Tufted Headboard Tutorial

As many of you know, I had been planning on making a tufted headboard forever... Pinterest just pushed me along to get going on it as I saw these images and read through this tutorial.

***DISCLAIMER***

DO NOT make a tufted headboard by yourself when you are 7 months pregnant...Doing so will result in EXTREME exhaustion, frustration, and pinched sciatic nerves for a couple days.  Not sure if all that is worth the result, but if that can be avoided I would highly suggest it. :)

That being said, a lot of the frustration and extra work came from learning tips and tricks that I will now share with you and you won't have to learn or figure out on your own.

Materials Needed:

1/2-1/8″ Plywood
1×3-1x4″ Lumber
Foam (at least 2″ thick)
Polyester Batting Upholstery (king/queen size)
Fabric to Cover Headboard (I used a stretchy-canvas type fabric)

Fabric to Cover Buttons (make sure it is thin)
Upholstery Thread
Upholstery Needle
Button Kit and Buttons (I used 1" buttons)

Buttons (2 or 4-holed) smaller than button kit buttons

Popsicle sticks
Scissors
Wood Screws
Bolts
Staple Gun and Staples (size depending on how thick your plywood is)
Tape measure
Drill

Serrated Knife (electric ones work best)

1. Cover your buttons with fabric

This is pretty easy, it just takes a little time and you need to make sure your fabric isn't too thick or you will just ruin buttons like I did.  These buttons are pretty cheap and flimsy, so you have to be careful with them.

2. Measure your plywood and figure out where you are going to put your buttons (tufts)

3. Drill holes where the buttons are going to go.

4. Place your foam on the plywood and cut it to size.

I used old couch cushions so I had to cut them in half (I ended up using 3 halves and an extra little portion)

Using a spray adhesive to attach them to the plywood would probably make this a little easier, but I wanted to save some money so I didn't use any glue.

5. Cover the foam with your batting and staple it on the back of the plywood (tight.)

If your foam is glued on the plywood you could simply place it upside-down on top of the batting and staple the back.  If not, you will have to do what I did and flip it over carefully.

6. Set the headboard on top of your fabric (upside-down) and then staple your fabric to the back (loose so you can tuft it.)

7. Double thread your SUPER long needle and tie it on a popsicle stick.  Thread it from the back to the front of your headboard with the popsicle stick on the back (keeping the thread from going through the hole.) Use pliers to pull the needle through your headboard if you need to-I did.  Also, make sure your piece of thread is pretty long.)

8. Thread it through a button (kneel on the spot to sink the foam and create the tufted look.)  Tie it down in a double or triple knot. Leave a long piece of thread hanging to thread your pretty covered buttons through.

9. Staple the popsicle stick in place so the thread won't slide off (especially if you used weird popsicle sticks like me and snapped them in half because you were too lazy to go to the store.)

10. Duct tape the popsicle sticks with their thread for extra security (and so the thread doesn't get cut from anything sharp.)

11. Thread your covered buttons through the thread you left hanging from each button and cut off the excess.

For now, here is a preview of the headboard.  I haven't attached it to the bed yet, so I will add instructions on that when I finally do, and when I have a final picture to share of it all finished and pretty!!

I am posting this HERE