How to Add Headboard and Footboard to Bed

Remove the box springs and mattress from your bed frame.

Pull the bed frame away from the wall to give yourself enough space to work.

Stand up the headboard at the end of the bed and align it with the holes in the bed frame's bracket. The headboard might have multiple holes to accommodate different-size bed frames. Have a second person hold the headboard so it doesn't tip over.

Insert the screws or bolts and washers that came with the headboard into the holes and tighten them in a clockwise motion with a screwdriver, Allen wrench or an Allen key that came with the headboard. It's helpful to only tighten the bolts halfway at first to make sure the bolts all fit in and that the headboard is level.

Stand up the footboard at the other end of the bed and align it with the holes in the bed frame's bracket. Attach the footboard to the bracket with bolts or screws, using the same technique as with the headboard.

Place the box springs and mattress back on your bed frame.

Slide the bed back in place against the wall.