How to Make a Headboard Out of Cabinets

Building a Base for the Headboard

• 1

  Measure the width and height of the bed and the depth of the cabinets.

• 2

  Cut six legs for the base from 4-by-4 posts. From plywood or MDF, cut two rectangles the width of the bed and depth of the cabinets.

• 3

  Lay one of the plywood rectangles on your work surface, and set the other aside. Attach a leg at each corner pointing upward, plus two legs at the center for extra support. Attach L brackets to two sides of each leg, with the longer part of the bracket along the legs and the shorter portion attached to the plywood.

Preparing and Mounting the Cabinets

• 4

  Remove all hardware and sand the finish on the cabinets to prepare them for priming and painting. Wipe off any sawdust with a tack cloth.

• 5

  Place one cabinet at each end of the base, and screw into place.

• 6

  Place the second plywood rectangle on top of the mounted cabinets, and screw into place.

• 7

  Cut another piece of plywood slightly larger than the opening left between the two cabinets and screw it into place from the back side.

Finishing the Headboard

• 8

  Cut wooden trim to fit around the top edge of the cabinets and top shelf. Attach with finishing nails.

• 9

  Fill the nail holes with wood filler. When dry, sand the surface smooth and wipe the surface with a tack cloth.

• 10

  Prime the entire headboard, and apply at least two coats of paint. Once dried, rehang the cabinet doors.

• 11

  In the area between the cabinets, use picture-hanging hardware to mount a large mirror or bulletin board.

• 12

  Finish the cabinets with hardware that matches your bedroom decorating scheme.