A few readers asked how we upholstered the green headboard in our guest bedroom, so we decided to share a simple, step-by-step tutorial. We invited John’s sister, Emily, to make a pink headboard for her daughter Olivia’s room so we could demonstrate how straightforward this project really is. Don’t worry—if you can wrap a present, you can upholster a headboard. It’s that easy.
This method uses a stretched-canvas wooden frame as the base. Visit a proper art supply store to find frames meant for stretching canvas (craft chains typically don’t carry them). Choose a width that matches your bed and pick a height you like—use painter’s tape on the wall to test different heights before ordering. You’ll need enough fabric to cover the frame with a few inches extra on all sides and the same amount of batting; thicker batting will give you a plusher, more padded look. Other essential tools are a pair of scissors and a staple gun (a manual one is inexpensive and works fine). If you want a very durable headboard for heavy use—people who read propped up in bed or a lively kid’s room—consider substituting a sheet of plywood for the canvas frame. Plywood is heavier and harder to hang but makes an almost indestructible headboard.
Step 1: Cut the batting a few inches larger than the frame. Lay the batting over the front and wrap it around to the back of the frame, then staple it in place. Start by stapling at the center points—twelve, three, six and nine o’clock—to hold the batting straight and taut. This prevents the material from shifting as you work. After those four staples, continue adding staples every two to three inches until the batting is evenly secured and snug all the way around.
Step 2: Cut your chosen fabric several inches larger than the frame and attach it the same way you did the batting. If your fabric has a pattern, take extra care to align it before stapling so the design reads straight across the front. Use the same center-first stapling technique (twelve, three, six, nine o’clock) and then work around the edges in two- to three-inch intervals. For the corners, fold and tuck the fabric as if you were wrapping a gift—neat, flat folds give the best finished look. Staples can be removed and repositioned easily, so don’t be afraid to redo a corner until it looks right.
Step 3: Hanging a headboard made on a canvas frame is quick and simple because the finished piece is lightweight. Treat it like you would a picture frame: install two secure nails or picture hooks in the wall, use a level to make sure they’re aligned, and hang the headboard so it hooks over the nails. If you used plywood instead of a canvas frame, you’ll need sturdier anchors and possibly help lifting and mounting the heavier piece.
Step 4: Step back and enjoy your new headboard. Whether you choose a plush pink fabric like Olivia’s or a bold patterned textile, a custom upholstered headboard adds instant personality and comfort to a bedroom. It’s an affordable way to make a big design impact.
Here’s a bonus tip for sourcing fabric: check the remnant section at a quality independent fabric store. These stores often serve interior designers and keep a table of discounted leftover pieces. You can frequently find one to two yards of high-quality fabric at a fraction of the original price—plenty for a headboard project. For this tutorial we found two yards of a thick woven swiss dot fabric (originally $24/yd) in the remnant bin and paid about $19 total.
More DIY Headboard Tutorials
If you enjoyed this project and want more ideas, try one of these variations that use similar upholstery techniques:
- Adding an upholstered headboard to an existing bed’s headboard
- Making a channel-tufted headboard
- Creating a multisided upholstered headboard for a daybed