Found: A Velvet Headboard DIY That Doesn’t Involve Channel Tufting

Don’t worry, it’s just as decadent.
yellow headboard green bedroom

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“You will never find our space white-on-tan-on-cream—it’s not our jam,” says Austin Carrier, one half of design duo Hommeboys alongside his husband, Alex Mutter-Rottmayer. “Color is just our thing.” It should come as no surprise, then, that boring old headboards aren’t their jam, either. When it came time to revamp their bedroom, they knew they wanted to make a splash. 

The couple went back and forth on ideas, originally leaning toward something channel tufted, before inspiration struck in the form of Rejuvenation’s pill-shaped mirror. “Once that came into play, it changed everything,” explains Mutter-Rottmayer. They settled on a snakelike shape that wrapped the mirror seamlessly into it, picked two complementary fabrics, and got to cutting. 

The Art Deco–inspired design was not without its challenges. For one, the fabric showed up the day before they had planned to reveal the space. (“Let’s just say it was a long night,” says Carrier.) The project is surprisingly easy—as long as you have the right tools. “If you’re using a hand stapler, your wrists will not thank you later,” cautions Mutter-Rottmayer, who suggests splurging on an electric carving knife instead of a box cutter. Here’s everything they did to get their bed frame just right.

colorful bedroom with ochre headboard
Photography by Hommeboys

The Supplies

  • Medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
  • Upholstery batting
  • Fabric of choice (they used two from Fabricut and Stroheim Fabrics: Linear and Epicure Linen Velvet)
  • High-density foam (they used 2-inch thickness)
  • Electric carving knife
  • Spray adhesive
  • Fabric scissors
  • Tape measure
  • Jigsaw
  • Router (if you want to get fancy with the details)
  • Pneumatic or hand staple gun
  • Staples
  • Sandpaper 
  • Pencil
  • Construction adhesive

Step 1: Set the Silhouette

cutting wood
Photography by Hommeboys

cutting wood
Photography by Hommeboys

Determine your shape—they used a virtual design program called Autocad, basing dimensions off the mirror and the bed, to create it. Then cut your forms out of 1/4-inch MDF, tracing them out with a pencil according to the predetermined parameters. (It’s the best material to work with for getting custom shapes since it’s easy to cut—because you’ll be applying foam, it needs to be slightly rigid.) Lightly sand the edges to get rid of any sharp parts. 

Step 2: Create a Cushion

gluing foam to wood
Photography by Hommeboys

Lay the foam on top of your forms, tracing and cutting it to match using an electric carving knife. Using the spray adhesive, glue the foam pieces to the MDF.

Step 3: Add the Batting

sticking batting to wood
Photography by Hommeboys

wood board
Photography by Hommeboys

Cover each shape with upholstery batting to soften the edges (you don’t want the imperfect cuts showing through the fabric). It will also help the upholstery stick better when it gets stretched out over the whole structure. 

Step 4: Trace the Pieces

oval board covered in striped fabric
Photography by Hommeboys

oval boards covered in ochre fabric
Photography by Hommeboys

Lay out the fabrics you’re using with the backsides facing up (designate one pattern for the ovals and the other for the waves). Put each board on top and cut the textile to fit, leaving a border of at least 1 to 2 inches to fold over the board. Don’t snip it too close! Then wrap the cloth around each shape and attach it on the back with a pneumatic stapler (spare your fingers the heavy lifting). 

Step 5: Hang It Up

ochre headboard
Photography by Hommeboys

 

Once every piece is covered, spread construction adhesive on the back of the boards and press them onto your wall according to your design. Put some chairs or other heavy objects up against them so they don’t fall over while they dry. When everything is set, you’re good to bring in the rest of your furniture—and get ready for your most luxurious sleep yet. 

See more DIYs we love:  I’m No DIY Pro, But This IKEA Hack Took Me 10 Minutes Flat Upgrade Mismatched Planters With This Super-Easy DIY This DIY Installation Is the Only Bridal Shower Decor You Need

Elly Leavitt

Writer and Editor

Elly enjoys covering anything from travel to funky design (tubular furniture, anyone?) to the latest cultural trend. Her dream apartment would exist on the Upper West Side and include a plethora of mismatched antique chairs, ceramic vessels, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases—essential to her goal of becoming a poor man’s Nora Ephron. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.