Use Fabric & Cardboard To Take Your Bedroom From Boring To Beautiful!
If you find yourself dreading to turn on your bedroom light or dressing in the dark because of ugly or drab décor, it might be time to consider adding visual interest in the form of a new headboard. If purchasing one is not in the budget, however, the following directions will show you how to use simple, inexpensive and recycled materials to make a great headboard in just one afternoon. Here is what you will need to get started.
From the Fabric Store:
- 2 yards of fabric, 58-60 inches wide (in the color or pattern you prefer)
- 1 spray can of fabric adhesive
- 2 yards of quilt batting (to create a padded look)
Additional Materials & Tools
- one piece of sturdy cardboard large enough for the headboard
- scissors
- string
- thumbtacks
- masking tape
- a pencil or crayon
- yardstick
- old newspapers
Determine the Size You Want the Finished Headboard to Be
Use the yardstick to carefully measure the width of your bed to determine the finished size your headboard will need to be. It is best to either use the actual width of the bed or choose to let the finished headboard extend a few inches on both sides of the mattress.
Next, measure the wall behind the head of the bed, from the surface of the mattress to the height you want the headboard to extend up the wall. The height must not exceed 48" inches, so that you will have enough fabric to fold over and cover the edges of the cardboard.
Shaping the Headboard
Spread a layer of newspapers on a hard, smooth surface, such as a concrete or vinyl floor. Place the cardboard on the newspapers and use the yardstick to mark and trim the edges of the cardboard to ensure they are even and smooth.
Once the bottom and side edges are trimmed, you are ready to form the arched upper edge. Using the yardstick, measure the cardboard from top to bottom and from side to side, to determine the center point. Using the tape or thumbtack, attach one end of the string to the center point and then extend the string tautly toward the upper right corner of the cardboard and then cut the string at the corner.
Tape the string to the pencil or crayon, then use it to mark the arc it makes as it travels from corner to corner. Using the scissors, carefully cut along the line you have drawn. Because the finished headboard will have a covering of quilt batting and fabric, this crude method of drawing the arc is usually sufficient. However, if you would prefer to be more exacting, or create a different type of arc, consider using one of these easy methods.
Finishing the Headboard
Next, unfold the fabric you purchased from the fabric store and spread it, wrong side up, on the newspapers, smoothing away any folds or wrinkles. Lay the cardboard on top of the fabric, lining up the straight bottom edge of the cardboard with the bottom edge of the fabric, then adjust the cardboard carefully to leave approximately four inches of excess fabric along the entire bottom edge. Continue to adjust the position of the cardboard until you have four inches of excess at both sides, as well. Then using the pencil, and following the arc shape of the top, mark the fabric for cutting, leaving four or more inches of excess on each side. Cut carefully along the markings.
Once you have finished cutting the fabric, lay the cardboard on the batting and carefully cut around it. You do not need to leave any excess batting material at the edges, but do make sure the batting you cut completely covers the cardboard.
Once the batting has been cut, lay the cardboard on the newspaper-covered floor and spray it lightly with the fabric adhesive. Immediately place the batting you cut on top of the cardboard, ensuring that no wrinkles or folds exist. Trim the batting edges even with the cardboard.
Then, spread the fabric piece on a clean area of the newspapers, with the right side of the fabric facing down. With the batting side down, place the cardboard on top of the fabric, adjusting it so that it is correctly placed and centered. Carefully fold the excess fabric on the edges to the back of the cardboard and tape the fabric securely with masking tape.
Once the edges have been completely folded to the back and the fabric is taut and unwrinkled on the front of the headboard, tape it securely so that the fabric will not shift. Use thumbtacks to attach the headboard to the wall in the desired position and enjoy!
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