DIY - Upholstered Headboard With Nailhead Trim
December 14, 2011
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| My headbord before |
You may recall that I have a serious love for the Collete Bed at Crate&Barrel. A while ago when I was at King Textiles looking for some velvet for my mirror framing project, I spotted some fabric in their clearance section that sparked an idea. After quickly Googling on my phone the dimensions of a double bed I purchased several yards.
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| The back of my headboard |
I put off this project for a couple of weeks as I was a little worried about pulling out all the staples that attached the original fabric to the headboard. Even though it was years ago, I still remember how cramped my hand got from using the staple gun, and I had visions of pulling staples for days. I needn't have worried - the staples came out quite easily with a pair of needle-nosed pliers.
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| High-tech tools for removing staples |
As I wasn't going to replace the batting, my next step was to lay out the new fabric, and make the necessary cuts to remove the extra. Next I started stapling. My method was simple - a couple of staples in the top in the middle, and then pulled the fabric tight and stapled at the bottom in the middle. I then did the middle on each side. This ensured that fabric was tight in both directions before I stapled the rest of the top, bottom and sides. The top corners gave me a little trouble as I wanted to make them as smooth as possible. After some trial and error I ended up cutting out a triangle of fabric at each corner before folding it over and stapling. This would probably have been easier if my fabric wasn't so thick, but as it's a woven wool it got quite bulky in the corners.
Once the stapling was complete I flipped the headboard over, and started on the next phase of the project.
I had seen individual nail head tacks at Home Depot on several occasions, but the thought of having to nail in several hundred tacks kept me from recovering my headboard a long time ago. While perusing the Lee Valley Tools website one day I saw these nail head strips, and they were what I used. The beauty of this product is you only have to nail in every 5th nail - the rest are fake.
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| Laying out the nail strips |
Here's the finished product:
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| The finished product |
Here's what this project cost:
- Fabric from King Textiles: $22.50 (4.5 yds)
- Nail head trim strips: 3 x $5.90 = $17.70, from Lee Valley Tools
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| Don't my rewired lamps look great next to it? |
Mine doesn't have the fancy curved detail that the one at Crate&Barrel does, but given how much it cost to make I can overlook that little detail. What do you think? Is it almost as nice as the original?
30 comments
Your headboard turned out great and looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteVery good idea for headboard! I like the choice of colors and materials. And you are right - your lamp really looks good next to it :-)
ReplyDeleteWow that looks fantastic! And for that price? I wouldn't take a second look at the Colette bed :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful transformation! I love the color that you chose too!
ReplyDeleteVery nice makeover.
ReplyDeleteVery cute and classy redo of the headboard. I'm starting to like nailhead trim more and more. Might have to try it myself sometime! :D
ReplyDeleteSmiles from Miss Mustard Seed's linky party,
Suzanne at WhyCuzICan in NW Illinois
Beautiful! Great tutorial which I'm going to Pin :) Thanks for linking up to Saturday Splendour!
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks great!! Would you consider sharing it here? Pretty please?
ReplyDeletehttp://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2011/12/shine-on-fridays-6-and-some-fabulous.html
This looks fabulous. What an awesome transformation.
ReplyDeleteRuth
I LOVE your new headboard! Its beautiful... great job :) Your rewired lamps are dang awesome too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Erin :)
ReplyDeleteI love it..I am totally inspired.
ReplyDeleteSarah
www.budgetfriendlydecorating.com
This looks wonderful. Great choice of fabric.It looks so elegant and classic. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteYour head board is very pretty. It looks like some I have seen on TV that go for big dollars.
ReplyDeleteMy own head board is a king size 6 panel door from an old library. I love it. Over the hole where the door knob goes is a sign that says "always kiss me good night" and it is so sweet.
In the winter months I made a slip cover for the bed from an old quilt I had in the closet. I just made an envelope to slip over the head board. Now I have 2 looks for my bed room.
I like the idea of a slipcover for your headboard - I might do that someday:)
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Your head board looks fantastic, I love the nail head trim!
ReplyDeleteYour headboard is beautiful! Love the way it came out!
ReplyDeleteWow you did an amazing job! It just looks so glamorous and high end, love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is SO tailored looking super job! I love it,Deidre~
ReplyDeletewow, what a difference that small detail makes! it is so much more sophisticated! gorgeous job!
ReplyDeleteYour headboard looks fabulous!! I love that you only have to nail every fifth nail. Much easier!
ReplyDeleteI love the new look! I have seen those nail head trim strips used but didn't know you could get them at Lee Valley... will be going there for sure as this is a project on my list for 2012!! Thanks for the inspiration... I love the material too by the way. Found you over at Primp. I'm a new follower. :)
ReplyDeleteWould love for you to pop by and visit sometime!
Kathryn @www.uglyducklingtransformations.wordpress.com
Careful when you go to Lee Valley - they've got so much great stuff you'll probably leave having bought a whole bunch of other things as well :)
ReplyDelete[...] Covered Headboard December 27, 2011 By Beckie Leave a Comment // Michelle from Sweetsuite10 had a fabric headboard that she had made a few years ago but was simply no longer loving. To update [...]
ReplyDeleteVery sophisticated.
ReplyDeleteThe end tables are also gorgeous, with the lamps you've got the whole package;).
[...] bedroom is another room is desperate need of colour. I rewired some antique lamps that have some gold and Kelly green dots, and I`ve been trying to imagine a way to add those [...]
ReplyDeleteI love this and have been wanting to do the same thing - very similar style. I have a king size bed, I'm struggling with the dimensions. Could you share the height of your headboard? And maybe the actual part of the headboard that is padded (without the legs). I would be grateful! Love your blog!
ReplyDelete[...] While the studded appearance of nail heads have been a main feature of furniture for decades, today’s DIYs are giving the technique a modern twist. Bold patterns and textured fabric bring the design trend into the 21st century, appealing to young and seasoned decor lovers alike. Though the look is a hallmark of luxury, it’s fairly inexpensive and easy to replicate. This DIY by Michelle of Sweet 10. [...]
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for a DIY headboard like yours! Love it! I was just wondering what size legs/framing did you use?
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteIt's been a few years, but I'm fairly certain the framing is 2" pine. The rest is simple MDF. I held it together with carpenters glue and nails. I've seen a few tutorials where plywood was used for the whole thing - no need to construct a frame. I do think however that my method is much lighter.
Hope that helps!