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Hey guys! If you follow us on Instagram, you may have seen a sneak peak of this project (you may have even asked if the tutorial was up for it ;))
It took me longer than usual to get final pics (finding a time when my kids rooms are actually picked up is near impossible in the summer 😉 ) but I managed! This is the last of my 3 kiddos beds. If you missed the first two, you can see them HERE and HERE! I have held off on this room because I wasn’t sure exactly what design I wanted but surprisingly, I was inspired by a reclaimed wood floor that I spotted in a restaurant – go figure 😉
*** Update – Free Printable Plans for this headboard are now available! Click the image below or HERE to print! And, a special thanks to Jay from Jay’s Custom Creations for creating the printable version of these plans!
So, I came home and got to work! This is seriously such an easy headboard to build. There’s really no wrong way to do it but here’s what I came up with 🙂 This headboard is for a full mattress but very easy to convert to add width or subtract for another size.
I started with a piece of 1/4″ Purebond Plywood that I had Home Depot rip down at 37.5″x52″. You can read all about why we LOVE Purebond Plywood HERE!
Next, I started cutting planks. This is a great project to use your scraps on! I chose 1×2, 1×4 and 1×6 boards and you can see in this picture that I alternated them. I put a 1×4 between each row. The first cut you make doesn’t matter, just make sure to stagger your joints as you go. I also tried to use longer pieces under rows where I used shorter pieces. The planks will fit flush around the edges of the plywood so that it is completely covered.
Next, I stained each of the boards using 4 of my favorite Varathane stains – Wheat, Early American, Dark Walnut and Kona (you can find the stains HERE on Amazon). Again, no rhyme or reason to the pattern, I just tried my best to mix them up so the same colors didn’t touch. Try to keep the pieces close to their original spots to save a headache 🙂 *** To stain these, I used a foam brush (one per color) and wiped on one-coat, let the stain sit for about 5 minutes then wiped it with a clean cloth.
Once the stain dried, I used my Corner Cat Sander to distress the edges of the planks.
Then, I glued each plank onto it’s spot on the plywood
and placed them exactly where I wanted them. You can move them around a bit while the glue is drying.
Once they were where I wanted, I used my brad nailer to shoot 1-inch nails through each of the planks – at least get a few on the ends of each plank and the center.
Once the glue was dry, I drilled 1 1/2″ Kreg Jig pocket holes into the back sides of the planked headboard (this will help attach the legs).
Then, I attached the legs with 2″ Kreg screws (the pocket holes are circled in the pictures). The legs are 2×6 boards cut at 53″. I stained the boards before attaching them to the headboard. You can use any stain for the legs, I chose Dark Walnut for mine.
Progress so far!
To dress the top up a bit, I applied a line of Gorilla Glue wood glue along the top of the headboard
and used my brad nailer with 1 1/4″ brad nails to attach a 1×3 to the top. (the 1×3 trim is cut at 65″ and centered on the headboard so that there is an overhang on the front and back side.
For the top trim, I attached a 2×4 board, cut at 67″, with 2 1/2″ spax wood screws and wood glue. I like to use my impact driver when I’m drilling into 2x boards – saves the arms! You can also use your drill for this part! This board is centered on the 1×3 so that there is an overhang on the front and back and there will also be a 1″ overhang on each end.
Here is the headboard with the trim pieces. I do recommend staining the trim pieces before you attach them – apparently I was just too darn excited to get this sucker done 🙂 It was a pain to stain it after.
I also distressed the legs once the stain was dry.
Woohoo!!!!! One last finishing touch!
What I loved so much about the restaurant floor was the exposed nail heads on each plank. So, I picked up a package of nickel thumb tacks at Home Depot – athey did the trick 😉
I just hammered them in to the corners of each plank. This part doesn’t have to be perfect, just eye ball it. I did off-set mine from plank to plank.
Now, all of my kiddos have their mattresses up off of the floor and on really cute (cool for my boys) custom beds 🙂 And, the best part is….I can start on mine!!!!! I found the quilt at Pottery Barn Teen but I don’t think it is available anymore. You can look at their quilts HERE!
I do love the platform bed that I designed for this headboard and you can find the Free Plans for that as well HERE!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Ashley
Here are the beds that I build for our other kiddos 🙂
Hi can you give me measurements for a king bed please
do you have measurements for a queen size bed
Hi there! LOVE LOVE LOVE your website!
This seems to be the “how to” for a twin bed..or…full. If I wanted to do a king sized bed headboard, what dimensions would I use? Is there an easy way to find that out? Thanks
Thank you for the pattern!! I made it this weekend and have gotten sooooo many compliments. It was so easy to make as well for an amateur!
What are the measurements for a king size?
Did you only use 4 stains for the headboard? I know you noted 4, but it looks like there’s one lighter than the Wheat stain. Thank you.
No, I just used those 4 🙂
Thank you so much. Wanting to do this in my older sons room once I get a few smaller projects under my(tool) belt first. My kreg jig came in this weekend and excited to get started
What was the final dimensions of the bed frame once you had the finished product? I am trying to figure out if I planned the conversions for a king size the right way but am just not too sure
How would you adjust the dimensions for a Queen headboard?
Here is my spin on the headboard. Thanks for the design and plans, I think it turned out awesome!
Things I changed- I Didnt have a pocket jig, so I used (3) 1×6″ boards top, middle and bottom to mount the 2×6″ to the plywood.
Also, I mounted the individual planks with screws from the back, along with liquid nails.
Just finished the headboard. I am really happy with the final product.
Thank you so much for the inspiration! I tweaked things a bit (like used 4×6 posts and didn’t cover up the nail holes with tacks) and ended up with this as a gift for my wife for our 10 year anniversary. We think it turned out great and should last us many, many years. Thank you for the detailed build info!
Looks great, do you have measurements you used for the foot board, I’m planning to make mine like yours but in a king. Just trying to get the proportions right for the foot board compared to the headboard. Also did you just satin the plywood backing on the foot board?
Thanks Brandon. Let me know which measurements you’re looking for and I’ll post them up for you. Are you looking for just the board section between the posts? On the foot board I started with the plywood, stained and attached the planks to one side, used the Kreg jig/screws to attach to the posts and then stained and attached planks on the other side. Obviously on the head board I only needed planks on one side, like the example. Let me know if you have more questions, I’m glad to help.
thanks for the info, Mostly height wise, compared to the head board, how tall did you go with the foot board. Now that I think about it what did you use as cap pieces, since you went with 4X6’s as this is my plan also. Did you line up the planked board to the front of your posts or are they off set at all. Thanks again.
My headboard I made 62″ tall and the foot board is 44″. Nothing too magical about those heights, they were just what worked for me so I could still see my TV from bed 😉 . As for cap pieces I used 1×4 on top of the head/foot board, with 2×6 on top of that to finish it off. the 2×6 is wide, but I think it fits the scale nicely. I set back the plywood/planks on the head/foot board so that the finished look has equal indent (not the right word) between the two, even though the headboard obviously has no planks on the back that faces the wall. Hope that helps, let me know if you have other questions I can help with. Good luck!
Are there plans for a twin bed?
What are the measurements for a queen size bed?
I just had to tell you- this blog has been LIFE CHANGING!!!
I have always been pretty handy and crafty, but have never tried my hand at woodworking. My husband and I just bought our first home and of course- that means lots and lots of furnishing. I saw this headboard and fell in love. I have been working on it after work all week and it is looking fabulous! Super easy project for a beginner (seriously, I had never even used a saw before this!) and also not too time consuming.
Just wanted to thank you for your amazing blogs and all the great tips- I love everything about these project and will be back for more!
Hello, I am hoping to build this bed this weekend. It will be my first
project so I’m slightly nervous :). It will be a queen bed attached to a
metal frame, with possibly building the platform at a different time.
Anyways, my question is could you please give the measurements for a
queen bed? I right now am looking at 60×48 but don’t want to be wrong.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your help!
LOVE your site.