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DIY Hacks: Why Buy What You Can Make?

With a bit of creativity and an armful of supplies, you can easily craft some very convincing knock-offs of the furnishings you covet most (13 Photos)

Kristine Solomon on Jul 7, 2011 at 1:59PM

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West Elm

Upholstered Headboard

West Elm’s sophisticated Nailhead Upholstered Headboard had us dreaming up ways to create our own DIY version. Aside from saving on the $349 to $599 price tag, making your own headboard gives you the freedom to select any fabric you choose. This is one project, though, that will require the use of power tools, as plywood is the substrate of choice for headboards; you’ll need to cut your plywood to the correct dimensions. In lieu of plywood (and power tools), you can use foam core board. Bear in mind, a foam core headboard won’t have the heft or long-term durability of plywood – but to the naked eye, it’ll appear identical. The good thing about West Elm’s headboard is that it’s symmetrical and doesn’t require that you carve out any intricate shapes. A layer of batting, followed by a layer of fabric adhered to the plywood substrate with a staple gun -- or to the foam core substrate with fabric glue -- followed by a trim of nailheads are all it takes to duplicate this stately beauty. Click here for a tutorial on how to make a headboard using plywood, and here for a tutorial on how to make a headboard using foam core board.