We are so thankful that Mom let us build her a new headboard for her room up at the Momplex.  It was a fun project to work on, and we really love how it turned out!!!

We (the Ram and I) went super tall with this headboard (over six feet!), so it really breaks up the room and adds some much needed architectural interest to what is otherwise just four plain walls.

And why not go super tall when you DIY a headboard?  It's the same amount of work, just a little longer boards!

Because of the grand height of this headboard, there won't be a need to do much decorating on this wall or over the headboard.  

We opted to paint the headboard the same color as the moulding, trim and doors in the room to make it easy for Mom to update the room throughout the year.

The white also makes the room appear larger and brighter - always a bonus up here in Alaska when the sun gets so scarce (forgive the grainy photos - we are sunlight deprived right now).

And who doesn't love a project that can make a preggers lady in her last month look (somewhat) normal sized, right??? (thanks for being kind!)

This lady sure does!!!

It totally made our day that Mom loved her new handmade headboard!!! 

I guess the only question left is what nightstand should we build to match?

Well, pending our newest carpenter doesn't make an early arrival.

To build this headboard, I collaborated my awesome friends over at 3MDIY to be safe and to make sure we gave this headboard the best possible finish.

Well, here's my accessories - I love 3M™ Safety Products, especially these 3M Tekk WorkTunes Ear Muffs!

And I also love the orange earplugs - they work great too!

We have a pretty good sawdust collection system set up (finally broke down and invested in a system since we build constantly) in our workspace (it's a dream come true, I tell you!) so sawdust isn't a huge issues for us, but a respirator is also recommended when cutting.

To build this headboard, first I started with a general sketch (got you covered with the full free plans below)

My most favorite way to build is with my Kreg Jig, so we circled all the spots we would need pocket holes,

And started drilling pocket holes.  The Ram's on photography duty this time - but he's building too.  

We clamp every joint, whenever possible.  You drive each joint just once, might as well do it right, right?

When the joints are clamped, it's a no brainer - just drive the screws!

After we got the frame for the headboard built, we added 3/4" PureBond Plywood for the main panel.  We chose PureBond because it's North American made, substainably harvested and formaldehyde free.

I really wanted a plywood panel because it will help keep the boards from warping, and will resist shrinking and expanding over time.

That, and it sure is pretty!!!  

Here's the main headboard done, we just have to add moulding now!

We have a pile of leftover moudling from trimming out the Momplex, so we used baseboard and header moulding.  But really - you could use just about anything to dress up your headboard.

Our header moulding ended up being just shy of corvering the top 2x4, so we threw a 1x2 board in, mitering the corners.

The moulding is just glued and nailed down.  I used 2" finish nails to attach through the 1x2.

Then we attached the header moulding underneath the 1x2s.  This really made the moulding look more substantial and grand too!

Then for the panels, we used 1" nails and glue to attach 5-1/4" tall baseboard, mitering corners.  It's the exact same baseboard we used for trimming out the floor at the Momplex.

So how do we take rough, knotty 2x4 studs mixed with leftover moulding, and make it look like this:

It's pretty simple, really.  

You just gotta have the right tools for the job!

I used 3M Advanced Abrasives in varying grits to sand, and 3M Wood Filler  to hide imperfections in the wood and fill nail or screw holes.

I filled all the nail holes with 3M Wood Filler 

And also all knots and cracks in the 2x4s with more3M Wood Filler 

Then I gave the headboard a good sanding with 3M Advanced Abrasives  sanding paper, starting with a medium, and working up to super fine.

For the moulding, I used a small piece of 3M Advanced Abrasives sandpaper to get in all spots too small for a power sander.

Then we cleaned the headboard up, getting rid of all sanding residue (it's the enemy when you paint!).

All ready for paint!!!

The Ram painted the headboard with his sprayer, stealing my 3M™ Safety Products (that's fine with me!)

Can you see how shiny that paint is???  Good sanding does that!

After we let the headboard fully dry, we moved it up the stairs into the room,

EEEK!!!

And then attached a bed frame to the headboard.  Mom had a boxspring, and with how little the room is, we opted not to do a footboard or full wood bed frame, and just use the metal bed frame.

NOTE: Due to the height of this headboard, to prevent forward tipping, it is also recommended to attach it to a stud in the wall at the top.  L brackets will do the trick.

The metal bed frame just bolts right to the headboard with lag bolts.

Mom says she feels like she's staying in a fancy hotel with the new headboard!

Don't tell her we only spent about $100 on the headboard, okay?  That'll just be between us.

And of course, the plans follow - so you can build this headboard too!!!

This post is a collaboration with 3M DIY. To keep up-to-date on projects, products and sampling visit 3MDIY.com.</p>

You can also connect with 3M DIY socially:

3M DIY Twitter Page

3M DIY Facebook Page

3M DIY YouTube Page