Panel Headboard

1" x 4" and 1" x 3" poplar lumber
miter saw
biscuit joiner
wood glue
small glue brush
plate joiners
clamps
drill
1-1/4" drywall screws
Provenance woven wood shade (Mindanao, Tortoise WWMN387) (Hunter Douglas)
luan plywood
contact cement
small screws
220-grit sandpaper
stain or paint

Steps:

1. The featured headboard is 58 inches wide and 45 inches high. To build the front framework, cut four pieces of 1" x 4" poplar to length using a miter saw. The first board is the top cross piece and measures exactly 58 inches. The two side rails measure 41-1/2 inches. This distance combined with the width of the top rail gives the headboard height of 45 inches. The distance between the two side rails determines the length of the bottom rail, which is 51 inches. Measure the height between the top and bottom rails to determine the length of the center support.
2. Use a biscuit joiner to assemble the headboard. With the pieces set in position, mark a line across both joints, which will give a match location for each biscuit slot. Place the joiner on the mark, and then cut a slot at each mark. Put glue inside the slot and on the biscuit using a small glue brush. Push two boards together, and then clamp the boards tight. If you don't have a biscuit joiner, attach plate joiners to the back.