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How to Make a DIY Timber Bedhead

Tired of the same old look in your sleeping space? Bring new life to your bedroom with a fresh, Hamptons-style bedhead made from quality timber.

And it’s not all that hard when you get the right gear from your local Mighty Helpful Mitre 10.

Materials list

2 66 x 42 x 5400mm Primed Pine Balustrade Bottom Rails
2 66 x 66 x 5400mm Primed Pine Posts
2 18mm x 38 x 5400mm Pine Beading
1 110 x 18 x 5400mm Primed Pine
Wood Putty
Pencil
12 x 140mm Pine Tongue and Groove Panels
Drill & Drill Bits
Aquadhere Wood Glue
Clamps
10 x 35mm Screws
4 x 100mm Batten Screws
Sander & Sandpaper
Paint
Paintbrush
Paint Stirrer
Measuring Tape
8 x 25mm Screws
6 x 40mm Screws

Step 1: Cut your timber to size

These measurements are designed to fit a Queen bed. Use the guide above to cut your timber to size with your circular saw. At the end, you should have:

2 66 x 66 x 1100mm Leg Posts
2 66 x 42 x 1520 mm Balustrade Bottom Rails
2 18 x 38 x 1520mm Beading
1 110 x 18 x 1760mm Top Piece
12 144 x 600mm Tongue-and-Groove Panels

Step 2: Taper the legs

Using a pencil, measuring tape and your circular saw, mark out and taper your first leg 300mm from the bottom so it is 35mm at the foot. Repeat with the other leg.

Step 3: Assemble the bedhead

Start with your two pine balustrade bottom rails. Glue and screw them into the first leg using Aquadhere Wood Glue and 2 x 100mm Batten Screws, pre-drilled and countersunk. The top balustrade rail should be flush with the top of the legs.

The bottom balustrade rail should be 600mm below the first piece of timber, so the tongue-and-groove panels fit snugly inside.

Now it’s time to add your tongue-and-groove panels. These will be the main feature of the bedhead. Glue and screw them to the timber lip of the balustrade bottom rails using Aquadhere Wood Glue and 5 x 35mm screws along the top and bottom (10 overall), evenly spaced.

Glue and screw the timber beading at the top and bottom of the tongue-and-groove panels to help keep them in place. Use Aquadhere Wood Glue and 4 x 25mm Screws per piece (8 in total), evenly spaced.

Glue and screw the top piece into place so it’s centred, with equal overhang on both sides. To do this, use Aquadhere Wood Glue and 6 x 40mm Screws, evenly spaced.

Step 4: Sand, paint and finish

Fill gaps and mask any exposed screws with wood putty. Sand down rough surfaces with a sander or sandpaper. Paint the timber in your preferred colour.