A bed without a headboard looks incomplete. A headboard anchors the room, provides back support for reading, and gives your bedroom a polished, intentional look. Store-bought headboards range from $150 to $800. Building your own DIY headboard costs $30 to $75 depending on your chosen style. Here are four approaches for different skill levels.
Headboard Options in This Guide
- Upholstered headboard (beginner, $40 to $60)
- Wood plank headboard (beginner, $30 to $50)
- Cane and wood frame headboard (intermediate, $50 to $75)
Option 1: Upholstered Headboard
This is the most popular DIY headboard style. It looks expensive and takes about 2 hours to build.
Materials
- 3/4 inch plywood cut to your bed width (queen: 60 inches wide, 36 inches tall)
- 2-inch foam padding (same dimensions)
- Fabric (2 yards of upholstery-weight linen, velvet, or cotton)
- Batting (thin layer between foam and fabric for a smooth finish)
- Staple gun and staples
Steps
Lay the plywood flat. Place foam on top, trimming to match. Add a layer of batting over the foam (wrap 3 inches around each edge). Lay your fabric face-down, centered on the stack. Flip the entire assembly over. Pull the fabric taut across the back and staple every 2 inches along each edge, starting at the center of each side and working toward corners. Fold corners neatly like wrapping a gift. Mount to the wall behind your bed with a French cleat system.
Option 2: Wood Plank Headboard
A rustic-modern look using simple lumber.
Cut 1×6 boards to your desired headboard height (36 to 48 inches is standard). Sand each board and apply stain or paint. Screw all boards to two horizontal battens (1×3 lumber) on the back, spaced 8 inches from the top and bottom. Mount the assembled headboard to the wall.
For visual interest, alternate board widths (use a mix of 1×4, 1×6, and 1×8 boards) or arrange boards in a herringbone pattern.
Option 3: Cane and Wood Frame
For a more contemporary look, build a simple rectangular wood frame from 1×3 lumber and staple cane webbing to the back. Cane webbing costs $15 to $25 per sheet and gives the headboard an airy, modern texture. This style pairs well with mid-century and Scandinavian bedroom decor.
Mounting to the Wall
The safest mounting method is a French cleat: cut a board at a 45-degree angle, screw one half to the wall (into studs), and screw the matching half to the back of the headboard. The two pieces interlock, holding the headboard securely. This method also makes removal easy for future room changes.
A quality DIY headboard should feel solid and look built-in. Spend extra time on clean edges and tight fabric. Those details separate a homemade look from a custom one.
After the Build
Style your new headboard with properly sized pillows. Two king-size pillows on a queen bed fill the width. Add two shams and one or two accent pillows in a contrasting texture. Keep the rest of the bedding simple to let the headboard serve as the focal point.
