Headboards are a great way to dress up a bedroom wall. If you regularly read in bed without one for any length of time, you are likely to find a dark spot on the wall where the back of your head rests. Headboards can prevent that problem. For beds that are not set directly against a wall, a headboard that is attached to the bed frame is almost mandatory. The problem with so many of those headboards is that they are held in place with just a couple of bolts and nuts and, over time, they loosen and start feeling a little flimsy. For a strong, solid headboard, the best bet is attaching it to the wall rather than the bed. If you decide to take that route, then why not use the opportunity to make a comfortable, padded, upholstered piece that is large enough to substantially alter the character of the room?

That is the approach that Laurie took in her redesign of this Jackson, Miss., bedroom. As you can readily see from the photograph of the finished project, this headboard goes well beyond the purely functional to become a major visual component of the room. If you like the effect, the really good news is that it is pretty easy to build, and to pay for.

Don't be discouraged if you would like to tackle the project but your bed already has a headboard. That was the case in this house, as you can see early in the episode. The bed had a metal headboard, with a framed picture sitting above it on the wall, both of which were dispensed with. You should be able to remove the headboard on your bed with little more than a wrench.

Shopping List

For the panel:
1/2-inch plywood
Spray adhesive or regular glue
Batting
Fabric
Staple gun and staples

For the frame:
2-by-4s
1-by-4s for back support
Wood strips for the grid
Assorted nails and screws
Wood putty
Sandpaper
Primer
Paint
Paintbrush