If you’re tired of seeing your bed pushed against any wall, consider adding a king leather headboard to your room. This functional piece of furniture adds visual interest and polish to the bedroom.
Make one with craft store supplies that nod to a classic wrought-iron silhouette. Assemble two 36×48-inch frames from canvas stretchers. Paint them and let them dry.
Identify the Secure Points
Once your frame is built, it is time to start identifying the secure points. First, look for a cleat in the wall and determine its location. It is best to find a stud, but if you can’t locate one, try to place the cleat at least a fourth of the way down from the top of your headboard.
Once you have located the cleat, screw it into place. Then, move onto the other long edge and do the same. Once the sides are screwed together, you should have two solid panels. Using the large sliding mending plates, screw these into place on the panels against the wall. This will prevent them from moving.
Install the Fitting Elements
Wall-mounted headboards can be either freestanding or attached directly to the wall. When you install the former, it’s essential to make sure your walls are strong enough to hold a hefty headboard. If not, a new set of studs may need to be drilled into the wall to support the weight of the headboard and prevent it from sagging or falling off the wall. Bed frame-mounted headboards can be either a floating or fixed style, with the latter usually secured to a cleat plate that fits into the bed frame.
Whether you decide on an upholstered or wood DIY headboard, start by gathering the necessary materials from your local home center. Using the measurements of your headboard, mark the desired points where you want the screw holes to be located. This will help you position the screws properly when installing the cleat plate later on. Once you’re done marking the spots, drill a pilot hole and saw through each one with the appropriate hole saw blade. Then, sand the edges of each hole and stain or paint the entire headboard the desired shade to match your bedroom decor.
If you choose to mount a tufted headboard, use fabric that’s bold enough to act as a piece of art hanging just above the bed. This patterned fabric packs a major visual punch and helps the headboard stand out against the textured wall. For an even more regal look, frame the headboard with fabric-covered buttons to create a tufted effect.
Create an upholstered king headboard with craft supplies for an inexpensive and easy DIY project. Cut plywood squares to the size of your upholstered headboard, such as 18-inch squares. Cover each square with quilt batting, then stretch and staple fabric over it. You can also add strips of trim to the top and bottom edges to give it a more finished look.
You can mount a wooden headboard to your wall by creating a French cleat. First, determine how high you want the headboard to be by measuring from the floor to the top of the frame. Then, cut a length of 1×6 to the measurement and attach it to the wall using a stud finder to ensure that you’re fastening into solid material. Once the cleat is in place, attach the other end of the 1×6 to the back of the headboard using 1-1/2″ screws.
Mount the Headboard
Elevate the look of your bed and add comfort in minutes with this modern wall-mount headboard designed for twin, queen, or king-size beds. The set includes lightweight panels covered in a light gray fabric that you can mount horizontally or vertically to the wall and with or without the suspension black metal rail included for added versatility. You can even hang these panels in an entryway, dining, or banquette area to add some softness and style to a seating space. The padded panels are made with soft faux leather PU and high-density foam cushion for a comfortable feel, and the entire product ships in one compact box to make it easy to transport.
Hold the headboard against the wall to determine how high you want to mount it to begin installing it. Use a stud finder to identify and mark a secure point with a pencil. Next, measure the height between the marked upper and lower edges of the headboard to find the center of the frame. Once you know how high you want the headboard to hang, install the cleat plate. The cleat plate fits into the lip of the wall stud, allowing you to mount the headboard on top of it.
Most headboards come with a set of bolts that you can use to secure the struts of the frame to the headboard. Screw them into the holes on the struts and the frame, using nuts or washers as needed to ensure they are tightened securely. After the bolts are tightened, it’s a good idea to check for leveling with a level tool. If your headboard isn’t perfectly straight, it can take away from the aesthetic and can cause uneven weight distribution in your bed.
Whether you mount the headboard to the wall or the frame, it’s best to ask for help when doing so. Headboards are heavy, and lifting, aligning, and attaching them can be difficult, especially if you’re working alone. If you’re unsure of how to install your new headboard, consult the product manual or contact customer support for assistance.
Secure the Headboard to the Frame
Whether you choose a wall-mounting or bed frame-mounting headboard, it’s important to ensure the headboard can be secured to the frame. If it can’t, the headboard might fall off the bed, creating a safety risk for you and your family members. Fortunately, most headboards feature secure points for attaching them to the frame. These are usually located on the studs and can be easily identified by using a stud finder. Once you’ve found the secure points, you can install the fitting elements that come with your headboard or purchase French cleats or Z-clips from any hardware store.
Ideally, you should clean the area around your headboard with a damp cloth before you start work. This way, the walls will be free from any dirt or dust that could contaminate your paint. Next, place a drop cloth (repurposed old sheets work well) over the area you’ll be working in to protect it from paint splatters and spills.
Once the workspace is clear, draw a line with a pencil to classify where you want your headboard’s lower and upper edges. Then, use a stud finder to locate and drill holes into the studs. Once the holes are drilled, you can fix the fitting elements that came with your headboard or purchase French cleats, Z-clips, or wall anchors from any hardware store.
When installing a leather headboard king, it’s important to measure the mattress’s width to ensure the headboard fits properly. You should also check the height of the mattress to make sure it’s at a comfortable level for your head.
If you’re planning to build a DIY headboard, start with the basics from your local home center. Use a piece of medium-density fiberboard and create a design that’s the width of the mattress. Cut the board into this shape. Glue it to a piece of beaded board cut into the same shape, then trim and sand the pieces. Paint the completed headboard to finish.
You can also mount a freestanding headboard to the wall depending on your needs. However, it’s always better to get a friend to help you lift the headboard up onto the frame and make sure the screws are tight enough to hold the weight of your headboard without slipping.
