How to Build a Queen Size Headboard With Shelves

Having shelves in your bed headboard can eliminate the need for night stands and gives you a place to put the glasses, books and other items that often wind up on the floor next to the bed or on the night stand. A queen-size headboard with a single shelf will hold 7 1/2 square feet of material. This is a project suitable for intermediate woodworkers, or beginners with access to more experienced advice.

2 wood planks, 1" x 12" x 58"
2 wood planks, 1" x 12" x 48"
1 wood plank, 1" x12" x 36"
lumber sheet, 1/8" x 60" x 48"
Sandpaper
Finishing nails, 1 1/2 inches long
Wood glue
Hammer
Stain, varnish or paint
Paint brush

Instructions

- 1
  Sand all faces of your lumber, once with coarse grit paper and once with fine grit paper.
- 2
  Apply one coat of stain to all faces of your lumber. Allow to dry.
- 3
  Set one 48-inch plank and one 58-inch plank in an L, with the end of the 58-inch plank abutting the face of the 48-inch plank. Glue in place with wood glue. Allow to dry. Once dry, drive three evenly spaced finishing nails through the face of the 48-inch plank and into the middle of the edge of the 58-inch plank.
- 4
  Set the second 48-inch plank against the open end of the 58-inch plank, forming a C. Glue, dry and nail as you did the first connection.
- 5
  Slide the second 58-inch plank in between the 48-inch planks, parallel to and 12 inches from the other 58-inch plank. Glue, dry and nail both ends as before. This forms a headboard with a shelf at the same level as the top of your bed.
- 6
  Support the middle of your shelf by attaching the 36-inch plank to the middle of the underside of the lowest 58-inch plank. This plank will run parallel to and 29 inches away from the planks on either side. Glue, dry and nail as before.
- 7
  Set your lumber sheet on the frame with its edges flush with the edges of the frame. Glue and allow to dry. Once dry, drive in a finishing nail at each corner and four evenly spaced nails along the side and top edges.

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