Knowledge articles about headboards:

Step by step bed headboard.

A new bed is a big investment and the search for the perfect one can be a frustrating one. However by commissioning someone to make a bed for you, it’s possible to create the sleeping place of your dreams. Jo Carmichael takes you through the process.

As a starting point, look through books and magazines to get a better idea of what you want. Sketch a rough design to take with you to show a carpenter – they can talk you through what will work and what won’t. Ask around various carpenters and furniture makers to try and find someone right for you, and get several quotes before you commit to anything.

Once you’ve decided who you’re going to entrust to make your bed, it’s time to talk about what you want. Four-poster beds have traditionally been seen as old-fashioned and heavy, but contemporary, light and airy designs are gradually coming on to the marketplace. However these often come at a cost, and so are the perfect piece of furniture to get custom-made. So long as the shape you want is relatively simple, your chosen carpenter or bedding manufacturer should be able to make it up for you, and save you from extra costs that would be incurred by buying it in a showroom.

At this stage details become extra-important, so as to make sure that you and your carpenter have the same end-product in mind. Make sure to measure your mattress and decide whether you want it to fit snugly or loosely into your bed base, or whether you’d like it to rest on top. Bear in mind that your mattress will also affect the height of your bed, as will the slats – look at commercially produced beds to get an idea of how high you’d like your bed to be. Determine how thick the side rails and legs should be, as well as how high you want the posts. The legs in particular will help to create a delicate or chunky effect, and the rails at the top should be proportionate to them.

This is also the time to think about what you want your headboard to look like. It’s a good idea to get a frame or board made at the same time as your bed – you can then cover it yourself with fabric, get it painted or stencilled, or cover it with woven strips, as we have done (see page 166 of the June 06 issue to learn how to do this yourself).

We ordered a queen-sized bed frame made from untreated pine (although for a little extra cost you could choose a harder wood that will wear better than pine; possibly a good option if you are looking to create a family heirloom), and had it delivered raw and unassembled, thus cutting costs and enabling us to paint it in the exact colour we wanted. If you take this approach, you’ll need to assemble the bed yourself then sand it back with 100-grit sandpaper. Paint with an undercoat (we used Bristol Paints All Prep) then allow to dry for at least three hours before sanding back rough areas with 180-grit sandpaper. Our soft white colour was achieved by applying several coats of Bristol Paints semi-gloss in Softly Lit. For quality bed linen, we chose pieces from Sheridan and Aura Bed Linen, and our sheer bedroom curtains are from Sally Campbell.

Step-by-step headboard

You will need
Upholstery webbing (available from hardware stores and upholsterers); fabric scissors, staple gun, hammer, brackets (to secure headboard).

To make our headboard, we wove together strips of upholstery webbing. Our carpenter made a frame to sit inside the bed's posts but you could also follow this technique by weaving strips over a padded headboard or piece of plywood.

1. To work out how much webbing you will need, measure your headboard. Divide the length of the headboard by the width of your webbing then times this figure by the width of the headboard. After this, take the reverse measurements – divide the width of your headboard by the width of your webbing then multiply it by the length of your headboard. Add this number together to the former number, then add an extra 2m to allow for attaching the strips to the back of the headboard. We needed about 50m for our headboard. Work out how long each strip will have to be in order to run along the headboard and tuck over the back (you will need strips for both the width and length). Start cutting pieces of webbing, laying each strip over the headboard as you go so you know roughly when you have enough.
2. Start by laying the width strips (the longer ones) down on the floor next to one another. Lay the headboard frame over the top of them and then adjust the strips so that they are evenly spaced (even a slight difference in spacing can show up in the weave and leave a large uneven gap when you come to the end). Once strips are all evenly arranged, carefully staple them in place along one edge. Repeat process along the opposite side of the headboard, pulling each strip very taut as you staple it into place.
3. Lay the frame right-side up and weave one short webbing strip in and out of each widthways strip, from one side across to the other, then repeat with remaining strips – don’t staple in place until all strips are woven through. Turn the board over and adjust the short woven strips so that there are even gaps between them all, replicating the gaps in the width weave. Carefully staple them into place along one end and then repeat along the opposite side, again pulling strips as taut as you can before stapling in place. Hammer down any staples that did not go into the frame fully. Position headboard between the posts and secure with brackets behind.

Author: Jo Carmichael

Barcelona Headboards
A stylish and timeless headboard design, re-vitalised using modern damask fabrics, suede and an eye-catching basketweave faux leather.
These headboards ooze style and are available in 20 variations of fabric and colour, to make any bed from Boston to Barcelona complete.

Atlanta Headboards
A simple modern headboard design, bringing your bed to life with a classic arch shape. These headboards are ready to enhance your bedroom with a choice of 8 colour/fabric combinations. Five popular colours in chenille basketweave fabric, and 3 contemporary faux leather finishes.

Palermo Headboards
Make your bed complete with this fine upholstered fabric headboard. These elegant headboards add feature to the classic arch by inclusion of two simple ribs that draw the chenille fabric and the eye towards the middle of this stylish headboard. From the boudoirs of Paris to the bedrooms of Palermo, comes in 9 gorgeous designs including a stunning two-tone brown.

Canberra Headboards
Add some regal luxury to your bedroom with this contemporary headboard. Smooth contours of a classic crown shape, to wear the faux leather finish like royalty. Four ribbed lines enhance the appearance of these headboards available in 11 popular colours.

Monaco Headboards
With its graceful curves these headboards will make a statement in any bedroom. 16 choices of colour in ever popular damask and faux suede fabrics adds to its versatility to suit most decors from Marbella to Monaco.

Rome Headboards
A contemporary and stylish tapered Rome headboard design, graced with damask and faux suede fabrics.
These headboards shout quality and style and are available in 16 popular shades that should suit the most discerning colour pallets.

Dallas Headboards
A stylish and timeless headboard design, dressed in 11 choices of upholstered soft faux leather. Two indented vertical bars add extra interest to this classic design. To enhance any bed from Denver to Dallas.

Victoria Headboards
Style and flair with a mediterranean feel. Burgundy and Cream chenille fabrics are complimented by an appealing and unique brown striped design.

All our headboards are 580mm high.
Lengths are imperial as in 3ft, 4ft etc.
Total thickness is 1.5".

Barcelona Basket Wve Brown Headboards From £79.99 to £129.99 (size dependant) Barcelona A stylish and timeless headboard design, re-vitalised using modern damask fabrics, suede and an eye-catching basketweave faux leather. These headboards ooze style and are available in 20 variations of fabric and colour, to make any bed from Boston to Barcelona complete.	We supply quality upholstered fabric and faux suede and leather headboards. All headboards are ready now in your size for insured FREE 48 hour delivery to anywhere in the UK. All headboards come complete with wooden upright connecting posts. Why you need a headboard from us? 1. Great Range - A Colour, Style and Fabric to suit your bedroom. 2. Great Prices - What you see is what you pay - one low price. 3. Great Site - Quick Buy options - you dont need to open an account. 3. Fast Delivery - All products ready to send today - with you in 48 hours. 4. Great Customer Service - We are just a phone call or email away. So why wait - put some colour into your dreams today! All our headboards are 580mm high Lengths are imperial as in 3ft, 4ft etc. Total thickness is 1.5" Don't take our word - See what our happy customers say!	Barcelona Basket Wve Burgundy Headboards From £79.99 to £129.99 (size dependant) Barcelona A stylish and timeless headboard design, re-vitalised using modern damask fabrics, suede and an eye-catching basketweave faux leather. These headboards ooze style and are available in 20 variations of fabric and colour, to make any bed from Boston to Barcelona complete.
Canberra Faux Leather Black Headboards From £69.99 to £119.99 (size dependant) Canberra Add some regal luxury to your bedroom with this contemporary headboard. Smooth contours of a classic crown shape, to wear the faux leather finish like royalty. Four ribbed lines enhance the appearance of these headboards available in 11 popular colours.	Dallas Faux Leather Black Headboards From £69.99 to £119.99 (size dependant) Dallas A stylish and timeless headboard design, dressed in 11 choices of upholstered soft faux leather. Two indented vertical bars add extra interest to this classic design. To enhance any bed from Denver to Dallas.	Atlanta Faux Leather Black Headboards From £69.99 to £119.99 (size dependant) Atlanta A simple modern headboard design, bringing your bed to life with a classic arch shape. These headboards are ready to enhance your bedroom with a choice of 8 colour/fabric combinations. Five popular colours in chenille basketweave fabric, and 3 contemporary faux leather finishes.
Rome Faux Suede Black Headboards From £59.99 to £109.99 (size dependant) Rome A contemporary and stylish tapered Rome headboard design, graced with damask and faux suede fabrics. These headboards shout quality and style and are available in 16 popular shades that should suit the most discerning colour pallets.	Barcelona Suede Black Headboards From £59.99 to £109.99 (size dependant) Barcelona A stylish and timeless headboard design, re-vitalised using modern damask fabrics, suede and an eye-catching basketweave faux leather. These headboards ooze style and are available in 20 variations of fabric and colour, to make any bed from Boston to Barcelona complete.	Monaco Faux Suede Black Headboards From £59.99 to £109.99 (size dependant) Monaco With its graceful curves these headboards will make a statement in any bedroom. 16 choices of colour in ever popular damask and faux suede fabrics adds to its versatility to suit most decors from Marbella to Monaco.