Cardboard Headboard

I made this cardboard headboard back in 2018, yes 5 years ago! It has surprisingly even been through a move, and it’s still in good condition! At the time I used everything I already had, so minimal costs were involved. Back in 2018 Mr. Sustainably Amber and I sold our home and downsized to a small apartment. We were looking for a change in lifestyle, without all the ‘stuff’. This was before I started sharing ideas on Sustainably Amber. So everything wasn’t all documented but I’m going to show you how you can make your own easy! 

Before I share the tutorial did you know that headboards date back to the Pharaoh’s in Egypt. They were used as a barrier from the cold and even as a sign of social status back in the day. Today they are purely aesthetic, in my case maybe a social status for reusing!? 

Step 1: You’ll need to decided how tall you want your headboard to be. I would suggest sitting on your mattress with your back to the wall. Make a small mark slightly above your head. Then you’ll need to decide how far into the back of the mattress you want the headboard to sit at. I like to tuck mine a little into the back of the mattress. I think it looks a bit more cohesive that way. Once you have that figured out measure to the top of your head mark. I have a king size bed (and a tall husband) so mine is about 3 feet in height. Also measure the length of your mattress. Mine happens to be 76 inches. Write your measurements down somewhere handy. 

Step 2: You’ll need to decide on a design. You can easily google headboard shapes, or get some ideas on the below photo. 

Step 3: Get your cardboard out. I used one large piece that came with my bed frame.  Having one large piece I did feel make it a bit more sturdy. However you could easily tape a few cardboard pieces together if you don’t have one large one. 

Inspect for any bugs, especially inside the corrugated sides. Then draw your design and cut out to your measurements you wrote down in step 1. Don’t worry about getting super smooth cuts here because you’ll be wrapping it soon. 

Step 4: This is where the softness of the headboard comes into play. I put 3 layers on mine. 

First, a basic foam mattress topper. Mine was a very basic one that wasn’t super thick. To get it to stick to the cardboard I actually used a hot glue stick believe it or not. Make sure you wrap it around the backside of the cardboard though. Secure with a few drops of hot glue every few inches.  I only suggest a few drops because this will melt the foam a bit. 

Second, I added a batting layer over the foam. (Although this step could be optional.) It was the same steps as above but I secure the back ends with tape on this step.  It was secured with basic packaging tape. With the exception of the round corners. I used duct tape for those parts. Mostly because I knew these points would have the most pressure and I didn’t want the material to pop off. 

Third, I added my fabric. To get the fabric to look smooth around the edges you can see I cut small segments especially around any curves. At this point I had run out of glue and tape so I used staples. At the time I wasn’t expecting the staples to hold. However the same staples have been on 5 years so I think it worked. I think it helped that the staples had 3 layers to grab into. 

Step 5:  Attaching it to the wall. Velcro command hooks worked like magic (and also great if you’re a renter.)  I would suggest adding a little extra (super) glue to the back of the command hook that is attached to the cardboard only. I did find over time that was the only part that popped off. Once I added the glue it never fell off again. Once it’s glued to the cardboard side then add your velco pieces together. I added 4 that was evenly spaced out. 

(Don’t bother trying to add the other velco piece to the wall side, you’ll be there forever trying to line them up properly.) 

Then take your sticky side off and attach the entire thing to the wall. It helps here if you have a second pair of eyes to make sure it’s level. Make sure to firmly press into the command hooks, that way it will be sure to stay attached to the wall. 

That’s it! Well I also added some flexible lights around mine for some ambience. It also makes for a good reading light as well. 

I always get a lot of compliments from family and friends that see the headboard. Most are amazed that it’s mainly made from cardboard. After 5 years of use, it has still stood up (even after a move too!) Here’s to show you what a little cardboard and some imagination can do. 

If you enjoy cardboard projects, then be sure to check out my decor ‘fireplace’ here. 

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