Flag Headboard

WINDOWS MEDIA VIDEO Click here for details on making this headboard.

15 1" x 4" x 6' pine boards
miter box and backsaw (or power miter)
wood screws
cordless drill/screwdriver
satin latex paint

Steps:

1. Start by measuring the width of your bed and cutting the wood to that length (save the scraps for later). Now, using your miter saw cut the ends of the boards into points (just like a picket fence). To do so, find the center of the board (not the length, but the width) and make a mark. From that point, measure two inches down the length and make two marks on each side of the board for your angle for the picket cut. Make the cut with your miter saw.
2. Now using red, white and blue paint and an old rag (like a T-shirt or towel ), wipe the boards. Since you're creating an American flag do every other one red and then white. Remember those scrap pieces of lumber? Well, those are the field of blue. Cut those the same length (about the width of five boards) and wash them with the blue paint.
3. Well, you're not going to sew the flag together but this is close enough. Lay the boards on the floor, paint side down (do this on a drop cloth to protect the wood and the carpet). The top board should be red, then white , and so on. Cut two pieces of 1" x 4" to the width of the headboard minus 2" so they won't reveal. These will be the support pieces. Attach to the back of the headboard using 1-1/4-inch woodscrews, making sure each board gets attached to the support boards. For extra strength cut a board that will be placed at an angle between the two support boards .
4. With the stripes facing you, place a board that has been washed blue in the upper left-hand corner. You may want a partner to help hold this board in place because you will be screwing in from the back. Attach the board and work your way across until you run out of boards (of course).
5. Now attach the flag to your bed frame. For the show we attached the board to a platform bed. Using drywall screws, attach to the bed from the back. If you want you can attach it directly to the wall. Just pre-drill pilot holes through the headboard and slightly into the wall. Using self-anchoring drywall anchors, place the headboard and attach to the wall with drywall screws. Touch up the screw heads with paint. Stand back and salute a job well done!

There are many variations of headboards you can build. Experiment and come up with new and interesting ways to dress up a standard bed frame. One word of caution--the hardest part is making sure the headboard is attached safely to the bed. That is why it's a good idea to mount the board directly to the wall.

Headboard and Bed Sizing

Many people are unsure of how large to make projects, depending on the size of bed they wish to build. Headboards are generally made to extend two to four inches out from each side of a mattress (depending on personal preference and the amount of room space). If the headboard is to be attached to the wall, there is more flexibility for the width. If a headboard is to be attached to a metal bed frame, be sure that the headboard supports are placed correctly based on the width of your particular frame. For projects such as the platform bed, be sure to add at least four inches to the length of the mattress for the finished platform size.

Mattress Sizes :

Crib: 27" x 52"
Twin: 39" x 75"
Full: 54" x 75"
Queen: 60" x 80"
King: 76" x 80"