DIY Farmhouse Headboard {how to}

I shared my new master bed headboard on Wednesday and I hope you loved it as much as I do! It's probably my favorite project I've done so far.

The headboard is Ana White's "Mom's Fancy Farmhouse Bed" headboard. She has plans for the whole bed, but I just wanted to build the headboard. I had to make a few adjustments because her plans are for a queen sized bed, and we have a king. So, I basically added extra planks to widen the headboard panel and then built it from there.


I am not going to give a step-by-step guide to build the headboard, because you can get that from Ana's plan. But, I will give you my shopping and cut lists. And show a few tweaks that I made.

Shopping List:
4 - 1x6 @ 8 feet long
2 - 1x2 @ 8 feet long
2 - 2x6 @ stud or 8 foot length
1 - 2x4 @ stud or 8 foot length
1 - 1x3 @ 8 feet long
1 - 1x3 @ 24" long (or longer, I think I bought a 36" piece and cut it down)
2 1/2" wood screws
1 1/4" finish nails for nail gun
1 - 8' stick of chair rail for top moulding
3 - 8' sticks of base cap for moulding around inside of panel and for the top tier on the headboard

Tools I used:
Miter saw
Nail gun
Electric sander
Electric drill
Carpenter's square

Cut List:
12 - 1x6 @ 24" (panel boards)
1 - 1x3 @ 24" (middle panel board)
2 - 1x2 @ 21" (side trim for panel)
2 - 1x2 @ 69" (top/bottom panel trim)
1 - 2x6 @ 69" (base of panel)
2 - 2x4 @ 48" (legs)
1 - 1x3 @ 78" (top of headboard)
Cut your moulding to fit your bed exactly

I started by cutting the panel boards and sanding the edges.

 I held the boards in my hand while sanding down the edges that would be seen, to give them a more defined "plank" look.

I bought a carpenter's square to make sure the panel was square before I nailed in the trim. I took this picture before I had all of the panel widths figured out. I had to go back to Lowe's to get the extra 1x3 piece to make the middle panel piece.

Here you can see the 1x3 middle panel piece that I used. I have six wider panels on each side, so it still looks good. And you can see how the sanded edges give the panels more definition and "plankness." Yes, I just made up a word.

After everything was nailed in I used wood putty to fill the holes. And primed the whole piece with my favorite primer: Zinsser Cover Stain Primer. I use it on all of my projects that need primer. And since it's oil based, I buy cheap brushes and throw them away. I don't like dealing with paint thinner. No thanks!

You'll also want to use this primer in a well-ventilated area. The garage works perfectly.

Once the primer dried, I gave it two coats of Antique White by Sherwin Williams. It's the same color I used for the bed side tables. And I had lots of paint leftover from that project, so I had all of the paint on hand. Yay!

There really is nothing like taking a pile of lumber from the hardware store and creating something beautiful for your home! It brings me such a sense of satisfaction.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Sunday: I Heart Nap Time | Flamingo Toes | Nifty Thrifty Things | DIY Show Off | Homemaker on a Dime | By Stephanie Lynn

Monday: Alderberry Hill | Craft-O-Maniac | DIY Home Sweet Home | Keeping It Simple | Sumo's Sweet Stuff | Sew Can Do | DIY Home Sweet Home | Mad in Crafts | So Much Better with Age | Home Stories A to Z | Skip to My Lou | Cupcakes & Crinoline | Twelve0eight | Sweet Living Magazine

Tuesday: Coastal Charm | Crafty Texas Girls | Tip Junkie | A Bowl Full of Lemons | The DIY Dreamer | My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | Cozy Little House | Inside BruCrew Life | Today's Creative Blog | Sugar Bee Crafts | Nap-time Creations | New Nostalgia | Not Just a Housewife | Elizabeth & Co. | A Diamond in the Stuff  |  Hope Studios | 

Wednesday: Lil' Luna | Ginger Snap Crafts |  Lady Behind the Curtain | Creations by Kara | High Heels and Grills  | The Trendy Treehouse | Someday Crafts | Southern Lovely | Polka Dots on Parade |

Thursday: Shabby Creek Cottage | The Inspired Room | 52 Mantels | No Minimalist Here | live laugh rowe | 36th Avenue | House of Hepworths Embracing Change | Katie's Nesting Spot | Bloom Designs | The Girl Creative | Reasons to Skip the Housework | Somewhat Simple | From My Front Porch to Yours  | My Repurposed Life

Friday: Thirty Hand Made Days | Just Us Four | The Shabby Nest | Blissful & Domestic | Miss Mustard Seed | The Charm of Home | French Country Cottage | Common Ground | Redoux | Jennifer Rizzo | Ladybird Ln | Simply Designing | The Stitchin' Mommy | Five Days Five Ways | Just Us Four | Lovely Crafty Home | Liz Marie Blog | Thirty Handmade Days | Shabby Nest | Chic on a Shoestring Decorating | One Artsy Mama | Whipperberry | 

Saturday: Cheerios & Lattes | Or so she says | Tatertots and Jello | Be Different Act Normal | Six Sisters Stuff | Funky Junk Interiors | Too Much Time on my Hands | Your Homebased Mom |