Monday, June 20, 2011

Upholstered Headboards: Go DIY & Save!


Today Barbara from the blog Hodge:podge is sharing the result of her DIY Diamond Tufted Headboard!
{I'm impressed...}


Thanks Janell for having me here at the House of Fifty blog. I have been an avid reader of your blog since I first discovered blogs about 18 mos ago. Now with the launch of your online publication House of Fifty and HOF blog I am truly honoured to be a guest!

Janell is such a DIY maven, always bringing us amazing projects she has created that end up looking like custom and expensive pieces. I was incredibly flattered when one of my DIY projects was featured alongside Janell's the HGTV website!



{ janell's }


{ barbara's }

After admiring upholstered headboards in magazines and online, I wanted to try one myself. Upholstered headboards are a great way to add a splash of colour, texture and pattern to a room. If done right, they can be the focal point for a room, adding visual interest.


Anyone who has been following my blog for a while knows I have been re-designing my eldest daughter's space at a snails pace. One major accomplishment in her room was the diamond tufted headboard I made using a polyester silk in raspberry. Even though the headboard instructions look daunting, it really isn't too difficult to make. All you need is time and patience{and maybe a glass of wine}.


Supplies needed: fabric, batting, foam, button kit, upholstery thread, wood cut into desired shape, spray glue, staple gun and jigsaw.


The cost can vary, the choice of fabric is what really determines the price. I bought this fabric on clearance for a mere $3/m. Being frugal, I managed to snag my batting on sale and instead of custom cut foam, I used camping foam.


What is diamond tufting you ask?

It is when you cut deep holes in the foam and tuft the fabric with buttons Before you upholster the fabric to the edges of the frame. Having the deep holes in the foam in combination with the loose fabric allows for gorgeous pleats to form. If you arrange your buttons in a staggered pattern than diamond pleats form, hence, diamond tufting!


I had so much fun with the first one, I made another one for my other daughter. The second headboard was made with heavy weight cotton which was Much easier to work with than the silk. I recommend using an upholstery weight fabric, it will make upholstering so much easier.


If you are dying to make one for yourself, head over to my blog where I share detailed how-to instructions. With a bit of patience, power tools and perseverance, you can have a gorgeous headboard that you can convince the neighbours you spent $$$ on.

Shh... I won't tell.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

love this diamond tufting...and tufting is one of my favorite embellishments...
also, so cool that more and more people are doing these amazing DIY projects..saves $$$ and is empowering... look what we are teaching our children!!!

maureen

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

Very interesting comment about what are we teaching our children! I sometimes am concerned, with my children having so much more than I did as a child, that I'm not able to teach them some of the lessons I know they need to learn. But you are right, Isabella now really REALLY pays attention to prices when we shop, wanting to ensure we get the ABSOLUTE best price!

Yeah! I feel better! Janell

Barbara Matson said...

Thanks for having me Janell! I appreciate the first comment! I guess that is what I grew up with, a mom, who was frugal and made things herself. We always had such a nice house! My mom was an amazing seamstress, painted furniture while my dad built our house! One thing my parents did splurge on is fabulous teak furniture which is so on-trend now!

Karena said...

Janell,

with Barbara's help I am determined to make one of these headboards!! Now to choose a fabric!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Be sure to enter my exciting Giveaway from the Artisans at Novica!

Christi said...

love the diamond tufting ... thanks for putting a diy together. the raspberry fabric is perfect!!

Victoria @ The FAT Paint™ Company and ÉdinHome said...

I've been following Barbara's blog for a while and she's always doing fantastic projects! Love her headboards!!
Victoria

Stacy CUrran said...

This is a great project! not sure I would trust myself with it, but it looks amazing!
Stacy

Camille said...

You never cease to amaze. I read your roman blind tutorial, and now this? Amazing. Really.

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

Turned out darling!

xo,
cristin

Love Design Company said...

amazing! thank you for sharing!

Carol@TheDesignPages said...

Well I adore this but am way too scared to try. Barb, you're a genius!

Angelina said...

Hi!
Beautiful headboards. It is very nice collection of headboards. I found very nice range of headboards on very cheap prices at http://www.dreambedroom.co.uk/compare_headboards.html

Anonymous said...

Amazing, I love DIY headboards; it allows you so much more creative freedom!
I've seen some amazing ones over the past couple of months, and thought it might be a good idea to write a post about headboard sizes, for anyone who wants to make their own. I know I can get confused with all the details. I just want to tuft everything!

http://www.wedo-headboards.co.uk/blog/headboard-measurements-a-buyers-guide/

There are some truly remarkable ones in your list, very inspiring!

Keep up the DIY genius! :D

Unknown said...

Absolutely beautiful post. I have also seen some new Headboards For Sale available on Beds, Mattress For Sale. Check them out :D