https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/diy-panel-tufted-headboard • Posted by Kayla J.
For the focal piece in our Master Bedroom, I knew I wanted a really impaction headboard. I explored using bright colors or bold patterns, but decided I wanted the flexibility for my decor style to change over time. So instead, I decided on what I consider a "Focal Wall Headboard". It's fills the entire wall and really stands out in a bold, non-traditional way.
For the focal piece in our Master Bedroom, I knew I wanted a really impaction headboard. I explored using bright colors or bold patterns, but decided I wanted the flexibility for my decor style to change over time. So instead, I decided on what I consider a "Focal Wall Headboard". It's fills the entire wall and really stands out in a bold, non-traditional way.
After determining your design and how many planks you'd like your headboard to have (we had 9 individual planks), cut them to size based on your room's dimensions. We have a king bed, so three planks were long rectangles. Then had the six edge planks much shorter to mirror the length of our nightstands. We decided to build the headboard planks with MDF to ensure that they wouldn't warp over time.
Upholster the planks with batting. I started with Soft & Crafty batting which I purchased pre-packaged from Joann Fabrics for about $30, which I wrapped around the front of each plank and secured in place with our soffit stapler. Tip: If you have a soffit stapler, I'd highly recommend using that instead of a hand stapler. This way was much easier on my muscles.
Then it was time to prep the fabric. The fabric was extra wrinkly from being folded up on the bolt in the store, so I took my time ironing all the fabric and making sure it was pristine. Then clamped it onto the planks (to hold it in place) so I could staple it on to the MDF.
After the upholstery was done, its time to affix these planks to the wall. We used the Hangman 60lb. French Cleat Picture Hanger with mounting screws (found at Home Depot) Affix half of the system to the back of your headboard plank and the other half of the system gets affixed to the wall. For the smaller pieces, we centered the hanger exactly within the rectangle to create equal pressure when hung. For the longer pieces, we put one hanger on each side.
The other half of the hanging system gets affixed to the wall, so when you hang the planks, they hook on each other and literally do not budge. Tip: Make sure that the hangers are level on the wall and piece of headboard so it all hangs straight.
Here's what it looked like once we got all of the panels hung!