How to make a velvet headboard

Give your bedroom a touch of retro glam with a velvet headboard in a bright jewel tone. It's a touch of opulence that works well in a light, contemporary space. The bedhead looks high end but is budget friendly, as it's made from plywood ‘fingers’ covered with wadding and fabric. You can easily customise it for any size bed by adding or removing ‘fingers’.

WATCH: Daniela make a velvet headboard

Before

Cut ply into 7 strips 200mm wide and 1200mm long with a circular saw. Cut a shorter 200mm wide strip as a template for asymmetrical curve on 6 of the strips.

Step 2

On 1 strip, use bowl and pencil to trace a curve at the top with peak centred on strip. This is the centre strip. On template, do curve with peak slightly offset. Cut the curves with jigsaw.

Step 3

With template, mark asymmetrical curve on end of other 6 ply strips.

Step

Smooth cut edges with sanding sponge.

Cut the strips with the offset curves to length. Make the first pair 30mm shorter than middle piece, then the next pair 60mm shorter and so on. Mark number of its position (1-7) on back of each strip.

Step 6

Spray adhesive on front of strips.

Step 7

Lay each strip, adhesive side down, on wadding. Trim with 50mm overhang all around.

Step 8

Position each strip, wadding side down, on wrong side of velvet and cut with 100mm extra all around. Bring up wadding and fabric to back of strip on 1 side and staple from centre to curve, pulling fabric taut as you go.

Step 9

Make neat tucks and staple fabric over the curve. Continue stapling fabric to cover strip.

Step 10

Lay all strips face down in numerical order. Cut 19mm pine into three 1300mm lengths, lay on strips and clamp to hold.

Step 11

Predrill through cross pieces into strips with countersinking drill bit, then join using 30mm screws.

Step 12

Cut 2 legs to length from 19mm pine so base of bedhead will sit just below top of bed. Sit on cross pieces 20mm from ends, predrill and screw together.

Step 13

Cut beading to run along ends of cross pieces, predrill and screw in place.

Use 25mm angle brackets to attach bedhead to the wall, attaching to top cross rail and preferably inserting into wall studs.

The final results.

Velvet and timber go hand in hand – think of shapely sofas with curvy legs and plush dark wood armchairs. Here, the fabric lends opulence to a room decorated with Scandi-style pieces.

The before and after.

You might also like:

10 amazing headboards to buy now

How to make a Scandi-style bedside table

Adam and Melissa's bedroom makeover

Plus, your chance to win

Plus, your chance to win