Making headboards for my girls room was the only way to go because I just couldn’t find anything that was cute and girly enough for me. I found some cute beds at Costco that I liked, but they were $399 EACH {no can do}.
So we went for it. I knew I wanted a headboard shaped like this. The shape is called “Portman”.
Items you will need for this project:
1 piece of 4’X8’ piece of 1/2” MDF {about $23.00, but you will have a lot left over}
A Jigsaw to cut the MDF {borrow one from friend. 
}
1 piece of 4” outdoor foam from Home Depot {by far the best place to get foam} I can’t remember the price, but it seems like it’s about $16.00 for a huge piece.
An electric carving knife to cut the foam {cuts it like butter}
Canvas or Home Décor Fabric {we used 2 yards}
Cotton batting big enough to cover your foam
A staple gun {I use an electric staple gun or my air staple gun and our compressor}
An extra person to pull the fabric during the upholstering process {you cannot do it alone}
Hardware to hang the headboard. We use D-ring hooks and drywall anchors. 
Step 1: Have the folks at Home Depot cut MDF as wide as the size of your bed. If you want a full size {like ours} it will need to be 54” wide. They are super nice and will do it in a jiffy. We wanted ours to be quite tall. Ours are right around 44 inches tall. The Home Depot guys will cut it to be whatever size you tell them. {Measurements for other sizes: Twin: 39 inches wide, Full/Double: 54 inches wide , Queen 60 inches wide, King 76 inches wide }
Step 2: Trace three large circles on your MDF sheet to make the shape.
We simply laid a large round toy bin on top of our MDF board and traced three circles with pencil. Then we connected the circles with a straight line.
Linked this project to: Beneath my Heart and Home Stories A to Z.
I love it! I have a jigsaw but have only used it once because I'm nervous!! Thanks for the tutorial
I come to this site just to look at the this bedroom redo, even though I have already read it. It makes me so happy haha!
I need to just try this!! I hate our headboard right now and I want something new!! Thank you for sharing all your tips!! ?
Love this! The shape too
Do you know to get the tufted look??
Love these! I'll be using this tutorial for sure!
Thanks Michelle! Yes, I have done a few tufting projects. Check them out at
http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2011/08/tutorial-how-to-do-diamond-tufting.html
http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2011/01/nursery-decorating-ideas-part-3-change.html
http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2009/12/how-to-reupholster-ottoman-and-how-to.html
Don't be nervous! Just go super slow and you will be totally fine. I promise!
Thanks Brittany! It makes me happy too! I kind of wish it was MY room!
It is a pretty inexpensive way to get an expensive look in my opinion. A new headboard could change the look of your entire room!
Thanks Kristen! If/When you make one, send me pictures! I would love to see!
Brooke! I looooove how brave you were with regards to pattern in this room! I think most people would have shied away from floral and plaid… but i LOVE it!
OH! And the name of the headboard shape is 'Portman'!
(no need to respond to MY comments
BETH! Thank you!! I love that you just told me that! I searched for it, but I never found it.
I love this. I have been wanting to make an upholstered headboard for my daughter's room for awhile now. This gives me just the motivation to get it done. Awesome. Thanks again! By the way, I LOVE the way your daughters' room is turning out. Looks fantastic. Super cute.
Fantastic. I really need to do something for my girls too. They share room and I´m afraid I have ignored the room for to long now.
Holy cow, those turned out amazing!!! I've been hoping to do my own much simpler padded headboard but other less daunting crafts seem to take priority…
Thanks for you tips, and the neat way of hanging them on the wall – I'll have to remember that!!
Crazy, I just made a tufted headboard Saturday.
I love the way your girls' room is turning out. These headboards are beautiful. I actually made a headboard for my daughter's bed last year with the same shape and almost the exact same process, but I attached it to an Ikea bed frame and upholstered that too. So naturally, I love it
. Your fabric is more sophisticated than mine though.
These are adorable! Love them!!
Been wanting to do this since we purchased our king bed in January. It's currently "headless."
I know I can do this …. just gotta find the time and the perfect fabric!
So loveley! Thanks for the how-to and the yummy inspirations!
(ps … why can't I post comments on Blogger using Google Chrome? Used to be able to, and now it just poofs them away! Have to do it on IE. Ugh)
This is amazing! I don't have little girls but I would totally do this for my own headboard! Love the paint technique, too. Can't wait to read about it!
I've been reading your blog for forever, but this is my first comment. I only look at 3 different people's blogs other than friends and family. So you can tell that I really love yours! My little girl saw the pictures and said, 'that's how my new room is going to look!' It's a beautiful room, we will be taking lots of ideas when I do my girls!
Stalker-esque comment:
Looove! I want to make manly ones for my older boys' room. They have Ikea Odda beds (to eliminate the need for a dresser), but they're so fugly. Ok, not fugly per say, maybe just bland. I'm so bored with their room right now.
I love it! I really love the colors. Not sure I am that brave though.
So so cute!! Amen about the price of beds. I have literally been shopping around for the perfect one for about 3-4 years for Madelyn but could never afford one, and then the hubs built a loft bed for her out of 2x4s for about 1/4 of the price! Thank goodness for handy husbands!!
Fantastic. Looks great. I'd like to do this one day in twenty years from now when i have time…
this is gorgeous! I've done a few upholstered headboards but I'd love to try one in a fun bold print like this
The foam you used for this. Do you by any chance have a link to it or a picture of the packaging? Or just any details so I can find it in the store near me, like the aisle its found in? I'm making a large ottoman and this would be perfect.
Thanks.
Brilliant idea on the circles, these turned out beautiful!!!
Yep, no problem. I'm pretty sure this is it:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId;=-1&catalogId;=10053&productId;=203243566&R;=203243566#.UKLNsofhqZ4
You're so very talented young lady. I'm stalling about recovering a foot rest and you think nothing of jumping into new headboards! Way to go and I love the finished pieces. Fabric and shape. Excellent! I love stopping in here.
LindaLee from Cross’N My Stitches
This is adorable and such a great idea! I would love for you to enter this at the SHOW-licious Craft Showcase! http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/2012/11/saturday-show-licious-craft-showcase-7.html
xoxo,
Marti
Thank you so much for taking the time to link it for me. I really appreciate it
Definitely going to try this, thank you for sharing! My boyfriend and I moved in together three months ago and I've been trying to make what little furniture we have work (we still have just two stacked mattresses as a bed). I'm also taking your tips on painting furniture to give some life to all the old furniture our families donated to the cause.
Thanks for the tutorial. I LOVE the contrast between the headboards and the newly painted pattern on the walls! Your children are so lucky to have such a talented mom.
I'm so happy you posted how to do this! i've been waiting for it since the first room photos were posted. I have been considering headboard options for a while now and dont particularly love any of the ones i was considering myself capable of. I did not think i would be able to pull this shape off but now that you've shown us how easy it is we're going to give it a go for sure! Thanks Brooke!
My Home Depot is claiming that the foam doesn't exist….any thoughts on that? Thanks so much.
I couldn’t find the foam at Home Depot either but I am in Canada. I ended up spending big bucks on foam at Fabricland. We are having the most trouble with the corners right now and my husband cut the fabric and ended up messing it up royally and we had to pull out all the staples and start again. UGH. How do you make it look so easy?
I was not able to find the foam at Home Depot. What department is it in ?
It’s in the garden department.