Introduction

Short on headboard ideas? This Seriously Cheap series shows some easy decoration ideas to add a bit of pizazz to that space above the head of your bed. Each of these ideas can be used as the headboard alone, or as an added touch to the wall area at the head of the bed.

Wikipedia says “The headboard is a piece of furniture that attaches to the head of a bed. Its most basic function is to retain the pillow(s) and other bed linens.” I believe a headboard need not be a bulky piece of furniture, nor does it need to keep pillows in place. Creating a headboard is the perfect way to anchor the bed visually and help define the spaces of a room. If it happens to look good while doing so, then all the better!

Part 1 – Using upholstery tacks as a headboard or decoration

Upholstery tacks come in different finishes, styles and elevations. You may be surprised at all the options on the market today.

The finishes include brass, pewter, gold, and nickel and are all quite beautiful. There are countless head styles available ranging from the unadorned and flat to highly decorated. Tacks also feature varying head elevations (projections, or how far out they are raised above the surface).

One thing almost all upholstery tacks have in common is that they are really inexpensive. I don’t mean $100 inexpensive either; I mean $5 or less inexpensive. Locally, you’ll find tacks as low as $2 for a pack of 25 at home improvement and department stores. Rarer finds at specialty stores may come with a rarer price tag, but still surprisingly affordable.

Let’s make it happen!

1. Choose your style.

What goes best with your current decor may be the deciding factor in your tack style choice. If your door knobs and drawer pulls are mostly nickel in tone, you may want to choose tacks in a similar finish. If your room needs a bit more punch, perhaps a gold finish would look better.

Check out some places online for a wider selection than what you may find at your local stores. Here are some example shops with nice varieties:

• Click to visit this external linkGolden’s Antique Supply
• Click to visit this external linkVan Dyke’s Restorers
• Click to visit this external linkUpholstery Stuff
• Click to visit this external linkBob’s Western Store

2. Measure twice. Purchase accordingly.

It’s a good idea to have some measurements in mind before making your tack purchase. Measurements will vary according to the width of your bed. Standard mattress widths are twin: 39″, full: 54″, queen: 60″ and king: 76″ (the California King mattress is 72″ wide). It’s OK to use a measurement that’s a bit wider than your mattress so the tacks extend out a few inches on either side of the bed.

After determining your bed width and desired headboard width, decide how high you’d like the headboard to extend. There is no limit with this type of headboard as you may find with clunky furniture pieces. A really tall tack headboard design can add a lot of drama to a room.

Now it’s time to determine how many tacks you’ll need. A simple rule of thumb is to use 1 tack per every 2 inches of space. This is a decent amount of spacing for a tack that’s, say, 3/8″ in diameter but may be too small for a tack that’s 1″ in diameter. For a full-sized bed, a headboard height of 2 feet, and tacks that are 3/8″ in diameter, you’ll need about 324 tacks.

Whoa! That sounds like an awful lot of tacks to have to purchase. Remember, though, at such low prices, a full headboard (using the example numbers above, 13 packs, and 24 tacks per $2 pack) will run you about $26. That’s not a bad price for such fancy decorating!

3. Just press ‘em in.

That’s it. Just press the tacks into place right into the wall (use a laser level to keep things lined up nicely). Usually, the tacks can be pressed easily with the force of thumb pressure. If you are considering using lots of tacks, you may wish to use a mallet instead of your fingers. While many tack brands can withstand the force and friction of a hammer, mallets have wider, softer heads, thereby reducing the chance of damaging the tack heads. It’s also less noisy to use a mallet versus a hammer.

4. Step back; enjoy; take a picture.

You’re done! Take a step back and be proud of your new decor. Be sure to take some before and after shots and share your designs with us!

Questions

I’d like to try this, but I’m afraid of the repair work on my wall if I decide to change my decor later.

That’s a valid point. You could end up with 100 or more little holes in the wall with this process. Fear not. A light application of drywall joint compound smoothed over the holes will fill them in very quickly. For an investment of a few dollars, a small container of joint compound is the miracle hole-in-the-wall cure.

I live in a rental space and cannot damage my walls. Can I still use this technique?

Absolutely! If you would rather not poke a few hundred holes in your wall, opt for a backer instead. Stain a piece of inexpensive plywood or MDF (medium-density fiberboard) and press in the tacks the same as you would press them into the wall. Attach the board to the wall with 4 screws (4 holes versus 300) or even with velcro if you use a backer that’s light enough. (See my post on How to Use “Hercules Hooks” for hanging items on the wall.) This process involves a bit more effort, but the results can be stunning. Ask your friendly home improvement store employee for help finding other backer options.

Feeling particularly artsy?

Add a little extra spice to your headboard design with these additional tips:

Mix-n-match

If you got a chance to view the links posted above, you probably saw the tip of the iceberg when it comes to upholstery tack styles… and that was a lot. So why not mix and match the styles you choose to use in your headboard design? Try using a simpler style of tack as the main body of your design and a more ornate style as a border.

Make patterns

Take things a step further by creating fun patterns in your design. Try the tip above, then add a solid square in the center using the ornate tacks. With tacks in a different finish, try your hand at putting your favorite symbol in your headboard design. The key is to keep it relatively simple in form, like the spiral image shown here.

Get adventurous and have fun!

Lastly, as always, step back, enjoy, and take a picture.

You’re done! Take a step back and be proud of your new decor. Be sure to take some before and after shots and share your designs with us!

This Series

Seriously Cheap and Easy Headboard Decorations Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4