A custom upholstered bedhead can instantly elevate your bedroom, creating a stylish focal point without painting a wall or replacing furniture. But while bedheads in designer stores can cost $900 to $3,000 or more, you can easily make your own for a fraction of the price. All it takes is the right materials, some patience, and a bit of DIY upholstery know-how.
At Home Upholsterer, we supply everything you need to create your dream bedhead – from foam cut to size, to upholstery fabric, Dacron fibre wrap, buttoning tools and more.
What You’ll Need
- Upholstery fabric of your choice
- MDF board (16–18mm thick), cut to bedhead dimensions
- Upholstery Foam (we recommend 50–100mm thickness for best results)
- Dacron/polyester fibre wrap (optional for a fuller, rounded look)
- Electric bread knife or Stanley knife
- Contact adhesive
- Staple gun and /shop/category/fasteners-staples-218
- Strong twine (e.g. nylon tufting thread)
- Upholstery buttons (optional, for a deep-buttoned finish)
- Dust cover/spunbonded backing fabric
- Decorative stud strip and matching decorative nails (optional)
- Mounting brackets or ensemble connectors
💡 Tip: You can order custom foam for bedheads using our foam cut-to-size calculator – just select “Bedhead” as the application type.
Step 1: Choose Your Bedhead Dimensions
Bedhead height depends on whether it’s wall-mounted or freestanding. For wall-mounted styles, measure from the top of the mattress to your desired height. Freestanding headboards usually start from the base of the ensemble.
Common Bedhead Sizes:
| Bed Size | Width | Wall-Mounted Height | Freestanding Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 100cm | 80cm | 130cm |
| Queen | 160cm | 100cm | 140cm |
| King | 190cm | 100cm | 140cm |
You can also explore curved or scalloped bedhead shapes using a jigsaw – just remember, complex cuts require confidence with power tools.
Step 2: Cut and Prepare the MDF Board
Mark your dimensions and cut the MDF to size using a jigsaw, or ask your local hardware store to do it for you. If you’re planning to add decorative buttons, mark out a grid where each button will go, and drill small holes through the board.
Step 3: Cut the Foam to Size
For a plush and professional look, we recommend 50–100mm thick foam. Deeper foam creates a more dramatic “deep-button” effect.
🧩 Don’t have a foam cutter? Use our custom foam calculator and we’ll cut your bedhead foam to size for fast delivery Australia-wide.
Secure the foam to the MDF using spray contact adhesive, ensuring the edges are clean and flush. Stack two 25mm foam layers if needed, bonding them together with glue.
Step 4: Add the Dacron (Optional but Recommended)
Dacron fibre wrap softens corners and gives a smooth, plump finish. Cut the Dacron slightly larger than the board and staple it firmly to the back, folding and securing the corners.
Step 5: Attach the Fabric
Lay your upholstery fabric face down, then layer the foam and board on top. Leave 20cm of extra fabric around each edge.
Starting at the centre of each side, pull the fabric tight and staple to the MDF. Work outward toward the corners, then trim any excess fabric and create tidy “butterfly” corners before securing them with additional staples.
Step 6: Add Buttons (Optional)
If creating a buttoned bedhead, thread twine through the pre-drilled holes using a buttoning needle or button tufter. Pull firmly to create the classic tufted look, tie off, and staple the twine at the back of the MDF.
Step 7: Finish the Back (Optional)
Cut and staple spunbond backing fabric over the rear of the board for a tidy finish that keeps dust at bay.
Step 8: Add Decorative Nail Strips (Optional)
For a classic edge, apply decorative stud strips around the visible perimeter. Use a magnetic tack hammer or padded hammer to avoid damaging the nails.
Step 9: Mounting Your Bedhead
Wall Mounting:
Install heavy-duty brackets into wall studs and secure the headboard to the wall.
Base-Mounted:
Use bedhead bracket sets to connect your new bedhead directly to the ensemble base.
You're Done – Show It Off!
You’ve just created a high-end, custom bedhead on a DIY budget! We’d love to see the results – tag us or email your photos to [email protected].
Ready to Start Your Bedhead Project?
We stock everything you need for DIY upholstery projects, including:
- Custom cut foam
- Upholstery fabrics
- Adhesives, tools & tufting supplies
- Dacron fibre wrap and spunbond
- Decorative nails and mounting brackets
🛒 Visit our DIY Upholstery Shop or come see us in our fully stocked Sydney warehouse. We ship Australia-wide.
DIY Bedhead FAQs
For a plush, professional finish, we recommend using 50mm to 100mm thick high-density foam. Thicker foam gives a deeper buttoned look and more comfort. You can order custom cut bedhead foam here.
Yes! With the right tools and materials—like foam, Dacron, fabric, and a staple gun—you can create a stylish tufted bedhead yourself. It’s a popular DIY upholstery project.
Using Dacron fibre wrap isn’t essential, but it helps soften the edges and adds a more rounded, professional look to your bedhead. It also helps reduce fabric wrinkling.
You can mount your bedhead directly to the wall using brackets or attach it to your ensemble base using bedhead connectors. Make sure to align with wall studs for a secure fit.
Home Upholsterer stocks everything you need—from custom foam and Dacron to upholstery fabrics, tools, and decorative studs. Shop online or visit our Sydney warehouse.