Hanging a Headboard With Flush Mounts

Turn your headboard over to expose the back. If the headboard is smaller, or quite light, a flush mount around 5 to 6 inches in from either side is enough. If the headboard is larger or quite heavy, position a flush mount 5 to 6 inches in from both sides and another one centered as well. They should be along the top edge of the headboard.

Secure the hanging portion of the flush mount -- the side with the “tooth” facing down -- to the back of the headboard with the screws that accompany the flush mounts. If the flush mounts don’t have accompanying hardware, then a screw that is about half the thickness of the headboard frame is fine.

Draw a level line lightly on the wall at the height you want the headboard to hang. It should be high enough that the bottom edge of the headboard is at the top of the mattress.

Slot the wall mount portion of the flush mount into the hanging portion of the flush mount attached to the headboard, and fully lock the two halves together. Place two to three small balls of Blu-Tack on the back of the wall mount portion.

Lift the headboard with the assistance of a helper and position it along the wall line where you want the headboard to be when it hangs. Press the headboard against the wall, so that the Blu-Tack on the back of the flush mounts sticks to the wall, and the wall mount portion with it.

Lift the headboard up gently to unlock the flush mounts without dislodging the wall mount portions. Set the headboard aside for now. The wall mounting portions of the flush mounts will now be in the exact position needed to achieve a level, flush hang on the headboard. Pencil in the screw hole positions for all the wall mount portions.

Remove the wall mount portions of the flush mounts and drill a pilot hole sized for your screw anchors into each screw hole position you marked. Return the flush mounts to the wall, then secure with the wall mounting screws that come with the flush mounts. If no hardware came with the flush mounts, 2-to-3-inch screws should suffice.

Lift the headboard back up to the wall and slide it down until the tooth of the hanging portion of the flush mounts mates securely with the wall mount portion.