DIY Wood Plank Headboard
If you love wood and a rustic look and are looking for a new headboard, here’s an idea that’s both easy and inexpensive. Learn how to build a wood plank headboard right here.
I wanted to make this project for so long and I finally made it. To be honest I don’t like the look of a simple bed or mattress with a box spring, with no headboards and for most of my life, that’s what I had. So, I wanted to build a beautiful DIY wood headboard.
Every time I saw those gorgeous beds I was like “Oh I want that bed”. I’ve always loved pallets so I knew I had to make my own. So, I made a gorgeous wood plank headboard of my own.
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Later on, when I moved out and had my own home and started my own home decor, I created another rustic wood headboard with a little fancier look and you can also take a look.
Table of Contents
Let’s Create a Very simple Wood Plank Headboard
I need to say this. I’m not a pro at woodworking, I work with what I have and under a tight budget. When I made this, I didn’t live in my own home, so I couldn’t really start buying special or fancy tools, so I got resourceful and creative to make this project work.
The inspiration for this project to make my Wood Plank Headboard came from my dear friend Lisa from Recreated Designs. She had this amazing and creative way to make one and that was it! I was hooked! Also, my dear hubby helped me all the way. It was such a fun time together.
I knew I wanted something on a budget, something simple, something pretty, and something WHITE! I’m obsessed with white lately.
I need to be honest here. Like I said before, I don’t know if I did everything the right way. I only know I had a tight budget. I asked a carpenter that has made a few things for us, and he said it was ok. I’m sure there must be many other better ways to make this but I’m showing you the way I made it.
I also wanted to be able to easily disassemble it when I had to move out.
I have near home a home improvement store similar to Home Depot. They sell wood in long strips of wood about 3.9 mt. {156 In.} with a really good price. You can also choose the width and thickness.
What I Love the most about that place is that they have a cutting area where they will cut the wood to the correct length we desire for a small fee. I knew that was the place. You might be able to find that too at your local hardware store.
How to Make a Wood Plank Headboard
Supplies:
- 6 wood boards 150 X 14 cm X 2 cm – 59 X 5.5 X 0.8 In. I used pinewood because I love the natural wood marks and holes.
- 2 pieces of wood slats 5 cm X 5 cm X 90 cm – 2 x 2 x 35 In. For support on the back
- 6 sets of bed brackets – I used the screw type, not the hook one. Also, the store only had 4 so I had to improvise with the corners.
- Wood Screws – Lots of them. Usually, corners and bed brackets bring their own but just in case
- White mate indoors and outdoors paint.
- Transparent mate sealant spray.
- Thick brush.
- A Towel – one that you can dispose of later.
- Wood 150 grit sandpaper.
- Painting Tray
- Protective plastic or cardboard
Tools:
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Hammer
Instructions:
Step1: Prep Work
I got the wood cut at the home improvement store all in the measures I needed them.
*If you a more rustic look, you can check Lisa’s headboard tutorial, she gives you great tips to achieve it. Mine is not so rustic.
The first step is to sand down the edges and corners of each board so it won’t be so sharp and kind of give a small rustic look.
Once each piece has been sanded up, clean each strip to remove all the dust.
Step 2: Paint the wood planks
I wanted the wood grain marks to be visible and yet a white look So a wood stain is ideal.
You can create this effect by watering down latex paint. I made it a 1:1 proportion of paint and water.
Start painting each board. To get the look I wanted it took 3 coats letting each coat dry for a few minutes.
You might ask why watering the paint down if I’m applying so many coats. Well, the paint as they come is really thick and it would cover completely the wood in one coat. When you water it down, you create a stain, the wood absorbs slowly the paint and water in each coat and reveals the marks.
Also, by doing this you measure how much you want the white to show up.
Let the paint dry for a couple of hours.
Step 3: Wash down the paint
Then with a damp towel rub lightly each board. This makes the paint more evenly and allows you to reveal more wood marks in specific places that might have too much paint.
Let it dry again completely.
Step 4: Seal each wood plank
Spray the transparent sealant. It dries really quickly so this is an easy process.
Just to be sure let it dry for about 30 min so the smell goes away a bit too.
Step 5: Assemble the wood plank headboard
The final step is adding the support pieces.
Lay all the boards together back side up in the order you want them.
Measure about 20 cm {8 to 10 In.} from the edges toward the center and draw a line along all the boards.
This helps to have a guide to keep boards in place and then to place the support piece.
As I said I wanted a pallet-looking headboard to be easy to dissemble, so we used bed brackets. I also didn’t want screw heads visible and this was the best option. But you can just screw them together.
This part is totally up to you. You can definitely use nails to attach the support slats to the planks and use wood glue to reinforce and make it stronger.
I’ll explain how we did it with the bed brackets.
Place the support piece in place following the line but the line should be visible on the end side.
Place the bed brackets between one support slat and over 2 planks and with a pencil, trace the borders and holes on both: boards and support pieces.
For better results do this process with all the brackets and corners.
Start screwing on all the pieces.
This is how it should look like:
Also, I’m so control freak and paranoid that I even added some extra flat joints between planks in the center just in case LOL. My hubby was like “UGH”.
We placed all the joint pieces inside the back of the headboard between the support pieces so from the sides nothing would be visible.
There you go!!!! The painted pallet headboard is ready!!!
… well almost ready.
Step 6: Install your brand new wooden headboard
I didn’t want to damage the wall so I added some felt pads to the back of the support.
Put it against the wall behind your bed and…
Tadaaaaa… Now the headboard is ready to ROCK!!!!!
Crafting Tips
You can use pallet wood planks instead of new wood planks for this project. You will just need ways to keep them together. Pocket holes or brackets are good options.
If you would like more space between planks use a small piece of wood as spacers before screwing down the corner bracket joints.
You can just use natural wood color stains to create a focal point or an accent piece.
To make different bed size headboards you just need the size of the bed and add a few more inches. My bed is full but this can be turned into a twin bed, queen bed, and even king size bed. Just follow the same step-by-step instructions.
I so LOVE LOVE LOVE how my diy wood headboard turned out! It was an awesome addition to our bedroom!!!
I would like to know your thoughts in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
It will vary depending on the type of headboard you are aiming for. This one It will take you less than a day and cost less than $50 to make. It could go up or down depending on the details, type of wood, etc.
In general, Pine or Poplar wood are the best choices when you are on a budget. Both are easy to work with and strong enough to build a bed frame. In this case, I used Pinewood planks, you can use new wood boards or pallet wood, or even reclaimed wood. But in some cases, plywood can be used too.
It’s hard to say for sure. Again, it will depend on the headboard you are making. You can just varnish and let the wood color shine, you can stain in other wood shades, you can use oil-based paints, and chalk paint among other ideas.
If you have been wondering if a wood headboard might be too hard when compared to a fabric headboard with foam cushions then I can tell you that, although it feels different than an upholstered headboard, we have found that the wooden headboard is surprisingly comfortable. Also, wood is also easier to clean than upholstery, and more durable too!
More Woodworking Projects to Try
If you like this wood plank headboard tutorial, you might also love these other woodworking project ideas too:
✂️ Tutorial
DIY Wood Plank Headboard
Tools
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Hammer
Supplies
- 6 wood boards 150 X 14 cm X 2 cm – 59 X 5.5 X 0.8 In. I used pinewood because I love the natural wood marks and holes.
- 2 pieces of wood 5 cm X 5 cm X 90 cm – 2 x 2 x 35 In. For support on the back
- 6 sets of bed brackets – I used the screw type not the hook one. Also, the store only had 4 so I had to improvise with the corners.
- Wood Screws – Lots of them. Usually corners and bed brackets bring their own but just in case
- White mate indoors and outdoors paint.
- Transparent mate sealant spray.
- Thick brush.
- A Towel – one that you can dispose of later.
- Wood sandpaper.
- Painting Tray
- Protective plastic or cardboard
Instructions
- STEP1: PREP WORK
- I got the wood cut at the home improvement store all in the measures I needed them.
- The first step is to sand down the edges and corners of each board so it won’t be so sharp and kind of give a small rustic look.
- Once each piece has been sanded up, clean each strip to remove all the dust.
- STEP 2: PAINT THE WOOD PLANKS
- I wanted the wood marks to be visible and yet a white look So a wood stain is ideal.
- You can create this effect by watering down latex paint. I made it a 1:1 proportion of paint and water.
- Start painting each board. To get the look I wanted it took 3 coats letting each coat dry for a few minutes.
- You might ask why watering the paint down if I’m applying so many coats. Well, the paint as they come is really thick and it would cover completely the wood in one coat. When you water it down, you create a stain, the wood absorbs slowly the paint and water in each coat and reveals the marks.
- Also, by doing this you measure how much you want the white to show up.
- Let the paint dry for a couple of hours.
- STEP 3: WASH DOWN THE PAINT
- Then with a damp towel rub lightly each board. This makes the paint more evenly and allows you to reveal more wood marks in specific places that might have too much paint.
- Let it dry again completely.
- STEP 4: SEAL EACH WOOD PLANK
- Spray the transparent sealant. It dries really quickly so this is an easy process.
- Just to be sure let it dry for about 30 min so the smell goes away a bit too.
- STEP 5: ASSEMBLE THE WOOD PLANK HEADBOARD
- The final step is adding the support pieces.
- Lay all the boards together back side up in the order you want them.
- Measure about 20 cm {8 to 10 In.} from the edges toward the center and draw a line along all the boards.
- This helps to have a guide to keep boards in place and then to place the support piece.
- As I said I wanted the pallet headboard to be easy to dissemble, so we used bed brackets. I also didn’t want screw heads visible and this was the best option. But you can just screw them together. This part is totally up to you.
- I’ll explain how we did it with the bed brackets.
- Place the support piece in place following the line but the line should be visible on the end side.
- Place the bed brackets between 2 planks and with a pencil, trace the borders and holes on both: boards and support pieces.
- For better results do this process with all the brackets and corners.
- Start screwing on all the pieces.
- Also, I’m so control freak and paranoid that I even added some extra flat joints between planks in the center just in case LOL.
- We placed all the joint pieces inside the back of the headboard between the support pieces so from the sides nothing would be visible.
- There you go!!!! The painted pallet headboard is ready!!!
- … well almost ready.
- STEP 6: INSTALL YOUR BRAND NEW WOODEN HEADBOARD
- I didn’t want to damage the wall so I added some felt pads to the back of the support.
- Put it against the wall behind your bed and…
- Tadaaaaa… Now the headboard is ready to ROCK!!!!!
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Til’ next time…
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