How to Make & Shape Your Own Headboard With Plywood

Lay a piece of 1/2-inch plywood on a flat work surface. The size of the plywood sheet depends on the size of the bed you have and how tall you want the finished product. Standard twin beds measure 39 inches. A full measures 54 inches. A queen measures 60 inches. A king measures 76 inches. Make your plywood’s width equal to or larger than width of your mattress. Make the height enough to stick up above your mattress a minimum of 24 inches

Draw the desired shape of the headboard on the plywood sheet. Choose a shape that matches your room’s motif. For example, if you have a dinosaur bedroom, draw a dinosaur. For a modern look, choose a basic shape, such as a rectangle or even a circle. Cut the shape out using a jigsaw. Using medium-grit sandpaper, sand the edges of the cut-out shape.

Paint the headboard shape as desired. Start with a single, solid coat of paint. Let the paint dry for three to five hours. Apply a second coat of paint to fully cover it. Once the second coat dries, paint on any desired accents, such as additional shapes or, in the example of a dinosaur, eyes, nose and a mouth.

Hang the completed headboard on the wall. Hammer nails 1 inch in from the edge spaced every 8 inches around the edge of the cutout. Place your bed in front of the headboard.