How to Build a Beadboard Paneled Headboard

Measure the bed frame from left to right.

Measure a longer edge of a 4-by-8 sheet of 3/4-inch thick plywood to the bed width measurement, and mark the edge with a pencil.

Make a straight-cutting line across the plywood at the mark with a carpenter’s framing square. Set one leg of the square against the long edge of the board, aligning its corner with the pencil mark. Trace the edge of the perpendicular leg of the square onto the plywood with a pencil.

Align a yardstick with the pencil line and tracing its edge, extending the line across the plywood.

Cut the plywood with a circular saw, following the pencil line.

Lay a 4-by-8 sheet of beadboard paneling on a large, flat surface, right side up with the seams or grooves running vertically or away from you. Set the cut plywood on top of the bead board. Align the left, or shorter edge, and bottom, or longer edge, of the plywood with the left and bottom edges of the bead board. Trace the outline of the plywood onto the beadboard.

Move the plywood off the paneling, and cut the paneling along the pencil lines with a circular saw.

Fill a small paint pan with wood glue. Roll a small, foam-covered paint roller through the glue to soak it.

Roll a thin layer of wood glue over one side of the paneling, completely covering it.

Place the beadboard paneling right side up on top of the glued side of the plywood, and align the edges.

Hammer 1-inch finishing nails through the seams of the beadboard and into the plywood, spacing the nails 6 inches apart. Place the tip of a nail-set tool on top of the nail heads and tap the tool with a hammer to countersink the nails.

Let the headboard assembly dry overnight.

Measure up the left side of the headboard. Measure a 1-by-2-inch board to that length, and mark it. Cut the board straight across at the mark with a circular saw. Cut another identical board.

Set one of the 1-by-2 boards on a long edge, aligned with and butted against the left side of the headboard. Fasten the board to the left side of the headboard with 2-inch finishing nails spaced 3 inches apart. Repeat on the right side of the headboard, and countersink the nails.

Measure across the full width of the headboard. Measure a 1-by-4-inch board to that length, mark it and cut it straight across with a circular saw.

Lay the board flat on the face of the headboard. Align the upper edge and ends of the board with the upper edge and sides of the headboard. Fasten the board to the headboard with 2-inch finishing nails, spaced three inches apart, and countersink the nail heads.

Measure a 2-by-4 board to the width of the headboard. Mark it, and cut it straight across with a circular saw.

Lay the 2-by-4 flat against the top of the headboard, and align the ends with the sides of the headboard. Hammer 3-inch finishing nails through the board and into the headboard, spaced three inches apart, and countersink the nail heads.