Pallet Look / Accent Wall Headboard

Jim Cox
by Jim Cox
9 Materials
$70
3 Days
Easy

re-posting this one with better instructions

The headboard from the old house, doesn't work with the new pumpkin color at all. It got sold on FB marketplace for $5

I purchased some lumber at Lowes to create a new 60" x 96" 'pallet frame' I could decorate and hang on the wall. I made it BIG (as far as headboards go) so it can be my accent wall, and look good behind a queen, or even a future king-sized bed. You could make it whatever size you want, so long as you have a tape measure handy when you're cutting.

I cut a new 2x2 longways at a 10° angle and screwed into studs on the wall for hanging the headboard, a kind of 'french cleat'. The angle will help draw the headboard towards the wall

And before I set my table saw back to vertical, I also cut matching scraps of 2x2 for the headboard frame. These will rest on the wall 2x2.

I started my frame with a quality 2x4 across the top, and a 1x4 down each side. I nailed in the scrap 2x2s from the above photo. Note the angles of the 2x2 cuts in the previous photos

I added some 1x4s for ribs with a notch in the back, (to clear the wall cleat 2x2) and trimmed off 3/4" at the front (note: 2x4s would have been simpler) at 24" intervals

I added a 1x4 at each end (already stained) and then a 1x2 across the bottom for wires etc (it will get decorated with rear-mount Christmas lights) and to help hold things straight while I lay out the front

subtract 1.5" for the top 2x4

here is a 1x3 attached to the face of the 1x4 ribs

Here is the finished frame. 1x2 across the bottom (Left) five vertical 1x4s, three with 1x3 'faces', and the 2x4 cross the top (shown on the right). Note the 2" hole in each 'rib'. It will make decorating with Christmas lights much easier.


The 1x3s on the face make attaching the decorative wood much easier. Again They are on 24" centers, with the sides being the end of the next 24" each side. 2x4s might have been simpler.

I cut random pieces of new scraps and old wood, privacy fence, etc in 24" and 48" lengths, of various widths 1,2,3,4, and 6" and began nailing them to the frame. BTW pallets are oak, and oak is both hard and hard work. I used very little pallet wood for that reason.

As it started coming together, I added a full lenght 1x3 about 8 boards down to give it some stability. Every three or four boards I measured from the top to keep things lined up horizontally. Note that I had several colors of stain on hand already, so they are not reflected in the total cost below.

Towards the bottom (on the right side of this photo) I used some larger board and made a nice hidden storage with some hinges. Perhaps I can show it in another project. This took three Saturdays, but it was another 'design as you go' project and sometimes prototypes take longer. My next one will come much more quickly.

Once the headboard was complete, my neighbor and I hung it on the wall. I ran two No. 10x4" drywall screws thru the top to secure it to the french cleat, and added two small L-brackets at the bottom to attach it to the drywall. You can see the Christmas lights peeking out thru the cracks and imperfections of the boards in this shot.


The next one will be even better. Comment if you have ideas that might improve someone else's project : )

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