James and I have been wanting a new headboard for a while now. However, the lack of funds has held us back. However, we got the brilliant idea to substitute some of the materials needed to make a headboard with things we already had.
List of materials we used: ($30 total)
- cardboard ($0)
- 2 yards of quilt batting ($8)
- tape, packing or duct
- staple gun
- 2 yards of fabric ($12)
So here is our process to our very low budget headboard:
1. Take huge pieces of cardboard. This was just lying around our warehouse at work.
2. Tape pieces of cardboard together. It would be best if you could find 1 piece of cardboard that was the right size instead of using 2 separate pieces like we had to.
3. Measure ideal size of headboard and cut cardboard to appropriate size.
4. Cut out a design or shape for top of headboard. James used different sized bowls to trace and make the round cuts. Using a box cutter would be best for this step.
5. Lay cardboard shape over quilt batting and cut a 2 inch perimeter around cardboard.
6. Fold batting around cardboard edge and Tape batting around the cardboard. Less tension means fluffier headboard.
7. Take your fabric and iron out any creases you may have in it. (I usually skip this step when using material and always regret it in the end.)
8. Then lay headboard on fabric and cut 2 inch perimeter of fabric around headboard.
9. Fold over fabric around edge of headboard. pulling tight and using a staple gun, staple fabric through batting and cardboard. The starting points would be the top and bottom centers and working outward.
Then your done! Now, normally I would suggest using plywood instead of cardboard, but when that is all you have, you just have to improvise... :) I will have to add a picture soon of it mounted behind our bed.
If you try this or if you have made a DIY headboard, I would love to see it! Post a link to share it!
87 comments:
A girlfriend of mine made a headboard and it turned out so great. I think I will be posting it on my blog. But this is a great idea if you are trying to be money conscience. Adam and I will try to make one soon. Post pictures of it mounted. Great Job you guys!
Your headboard looks fantastic! Low Budget or not it looks expensive and extra fancy. I"ll need to file this technique away when I transfer my daughter from her toddler bed into a big kid bed.
That is AMAZING! And for just $30?!
I LOVE IT! Seriously think I'm going to do this! Cardboard=genius!!
this looks amazing! you guys did an awesome job.
love, love LOVE!
Wow, I'm impressed, you'd never know that was cardboard by looking at it?
My husband and I just posted about our headboard making experiences at our blog here: http://thecraftedcure.blogspot.com/2012/01/headboard-project-revealed.html
Looks like we had the same brainstorm :)
This is fantastic!! I'm in love with anything sustainable and not spending crazy money so I love you for this. One question, how did you mount it?
This is so perfect for my apartment next year! I can't paint the walls but this would be a perfect way to class up the room a bit.
This is beautiful and we made one, too...How did you hang in on the wall...double-stick tape fell off the wall. Staples pull out. Gorilla tape worked on fabric, but not to mount it. Help!
I would just add some heavy duty photo mounting brackets like you find at a hardware store and fix them to each side and flush mount it that way like a heavy mirror or picture. I'm Deff doing this! Great DIY, thanks! -savanah
http://i.imgur.com/wboyoVP.jpg
Made this over the weekend, just a little under 60$ total cost
This is a perfect idea to add some vibrant colors into my bedroom on a low budget. Thks working on mines this wknd
I wish I would have saw this a week ago! Mine cost me $80 since I used foam instead of batting, yours is fantastic! You should look at mine! www.fabricandoldlace.blogspot.com
I also love the idea that since it is cardboard it is extra light and easy to attach to the wall. Command strips would be great and easy to remove when needed.
So glad to see your post! We just got a new TV and the cardboard is HUGE! I thought, "hey, I wonder if I could make a DIY headboard and use this in lieu of plywood?" Voila! I have a perfect tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm totally pumped to try this out for the bed in our guest room.
This is such a great idea! I never would have thought to use cardboard, but it makes more sense than plywood since it doesn't necessarily have to be sturdy. I've been holding off on making one because of the price, but I'm thinking I will definitely be making one of these.
thanks for the idea! just made mine!
pinninginstrawberryland.blogspot.com
Definitely gonna do this for my daughter's dorm this fall. Cannot wait!
This is awesome! Can you post the picture of the headboard mounted on the wall, and what you used to mount it? I've been wanting to do a project like this for the longest time but it always seemed too complicated.
Tried this in my daughters room and instead of using foam I recycled to of her Princess comforters that she no longer would use worked great!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this and I'm totally making this today! What did you use to mount it though?
Just made my headboard today, thanks sooo much. this was great since i'm renting, i even "mounted" it by using velcro on the walls!!!!! I can do this because the headboard is so lightweight!!! that means no holes in walls for landlord :)
Plan on trying this very soon :) you guys make a beautiful couple!
I just found this post via Pinterest and LOVE it!!! I host a weekly linky party every Wednesday and would love for you to link up this project this week. I seriously might just have to try this soon:)
xo, amy | www.theblissfulbee.com
This might be a dumb questions, but you are using a staple gun? Wouldn't the staples poke through the front? Could you explain this to me. I am not a big crafter so maybe I am missing something.
I was thinking the same as above comment....how does the staples not poke through? But still a genius idea!!!
omg this will be perfect for this corrugated, extra thick stuff that came as packing in a giant box that my new bathroom vanity came in. it's so heavy duty I haven't been able to break it down to throw away... thank goodness.
I ended up doing this and made a king size headboard. Instead of having 1 continuous piece I made it in 3 panels. Also instead of stapling the fabric I used duck tape! It worked great and I love the end result!
Great idea, I've been thinking of cardboard, already salvaged some mostly because i have a king size bed& I'd like to make it as light as possible. If I go with cardboard I will glue or take supports to the back thin wood or plastic would be best. One free option is attaching a bunch of paint stir sticks from home depot in an up down arrangement...just something to give it some support. I salvage A LOT from outside of dumpsters at apartments & construction sites for projects do I'll probably use thin wooden strips to go down the length of headboard(vertically) I'd attach by 3M of there's plenty of stuff in the nails aisle use that one piece atattaches to wall the other to what ur hanging. Another option is to hang pretty hooks or cabinet pulls& stake ribbon, at least 2 to back off headboard, & literally hang it from hooks (I'd still help it out with some 3m)
Genius! Perfect for my boys' bedrooms. I've wanted to give them headboards, but have no $$$ for them! Yeah, I'll be doing this!
I loved this idea and just bought a new fridge so I had the cardboard. I made it and it looks great. I'm just having a problem mounting it to the wall. I tried the picture mounts but they bent. I tried Velcro but it pulled off. My next plan is to stand it up on some cut 2x4s behind the bed.
Would love to see pic of yours!
I made my daughters headboard it was super cheap and easy especially because we already had left over plywood! I even went a step further and gave it a tufted look added buttons for detail since it was a plain purple color.
how do you mount it to the bed?
Just made our headboard. It came out great! Thanks so much for the idea and instructions!
I also made a headboard like this only using a sheet Styrofoam insulation and used spray adhesive for batting and material and used a ten dollar bedspread for the material and used the other parts of bedspread for a matching valance. So light weight to hang the headboard and easy on the mind if you toss it.
hang it on the wall using Velcro or large upholstery stick pins as it is so lightweight
Do you have a post about how to hang it? I wish there was a way to do a search of your blog.
Unless you're counting the cost of cardboard, tape, and staple gun... You only spent $20. :)
Velcro...awesome! I'm a renter also so this tip will come in handy. Tks!
What a beautiful couple and family! Love the headboard! I am in need of this inspiration!!!
This is a marvelous DIY project that helps open so many creative ideas for the new King size headboard I need to build. I was actually sort of dreading it before I found this tutorial.
Warmly,
The Homestead Survival
please keep your projects coming.. love that it isn't so complicated that even I could do this...
I made this a few months ago and it held up beautifully! I managed to make my cost less than $5! I found some great grey velvety fabric clearanced at $1/yard. Used less than 2 yards. Got some SUPERthick cardboard from the box of my grandmas new shower. Instead of batting I layered 3 of those fleece lap blankets that I had gotten for free from friends. Stapled it all together one layer at a time and it looks fabulous and has held up well. Thanks for the inspiration and the tutorial!
Thank you for sharing such great idea. It's very creative.
It looks real uneven.
i just made mine(: i taped the fabric on tho cause the staples would have gone trough and i added some buttons to make it stand out more!!! thank you so much for posting this <3
I love this...though it is been a while, can you post a pic of how it looked in the end? Tkx!!!
i did this yesterday except the only difference in material that i used is poly foam and a pleather like fabric, it loos awsoem but i cant get it to stick on the back. please advice on what to use
Staple gun?
Looks good. I tried this with 2 layers of foam core board from Dollar Tree. I found that the staples pulled right back out for me. (I was trying to make it super smooth and tight.) So I put a drop of hot glue behind the fabric and stapled through it. This pushed the glue into the board and the fabric protected the face of the staple gun from getting glue on it. It worked really well. I even drilled holes in the fiber board so I can tuft it with covered buttons. Still working on making the buttons.....
What size of bed are the dimensions for? Queen?
Thanks so much for this idea. This is going to be my project for the weekend!!! =)
I just made one for my 4 year old daughter. Staple gun did not work for me (staples must have been too long), so I just used packing tape. I ended up just nailing it into the wall and going to use silk flowers to cover the nail head. Looks awesome. Thanks for the idea!
I've wanted a diy headboard for a while. I can't believe I didn't think of cardboard before! It's so simple but I've been so stuck on particle board.
This is amazing! I can't wait to try my hand at this. When I do, I will definitely blog about it and link back to you. :o) Now, the biggest problem is...how do I choose a fabric? Haha. <3
ChicAndAlluring.com
I used cardboard to make a box valance for sliding patio doors.
I just covered mine in batting and have to iron the $3 gray material I got at Walmart. I'll have about $15 in mine once it's finished. I'm using it for a photo prop for boudoir pictures next week!!
i am so going to do this in my travel trailer, can even velcro to the wall for stability!
I have done this, Only I used foamboard instead of cardboard. I also used command picture strips to hang it on the wall so it could be moved and walls would be damage free
You can also use command photo strips...secure n damage free. You can also easily adjust it if its not straight
Lahahove it.. simple but the result is beautiful. I will try this next month.. Imma show you the results.. teehee.. thanks
Lahahove it.. simple but the result is beautiful. I will try this next month.. Imma show you the results.. teehee.. thanks
Great idea! In reading your bio I see we have something's in common! Tattoos, 2 kids, husbands, from San Diego and we just purchased a vintage home in Salem, oregon! Good luck on your adventures!
P.s Look up Shell Shock Tattoo's when you get to the NW!
What might help you mount it - poke wire through the cardboard in a U-shape and twist it into a loop on the back so you have something to hang from. Do this before putting on the batting. The wire will be covered in the front and this will save you from hassle at the end. Just a thought. :) then just put two nails in the wall and hang the looped wire on them. Holes are easy to fill - home depot sells a nice hole-filler for about $4. I am a renter and have never had any problems at move-out.
How has it held up 3 years later? What did you initially use to mount it to the wall? Did it stand up to someone leaning against while sitting in bed?
Just made my own version using these instructions. Actually used small silver nails and nailed it right to the wall - looks like it's "tufted" now around the edges. Thanks!
This is awesome!! And I think you only spent $20 :)
I just loved your imaginative creation, the headboard and it costs so little!! I'll keep looking at your blog because I like everything that is garbage and becomes a luxury!
Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
My name is Carmen and I have a blog that I usually post handwork that do it! I will be very happy to recfeive your visit.
Have a blessing week.
Carmen Almeida
Couldn't you just read and move on? Really??
I made a cardboard headboard for a King size bed about 6 wks ago, your directions are wonderful and easy to understand. I spend $30.01 to make my headboard & it looks great! Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.
You could use an old comforter for the batting and save even more or put that savings toward buying plywood
Do you have a pic of it on your bed?? Im so excited to try this. I just can't see talking out a furniture store credit card for a bed set. Ugh. This would be the answer!
how do u mount it to the wall???
I did this today. I added foam along with the batting and also buttons. It turned out pretty well.
You could use double cardboard if you wanted it more sturdy. Also stagger the taped seams if you have to use seams.
That is great to hear, thank you for reading!
That was a VERY interesting one! Seriously interesting.
Great blog all the best
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