How To...Create a Mid-Century Inspired Tufted Headboard

Spotted on IKEA Hacker today is this Mid-C inspired headboard, and we are all about spreading the DIY headboard ideas around. There are so many ways to deal with headboards that don't require a ton of money, so we love seeing what people come up with. Here, Paul used an IKEA metal bedframe, and we'll just leave it to him to do the explaining:

This particular hack involves a metal ikea heimdal bed frame (i can't find it on the ikea website). the frame was fine, but it definitely lacked the elegance and mid-century appeal i was trying to go for...

well after surfing a few furniture websites, i came across the tate bed from crate and barrel. i like the look of the tufted headboard and the tight upholstery along the sides. so, i headed to the local fabric store (joann's) and luckily they had foam padding and faux suede fabric on sale...

i cut the foam padding according to the bed's measurements and used heavy duty spray glue to adhere the foam to the metal frame. the hardest part was sewing up the faux suede fabric to wrap around the foam padding and bed frame. to make it look more tailored, and not look like it was just fabric wrapped around the bed frame, i sewed seams running down the sides of the faux suede fabric that would be used to cover the side rails.

the hardest part of the entire project however was measuring out how many squares to make, and to make each of them perfectly even on the headboard. on the back of the fabric, i used a straight edge to draw the grid pattern that would guide me in sewing up the fabric to create that seamed, tufted look. once i drew my grid on the back of the fabric, the next step was to create the seams on that are on the headboard....

Click on over to Ikea Hacker to find out the rest!

(Thanks, Paul and IKEA Hacker!)

I like the idea of a shelf above the bed and was considering a more traditional style shelf to go with my late 1800's house, and usings two matching bed height shelf on either side of the bed in place of bedside cabinets...

posted by Tim on 2007-02-09 14:17:04

Just noticed: check out Paul's full bedroom over at AT:LA.

posted by heather on 2007-02-09 15:01:31

In college, I made this amazing headboard out of a white sheet, a piece of cardboard, batting, covered buttons (which I made with a kit), wire, and (ahem), duct tape. And maybe staples.

Wrap cardboard (or a piece of wood, if you're not a grad student living on Ramen)in batting. Secure in place. Wrap sheet over that. Poke holes through sheet, batting, cardboard. Put wire through covered buttons, pull wire through holes to create that high-class tufted look. Ta-Da. It took about fifteen minutes but made my room look a lot less temporary.

posted by CaseyB on 2007-02-09 15:02:52

uh yah that was first shown on the AT:LA site/ Ikea hacker picked it up from there.

posted by rs on 2007-02-09 16:19:39

Thank you, your account has been registered.

We have sent an email to the address you registered with for verification purposes. Please use the link in the verification email to activate your account.

apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time