple Fabric to Panels

Staple fabric into the back of the panel, starting in the center of each side and working outwards. Be sure and keep the fabric evenly taunt. Staple carefully, flipping the panels over periodically to make sure the fabric is smooth.

Step 5: Arrange Panels

Place the large backing board on the floor. Arrange individual panels in the configuration you desire, paying attention to design and color. This is the fun artistic part!

Step 6: Glue the Panels to the Board

Glue the panels to the backing board using liberal amount of liquid nails, and lining panels up as straight as possible. If you are feeling wonky, use a straight-edge!

Step 7: Walk Away for the Night

Allow liquid nails to dry overnight. We weighted the tiles down with heavy books and magazines in order to help the glue adhere the panels to the backing board. Here is your chance to put to use those outdated college textbooks, encyclopedias, or your stash of saved oddball magazines.

Step 8: Secure Things

Carefully flip over entire headboard, making sure not to topple over. It is heavy! Using 1/4" screws, secure the panels to large backing board.

Step 9: Accomplir!


9. Hang on the wall using two D-rings and D-hooks. Check for the studs in your wall when mounting the headboard, and mount on the studs.

Think of that octopus' garden beneath the sea and have sweet dreams!