How to Make a Wood Headboard from a Staircase Railing

A wood headboard is very expensive to buy for your bed regardless of the frame. Buying a bed will leave your pockets lighter but even more so when you want a wood headboard. That is because a headboard is often a separate purchase. If you have some wood working skill and a little knowledge you can create your own wood headboard. In order to do this simple project you can repurpose an old wooden staircase railing. This is a very simple project the article below will show you how to do it.

Step 1 – Remove the Railing

If your railing is still being used you will need to remove it but if not you can skip to Step 2. To make sure that you have enough railing for the wood headboard you should always remove the entire railing. Use the handsaw and begin to cut through each vertical spacer. Always cut each spacer at the same spot because if you try to cut down the angle of the steps each will be different. You want to have the same cut for each spacer as these will be part of the wood headboard. After the spacers are cut the wood railing will fall away so make sure you have help.

Step 2 – Prepare the Wood Railing

In order to create a wood headboard from a railing you will need to do some minor adjustments to make it work for you. If some of the spacers fall out of the railing do not worry about it because they will be replaced. Sand the bottoms of the spacers so they are no longer rough and that they are even. If any spacers fell out add wood glue to the hole in the railing and insert the spacer.

Use the tape measure and measure the width of the bed where the wood headboard will be placed. Cut the wood railing to this same width, longer or shorter if you want the wood headboard to stand out more or be less noticeable. Sand down the cut edges of the wood railing. Cut the vertical spacers down to whatever height you want your wood headboard to be. Once they are cut; sandwich the 2x4s between the spacers and nail them together. You can now sand the new wood headboard down and stain it.

Step 3 – Install the Wood Headboard

Lay the wood headboard down on a flat surface and install the brackets to the 2x4 using wood screws. Place one on each end so that they line up with the frame of the bed. Enlist the help of a friend and stand the wood headboard up and hold it so that the bracket lines up with the frame. Install a screw through the holes of each bracket to secure it to the bed. If the headboard does not seem firm enough you can add a set of two more brackets to secure to the top of the metal frame.