81 Boy's Bedroom Upholstered Headboards

We have been slowly working on the top ten DIY projects that I shared awhile back.  Oddly enough, the first two projects have both been some sort of IKEA hack.  The first one we tackled was an update to our Malm dresser with some pretty overlays, and today I am sharing how we have finally updated the headboards in the boy's shared bedroom.

Let's take a peek at what we were starting with:

Last year when we purchased the bed frames {from IKEA}, I didn't buy them for their looks, but more for their height, inexpensive price tag, size and ability to be "hacked". 

After purchasing some foam back when we did the playroom bench project, and ordering some adorable gray chipper fabric, we were finally ready to move forward with the update.

I originally was set on doing an upholstery project with some button tufts, and had read online the easiest way to do so is with pegboard.  So that is what we purchased and cut down to the size of the metal headboard.

Using some screws specifically for steel, Bryan slowly began screwing the pegboard backing into the metal headboard frame.

All the way around and down the middle in multiple places until it was secure on the frame.

I originally thought I would piece the foam in between the rails and then wrap it all in batting to soften things up.  However, I didn't measure my rails {oops} and purchased foam that was quite a bit too thick.  Luckily, when I placed the foam on top of the rails, it was so thick that you couldn't find or feel those bars at all.  Whew.

So as you can see in the photo above, we layed out the batting on the floor, then the foam, then the bed frame and pegboard.  The next step was just to pull the batting up and over to the pegboard all the way around the edges, using a nail gun to staple it into place.

Here it is all wrapped in the batting. 

We did the exact same step again, this time with the fabric.

Then came the fun part, assembling the beds and seeing the new headboards in the room!

The fabric wrapped around nice and smooth and looks like it was always meant to be there!

I decided to actually skip the tufting for now, since I was surprised with how much I loved the simple and clean look without the buttons.  Plus, I worried that my youngsters may get the urge to pick and pull on the buttons, so that might be a phase two of the project when they are a bit older.

I love how the patterns all play with one another and that the colors are nice and sophisticated, definitely a room they can continue to grow in!

The entire project came in around $20 for the fabric and $50 for the foam and batting since I used coupons at JoAnns.  The pegboard was just under $20 for a total of $90 for two nicely upholstered twin sized headboards!  Considering it is nearly impossible to find one new for under $150 {and up!}, I would say this is one big giant win for the boys {and me}!

It's amazing the difference the softness made to the room, it feels so much more cozy and finished now that the steel jailhouse like headboards are no longer present.

Of course, our backs and heads totally appreciate it while we curl up to read at night as well!

Boy does it feel great to be knocking these projects off the ol' list!  Anyone else been having too much fun hacking IKEA pieces?  How about awesome upholstery projects in the works?