A headboard is an essential element in any bedroom decor, and it’s often the first thing people notice when they enter your room. An upholstered headboard is an excellent option to refresh your bedroom decor without replacing furniture. Here are a few things you need to know about reupholstering a headboard.
Choosing the Right Material for an Upholstered Headboard
Like any reupholstering project, picking the best material is essential when reupholstering a headboard. Here are some points to consider.
Construction and Shape of Your Upholstered Headboard
Your headboard’s construction and unique shape will affect the type of material you choose. For example, if your headboard has curves or intricate details, you may want to select a flexible material that can be easily manipulated to fit the shape. A thick or tough fabric like leather or velvet might not work best.
Fabric Durability
Consider how durable the fabric is. If you’re resting your head against the upholstered headboard or sitting up against it, you’ll want a fabric that can withstand wear and tear. If this is for a child’s headboard, you want something that will stand the test of time.
Stain Resistance
Stain resistance should be a priority if you’re prone to spills or have kids or pets. Look for fabrics treated with a stain-resistant finish or something like leather that won’t stain and can be wiped down with a damp cloth.
Cleaning and Care for Your Upholstered Headboard
Consider how easy the fabric is to clean. Can it be spot-cleaned with a damp cloth, or must it be dry-cleaned? A headboard might not seem like a high-traffic item in your home, but you’d be surprised. Oils and dirt from our bodies build up on headboards more than you think.
Colorfast
Colorfastness is one of the most essential factors of fabric quality. Ensure the fabric is colorfast so it won’t fade or bleed when cleaned or exposed to the sun. A beautiful fabric headboard with a different color behind the pillows will not do.
Current Interior Style
Ultimately, you’ll want to choose a fabric that matches your style and home decor. Consider the color scheme of your bedroom, as well as any patterns or textures that you like. For example, don’t create a beautiful, tufted headboard covered in leather if your bedroom is more country.
Stuffing and Batting
The stuffing and batting material used in your headboard beneath the fabric will affect your comfort level, especially when leaning against it. Consider whether you want a soft or firm headboard, and choose your materials accordingly. Cotton batting is relatively common in headboards.
Best Fabrics for an Upholstered Headboard
Here are some of the best fabric options for an upholstered headboard.
- Linen: Durable, breathable, and easy to clean, but can wrinkle easily.
- Velvet: Luxurious and soft, but can be challenging to clean and may show wear over time.
- Leather: Durable and easy to clean, but can be expensive.
- Cotton: Affordable, breathable, and easy to clean, but can wrinkle easily.
- Faux Leather: Affordable, easy to clean, and durable, but not as luxurious as genuine leather.
Steps to Create an Upholstered Headboard
Not all headboards are created equal, but these tips and steps should help you configure a plan to recover yours.
Materials
- Headboard
- Upholstery fabric (measure your headboard to determine the amount needed)
- Foam or padding (optional)
- Batting (optional)
- Staple gun
- Staples
- Scissors
- Screwdriver or drill (if required to remove hardware)
- Pliers (if necessary to remove old staples or tacks)
- Fabric marker or chalk
- Measuring tape
- Spray adhesive (optional)
- Buttons or tufting hardware (optional)
- Upholstery needle and thread (if adding buttons or tufting)
Step 1: Prepare the headboard
- Remove the headboard from the bed frame if attached.
- Take note of any existing fabric or padding that needs to be removed.
- If necessary, start removing any hardware or brackets using a screwdriver or drill.
Step 2: Remove any old fabric and padding
- You’ll want to carefully remove the existing upholstery fabric from your headboard while trying not to damage it. You’ll use the footprint of the old material to make a template for the new fabric.
- Use your pliers to remove any staples or tacks holding the fabric. You won’t want stragglers left behind to snag your new material or cause potential harm.
- If you plan to replace the padding or foam, remove any remaining old padding or foam. But if it’s still in good shape, leave it be.
Step 3: Measure and cut the new fabric
- Measure your headboard to determine the fabric needed, adding a few extra inches for seam allowances and wrapping around the edges.
- Lay the new fabric on a flat surface and place the old fabric on top as a template, aligning the patterns or grain as desired.
- Use a fabric marker or chalk to trace around the old fabric, adding seam allowances as needed (typically 2-3 inches).
- Cut your new material by following the lines you’ve drawn.
Step 4: Add or replace padding (this is optional)
- Measure your entire headboard to determine the foam or padding size you need.
- Cut the shape from the padding to size and place it on the headboard. To keep it in place, you can use a simple spray adhesive, which won’t slip around while recovering it.
Step 5: Add some batting (also optional)
- Measure and cut a piece of batting large enough to cover the padding you’ve added and wrap it around the edges of the headboard. This will soften the edges.
- Use a staple gun to secure the batting to the headboard’s backside. Begin near the center and work outward to maintain a tight, uniform look.
Step 6: Attach the new fabric for your upholstered headboard
- Position the new material over your padded headboard and ensure it’s centered and aligned with any patterns or grain before securing it.
- Pull the fabric tightly over the padding and batting. Use the staple gun to secure the fabric to the backside of the headboard as you did with the batting.
- When you reach corners or curves, fold the fabric neatly and staple it before trimming any excess fabric.
Step 7: Add buttons or tufting (optional)
- If you want to add buttons or tufting, mark the desired locations on the fabric.
- Use an upholstery needle and thread to sew the buttons through the fabric, padding, and headboard, pulling the thread tight to create the tufted effect.
- Secure the thread on the backside of the headboard with a knot or staple.
Step 8: Reattach any hardware and then install the headboard
- Reattach any hardware, like pins, brackets, nail heads, embellishments, etc., to the headboard using a screwdriver or drill.
- Install the headboard in place, and voila!
By following our simple step-by-step tutorial, you’ll be able to give your headboard a fresh, new look and enhance the overall appearance of any bedroom.
FAQs
These are quick answers to the most common questions about reupholstering a headboard.
How do you upholster an existing headboard?
To upholster your existing headboard, you’ll have to remove any old fabric and possibly the padding, add new foam or cushioning if necessary, and then staple the new fabric in place. If you carefully follow each step, it’s a relatively easy DIY project.
Is it easy to reupholster a headboard?
Reupholstering headboards can be challenging, but it’s doable with basic DIY skills and the right tools. Plus, our helpful tips!
How do you upholster a simple headboard?
To upholster a simple headboard, you’ll need to cut your fabric to size, lay it over the headboard, and staple it in place, starting from the center and working out.
How do you cover an existing headboard with fabric?
To cover an existing headboard with new fabric, carefully remove the old materials. Then, cut your new fabric to size and staple it in place.
Use the Best Fabric for Your Upholstered Headboard
An upholstered headboard is a great way to refresh your bedroom decor without breaking the bank. With these tips, you can choose the fabric best for you. Look through our vast selection of quality fabrics for all your projects!
Written by: Candace Osmond.