Three bedhead ideas: fabric, timber and webbing.

Which suits your style?

Ensemble beds like this one are perfectly comfortable but look rather plain Jane

Here are three terrific bedhead ideas to transform your bed.

Woven headboard

This woven headboard is perfect for adding texture and contrasts to a neutral room.It's based on a simple rectangular hardwood frame.

Here's how
1 Cut two pieces of 50 x 50mm Tasmanian oak timber the width of your bed and 1200mm high. Stain or paint the wood. Join together to make a frame using lap joints (see below) in the corners and fixing with glue and screws to the back.

2 Decide how far apart you want to space the webbing (here it is 30mm) and cut lengths of webbing for the verticals allowing 200mm extra on each piece. Begin by stapling the cut lengths at desired spacings to the back of the frame top. Then, using a webbing stretcher, tighten the webbing before fixing it to the bottom back of the frame. Use the same technique to fix horizontal lengths in place, first weaving the webbing over and under the verticals.

3 To fix the headboard in place, attach a pair of universal brackets to the frame and fit to the underside of your ensemble base by unscrewing the feet, positioning and fastening the bracket and refitting the feet.

Tip: if using nylon webbing singe the ends to prevent fraying.

Simple slip cover

For a soft traditional look try an upholstered headboard with a simple buttoned slip cover.

Here's how
1 Cut a 1200mm wide sheet of 15mm particleboard to the width of your bed and glue 20mm thick foam sheets to the front using contact adhesive. Overlap the top edge and glue excess foam to the back. When glue is dry, trim the foam at the sides to give a neat finish and cover the lot with calico, fixing in place with a staple gun. The calico will ensure the fabric slip cover sits better over the foam and, unless you are using a lightweight fabric, there is no need for a lining.

You can use any fabric for the cover but, if the fabric you love is expensive, a complementary cheaper fabric for the back will reduce your costs.

2 Make a simple rectangular cover to fold in half over the board - it should be about 100mm wider than the board after you've sewn deep hems all around.

3 To secure the cover to the board, sew buttons along both edges of the back piece of fabric - the buttons should face towards the front of the bed. Mark the positions of the buttons on the front flap and make buttonholes on the front piece. Fit the cover by slipping it over and buttoning up the sides.
Fasten the headboard to the base with universal brackets as for lattice bedhead.

Sleek modern

An oversized headboard gives a sleek modern look, perfect for contemporary or apartment living.

Choose a pre-finished timber laminate in a colour and grain which appeals to you. Here Italian Yew laminate was used - visit a kitchen showroom or board factory to see the range and find a laminate you love. (If you're on a tight budget, try timber veneered boards or MDF board and polyurethane them yourself).

To create the oversized look, use two standard sheets of 15mm particleboard, 900 x 1800mm. Contact-glue the laminate to the front of each sheet of board, smooth it into position using a soft cloth or roller, working from the centre outwards to force out any air bubbles trapped underneath. After the glue is dry file the laminate edges to give a neat finish.

To add a modern sophisticated detail to complete the look use aluminium edging to hide the edges of the particleboard and join the two boards. Fix an aluminium L section, cut to length to the top and the outside edges of the board then join the two the boards vertically with an aluminium T section. The edging is fixed from the rear with short screws at 200mm intervals.

Once the headboard is complete, position and fix to your ensemble using universal brackets (available form bedding and hardware stores, about $20 a pair). Fix as for lattice headboard.

Materials supplied by:
Webbing stretcher: Premier Furniture Supplies 02 9792 4066
Laminate: Italian Yew New Age Veneers 1800 813 416

Source:Better Homes and Gardens

What is a lap joint?

Where two pieces of timber do not have to finish flush with one another, this basic lap joint will suffice. It is vital that you locate screws or nails diagonally across the joint as this gives the joint its strength.

For more ideas see Better Homes and Gardens The Complete Home Improvement Book (Murdoch Books)