How to Make an Upholstered Headboard Using a King Size Sheet

A headboard not only offers a comfortable surface to lean back against when reading in bed, it also completes the look of the bed and adds interest to the room. Making your own headboard by repurposing bed sheets is an interesting and budget-friendly project.


Measure the width of your bed and add 4-inches to the measurement so that the headboard is slightly wider than the mattress. The height of the headboard comes down to personal choice. An average height is anywhere between 28- and 36-inches. The taller the headboard, the more grand it appears.


Mark your measurements onto a piece of 3/4-inch plywood and cut it to size with a table saw. If you don't have tools or don't feel confident using them, your local wood merchant or hardware store will cut the plywood to your specifications.


Cut a piece of high-density foam to the exact measurements of the headboard using a craft knife. The foam should be a minimum of 3-inches thick and can be purchased from a fabric store or a furniture renovator.


Purchase a piece of batting, also known as wadding. This is the important quilted middle layer used in soft furnishings. Add 8-inches to the width and height measurements of the headboard and cut the batting to size.


Repurpose an old bed sheet or head to a thrift store or home department store and choose a sheet in the appropriate color. Cut to the same size as the batting, adding 8-inches to the height and width of the headboard measurement.


Lay the sheet face down on a flat surface and position the batting on top. Next, place the foam in the center so there is an even border of sheet and batting around the edges of the foam. Lastly, lay the plywood directly on top of the foam.


Fold the batting and sheet over the edges of the plywood, pull it taught and staple into place with a staple gun, positioning the stapes approximately 1-inch apart. An extra pair of hands is helpful at this point to ensure the fabric is pulled as tight as possible, so ask a friend or family member to assist.


Measure the bed and the headboard to find the center points of each and mark with a pencil. Measure 3- to 4-inches in from either side of the bed and place another mark on the wall. Screw a 3/4-inch screw into each of these two marks. Measure from the center mark to the screws and use this measurement to find the correct position on the headboard to attach a D-ring at either end, approximately 2- to 4-inches from the outside edge. The D-rings should be positioned approximately 4- to 6-inches form the top of the headboard, so ensure the screws you place in the wall are the same height form the top of the headboard.