How to Make a High Arch Upholstered Headboard

Measure the width of your bed and the desired height of your headboard at its highest point. Cut a template from kraft paper and experiment with it on the wall to determine the exact height you want for the headboard. At a home improvement or contractor supply store, have a piece of half-inch thick plywood cut to your desired height and width specifications.

Draw the arch on the plywood using a pencil. Alternatively, cut a piece of kraft paper to the desired curvature to use as a stencil. Tape it to the board using masking tape and then cut the plywood and paper along the curved edge, using a jigsaw.

Position the two-inch thick foam on the plywood frame. Trim the foam to the same dimensions as the plywood frame, using scissors. Be particularly careful to follow the line of the headboard's arch.

Wrap quilt batting over the foam and around the frame, stapling at the back of the headboard with a staple gun. Pull the batting tightly to create a gentle taper at the edges of the headboard.

Wrap the entire piece in fabric, and staple behind the headboard as you did with the batting.

Add D rings to the back of the plywood, if desired, to mount the headboard to the wall. If your bed is up against a wall you can also lean it against the wall and push the bed firmly against it to hold it in place. Alternatively, secure it to the bed frame with long screws.