Good Questions: How to Make a DIY Canvas Headboard? Los Angeles

DanaD writes:
I have been desperate for an upholstered headboard but I just haven't been able to find one that I like. Well, tonight I was at a fabric store and found the perfect fabric. I bought 2 yards, enough for a headboard. But now I have zero money for the supplies needed to make the actual headboard. My boyfriend has many different size canvases around our apartment. Is there any way to make a headboard out of a canvas or two? Thanks!

Got a good question you'd like answered? Send your queries and a photo or two illustrating your question, and we'll see if the ATLA team or our readers can help you out.

DanaD, check out this cool example created by Yasmine Hermans with three canvases, a stencil and some paint. We think her idea would open a world of possibilities if you perused through the 3,500 images of the Stencil Library. Or you could a projector if you already have or can borrow one, as shown in this previous DIY mural project.

Here are a few more DIY headboard inspirations that might give birth to some optional decorative ideas.

Comments (6)

Oh it's really easy! Ideally you should have a staple gun to adhere the fabric to the canvas frame... but I didn't have one and used a hot glue gun instead and it turned out all right.

http://flickr.com/photos/seshat/3090703205/

I covered 3 canavases with a solid fabric and painted the design on them. It was a cheap, quick fix for my lack of a headboard... unfortunately my cat likes to scratch it to wake me up in the morning. I also used command velcro strips mount it on the wall because using a picture hanger is none to stable if you flail around in your sleep (I used to throw pillows at roommates...)

Good luck!

Question...I need a headboard too and prefer the DIY method but I like to sit up in bed. Could I just take some strips of wood and nail them to the back of the canvas and stuff the space in between with something soft? It works in my head but that isn't saying much.

Here's a compromise suggestion.

Assemble canvases that are the width you want for your bed. (Hopefully just two that are the same size.)

Place face down on your fabric, with the design centered as much as you can manage.

Duct tape or otherwise temporarily fasten the canvases together and then duct tape or pin the fabric on (so you don't damage it and can use it later when you can afford to do this right.)

If you have some quilt batting or an old disposible blanket around, you could cut some layers of that the size of the two canvases and layer them between the fabric and canvas as padding.

Hang the canvases on the wall from carefully placed finishing nails by balancing the rim of the stretcher bars on the nails.

I agree w/ KTG - Hold onto the fabric and wait until the right time to get what you want done well rather than waste it on some slapdash compromise.