The great thing about headboards is that, unlike other items like sofas and chairs, the usage is relatively light. That means you can use fabrics that are a bit more delicate or those with a low Martindale*, such as embroidered fabrics. A headboard is the centrepiece of a bedroom, so be bold with your choice. I think the best headboard fabrics incorporate both pattern and texture.
.*A Martindale (rub count) is a test that measures the durability of fabrics from wear and tear. The higher the Martindale number, the more durable the fabric.
How do you measure how much fabric and piping you need to make a headboard?
To measure the amount of fabric you’ll need, you first need to find out the width of the fabric you'll be using; usually, it's about 140cm. This is fine for smaller sizes but, for larger headboards, like a super king, you’ll likely need to join two pieces of fabric together to cover the full width, meaning there’ll be a seam (or two).
You'll also need to take the pattern repeat into account when calculating the size of your headboard. Larger patterns have more wastage when pattern matching.
For piping, add another 1m of fabric, as it is cut on the cross so that it will lay flat around the curves. Then, measure the outside circumference of your headboard shape (excluding the bottom edge) to calculate exactly how much piping you need to sew.
For more tips on making sure you have enough fabric for your headboard, read our blog - ‘How much material do I need for a headboard?’
1 - Be bold with your fabric choice. You want the item to stand out and look custom-made.
2 - Pull the fabric tight. The temptation is to be gentle with it, but over time, it will crease and look saggy, so pull it as tight as you can and get even tension all over for a professional finish.
3 - The classic: measure twice and cut once. The worst thing is to cut the fabric wrong, so go slow and make sure your measurements are correct.
Discover Micaela’s top fabrics for headboard upholstery:
1 - Anna Jeffreys, Dublin Daisy - Pink, Tangerine