Sometimes I feel like talking about upholstered headboards in blog land is a little bit like saying, “Hey, did you hear? Tiger Woods is lyin’ cheatin’ philanderer.”
It seems everyone has talked about upholstered headboards and how much we all love them. And let’s face it. Upholstered headboards are FAB-U-LOUS. Every retailer from Jonathan Adler to Tar-jay has one for you to ogle over.
Then I got to thinking. There are a lot of upholstered headboards out there with really amazing curves. Here are a few dramatic shapes that really inspire me, and I think perhaps could be recreated with careful execution with a jigsaw. Much of the piping and trim is tricky, but these curves certainly inspire me to get jiggy with my jigsaw again.
Restoration Hardware
via Decorpad
If you’re talented on the sewing machine, make a complimentary skirt !
Better Homes and Gardens
House Beautiful
Urban Outfitters
Decorpad
This greek key pattern on a clean white fabric headboard could also be mimicked with a fabric marker for the design, ribbon, a glue gun or fusible webbing, and a whole lot of patience.
Decorpad
But who says you need a jigsaw ? Square is perfectly wonderful too.
Better Homes and Gardens
With a little fabric, foam, batting and a plywood base, you can recreate a designer look in an upholstered headboard, for much less. But y’all know this already – there are so many creative DIY fabric covered headboards to be seen out there. Just Google it – you’ll be amazed. I was !
But speaking of achieving the look for less, many of you wanted the cost breakdown on yesterday’s tufted headboard. Here goes: Calico Corners fabric (1 4/8 yards) $45; plywood $15; batting $8 with coupon; 2” foam $40 with coupons; button cover kits $12. The rest of the supplies I had on hand. Total = $120.
The choice to use an upgraded fabric and 2 inch foam made it more expensive than it could be, but compared to retail, I still feel like I got a pretty good deal.
Not bad for $120 buckaroos !
Love your headboard! I love reading American design blogs and seeing the differences with the UK. Upholstered headboards are really not fashionable at the moment here, I think we’re all still reeling from having them as standard in the 1980’s! Sleigh beds on the other hand are massive!
Loving Numbers 1, 2, 8 and 11.
Not sure about the practicality of Number 11 though. It looks gorgeous but the height of the bedhead behind a person sitting in bed may not be high enough.
Also, just wanted to say how much I am inspired by your blog. Everything you do is amazing and your detailed posts about how you do things is greatly appreciated.
It’s gorgeous and custom made! I will be attempting one this Spring for the master bedroom. Hubby is really excited about it.
Your headboard is beyond gorgeous! (And it looks WAY richer than $120!)
Just gorgeous!
You did get a bargain! And you can be so much more proud of the piece because YOU made it!!! :)
I do love the look. If I had one, it would have to be in a guestroom. I tend to sit on my bed, hair wet and propped on the headboard. I know, bad idea…but old habit. Lucky for me our bed was handcrafted by my husband’s uncle and he knew of my habit. The wood has been treated for wet bedhead!
I am LOVING those LOVE pillowcases from the countryliving photo, anyone have an idea as to where they’re from?
I saw that someone used an egg carton mattress (doubling it up and putting the eggy sides together) to make theirs because it was cheaper. And the red velvet one looks like it might belong on a hoochie ranch!! lol All of these headboards are sure making me feel like I need a new look to my room . . . thanks for sharing!
Wonderful pics, Kate! Thanks again for sharing!
I can never get enough of upholstered headboards! And help love what you’ve done on your own. Looks just as good the retail pieces!
I’m definitely leaning toward the square headboards. They look fabulous. I love the sleek modern look to them that fits into my slightly Midcentury modern look that I’m going for. Thanks for the breakdown on pricing.
Beautiful! all these photo’s made me gasp with excitement:) I so hope to be able to make one of these when we move into our first home soon. thanks so much for the post, it gives me all sort of inspiration!
oooh, all those curves are so so pretty! makes me want to do a different one for every room!
I love most the square, tufted headboards – esp the ones covered in patterned fabric. But, the curvy ones have so much drama! I don’t think I could commit to one for our bedroom, but love the look of them.
Now I’m confused. Should I just slipcover my square headboard or should I cover it with new fabric and tuft it. Or maybe I should change the shape . . . Decisions, decisions. As a Libra, I’m going to have to think about the options, but many thanks for the inspiration. Love the one you did btw.
Oh, gosh. This post really has me thinking! I upholstered the headboards in our guest room, but now I’m thinking they need to be re-done. . . could I really use a jigsaw for more than a simple curve? I dunno, but it’s feeling like it might be worth one piece of plywood to find out. . . .
As usual, thanks for the inspiration!
Oooh yeah, upholstered headboards, are so much better when they have cuurrrves…. Nicely done.
Kristina
Sweetfern Handmade
I’m getting ready to redo my headboard and I LOVE all the ones you’ve featured here!! My husband made our headboard out of an old door and I’ve loved the rustic look for so long, but I’m thinking fabric would make it pop!
I love your headboard – better than most of the inspiration photos in fact, as I found them a bit curvy and yours was just right. Way to go.
Ummm, I don’t want to be a spoil sport but I do want to give you a warning about upholstered head boards (your looks gorgeous by the way) If you do a lot of reading in bed then you will find that where you place your head on the headboard might get a smudgy look. Women use so much product in their hair now that it can transfer to the cloth headboard (over several months) and make it look dirty (as I found out from experience). After cleaning it I ended up having to put our upholstered headboard into the guest bedroom and buying a wood headboard for ourselves.
One of these headboards would look great in my guest room.
Not bad at all $120!!! Great job! It is beautiful and fits right in with the magazine photos.
-Trish
loving these. makes me want to throw away my bedframe i have now and make one with hubby!
LOVE the curvy ones….I am planning on making one this weekend and was just wondering how the border is made on them? Specifically the sixth one pictured? Any suggestions or tips how to achieve this look?? THANKS!!
You might be talking about a popular subject here but you sure beat the crowd with this awesome gallery of different styles and designs of upholstered headboards.
The “House Beautiful” would be my pick and really blend in well with my bedroom design.
Oooh lovely eye candy! I liked your inspiring post so much I linked it to my “headboards – upholstered” post too!
The BHG headboard is everything!