Asked on Jan 24, 2016

Ideas for reworking our full size headboard to our new king size bed??

Bbe2004690
by Bbe2004690
We have a head and foot board from a full size bed. We want to somehow put the two pieces together to make a King size headboard. We don't need a foot board any more. All the wood finish is in great condition. Ideas for simple and easy changes. Thanks
  23 answers
  • Alita Knupp Kiss Alita Knupp Kiss on Jan 25, 2016
    Add 2x4s to make it the proper size, adding height and width, and cover with foam/batting and fabric to match the rest of your decor.
  • Mary Bradford Barranti Mary Bradford Barranti on Jan 25, 2016
    Are the headboard and footboard anywhere near the same height? I'm wondering if you can cut the footboard into two pieces to extend the sides of the headboard the same distance on the right and left. Would the proportions allow something like this? i=IºººI=i It would require knowledge of how to attach the end pieces to the outside of the headboard posts, perhaps with mortise and tenon joins?
    • Dee Dee on Jan 25, 2016
      @Mary Bradford Barranti I was thinking the same thing. Even if the footboard is shorter, it would still work. In fact, it might look even better!
  • Rus1058682 Rus1058682 on Jan 25, 2016
    I was thinking the same thing Mary was.. And if the footboard is shorter in height, I think it would look great. Also, depending on your abilities, you could install LED reading lamps on the interior posts..
  • LD LD on Jan 25, 2016
    Typically footbord are not the same height as a headboard. You would need to cut the footboard in half an then attach it to the sides of the headboard, which would give a unique look to the headboard. Instead of attaching the headboard board to the bed frame, consider attaching it to the wall, this way you can move the bed and if possible consider adding caster wheels that can be lock to keep it from moving during normal use, but then when unlock give you easy access cleaning beneath it.
  • Margaret E Margaret E on Jan 25, 2016
    I made a queen sized headboard from a double bed headboard and footboard. (my project is posted here on Hometalk). After measuring to find out how much wider the headboard had to be for my queen bed, I cut the decorative ends off the footboard the appropriate lengths (I think it was around 10 inches total, so that meant 5 inches each end of the footboard). I fastened the end pieces to the headboard, glued and screwed, with a brace piece on the back. How you will attach your "end pieces" will depend on the shape of the ends of the headboard. I didn't do the greatest, straightest job of sawing the ends so I needed a thin decorative quarter-round strip to cover the seam where I joined the "end" piece to the headboard end - perhaps your sawing hand will be steadier than mine! It wasn't the easiest project I've done, but I love my result!
  • Chris Chris on Jan 25, 2016
    I think Margaret E from Atlanta has the best suggestion - cut the footboard and add as much as you need to the sides of the headboard. Then paint the whole thing black or black/brown.
  • Danyell Danyell on Jan 25, 2016
    I would find a beautiful fabric, use 1/4 padding and pillow the padding in diamond shapes. Cover the nail with fashionable buttons. For the end pieces, paint them dark colour in the same hue to match the fabric, after it dries use a lighter hue colour, coat and use crinkled newspaper to make it a look slightly marbled. Add white and black marble lines with a scraper. Saw the tops of the legs off and add a decorative topper to it. Paint the same as the legs. Do the same to the foot board. The thicker that padding the more comfortable it would be to lean up against when sitting in bed.
    • Sandra Sandra on Jan 26, 2016
      I agree with Danyelld. I think you can attach part of the foot board to your headboard. I would take the side legs of both the foot and head boards off. Then you can cut the foot board the size required to enlarge the head board. I would attach the head board together with maybe 2 or 3 1inch by 3 inch boards. Don't worry about the legs yet. As Danyelld explained, decide on your material and batting and how you want the head board finished. Now you can attach the legs. Or you can attach the headboard to your wall. My husband used sinkers and screwed through the board and into the wall studs. We have a wood head board but you would have a hard time finding those screws. If you tuft your board I would screw into one of the tufts and then glue a button over the screw. I hope you have fun creating your head board. Please post it for us. It'll be great!!!!
  • Bbe2004690 Bbe2004690 on Jan 26, 2016
    Thanks Linda and Mary. Those are great ideas. Just need to decide how to make the head and foot board taller by adding wood or ? Our new bed is much higher and adjustable. Husband has medical issues and the adjustable makes it s he can be inmore of a reclining postion, when he is having trouble breathing.
  • Bbe2004690 Bbe2004690 on Jan 26, 2016
    yes you are right the foot board is shorter. Thanks.
  • Qm1441 Qm1441 on Jan 29, 2016
    I would saw it right down the middle, then find something FABULOUS to fix to the center to give the wanted length, then refinish.
  • Cathie Cathie on Jan 30, 2016
    It looks like a rock maple head and foot board ! Myself I would cut the footboard and attach each piece to the sides of headboard with brackets on the back so the headboard now has a arch to it ,then hang the new arched headboard on the wall at the height to accommodate the new height of your bed that is sitting on it's own metal frame. I like the Maple wood and myself would not paint it.
  • Karen Coulas Karen Coulas on Jan 31, 2016
    You could find to metal fence inserts, cut the headboard into 3 pieces and insert the two decorative metal inserts.
  • Cindi Cindi on Feb 03, 2016
    I agree with Cathie, I'd do the same thing. I also have an adjustable bed, have a massage setting for it which I love. I have a low pier group which stands on it's own, with nightstands that slide underneath. It's a cheap laquered set, black with faux marble look, but I love it. It's always cool so if I wake up hot I can put my hands on it to cool off. If you can make yours the right Height and Width, and can attach it to the wall, I'm sure that will work for you.
  • Deborah Conard Deborah Conard on Feb 05, 2016
    You could cut it in two and turn it into a bench using the headboard as the side pieces. The. Paint it a fun color.
  • Deborah Conard Deborah Conard on Feb 05, 2016
    You could cut the headboard in two and use the headboard as side pieces for a bench. Then, paint it a fun color.
  • Lynn Lynn on Feb 05, 2016
    i think they want to use the headboard for the new bed. no ideas for you.
  • Kar4453348 Kar4453348 on Feb 07, 2016
    Why not just cut the footboard in half, then depending on the dimensions, (cut more off if needed) so that when the two halves are added and secured to the headboard (1 on each side), it will be the correct length. A little stain and polyurethane and voila.
  • Allinthefamilysingers Allinthefamilysingers on Feb 07, 2016
    Make it as wide as u need by piecing it with more wood Even up all the edges and upholster the whole thing. I saw one i want to try and it was upholstered to match comforter set. VERY pretty ...good luck.
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Mar 17, 2022

    It just won't work unless they are both exactly the same size.

  • Pat Pat on Mar 18, 2022

    We did that...cut our footboard in half and added it to the headboard. Was shorter but looked so good.

  • I would cut the foot board in half and add it to the ends of the headboard. It would be lower but it will have an arched look. Now I'm considering doing this with my old full size headboard...thanks for the inspiration.

  • Dee Dee on Apr 06, 2024

    I would detach the posts and get some lattice wood for both sides the length you need. Home improvement stores can cut it down for you to the size. Then reattach the posts. Fill in areas with wood fill, sand and paint.

  • Betsy Betsy on Apr 06, 2024

    Hi Bbe: I don't think you can do it without cutting the wood. A full sized headboard is 56 inches wide, and a king size bed headboard is 80 inches, a 24 inch difference. Therefore, you would have to cut the full headboard 24 inches shorter, leaving 32 inches extra. I think you'd be better off buying a new headboard and donating the head and foot board you have. However, if you do choose to cut the foot and headboards to size, perhaps this site will help: How to Tuft a Headboard in an Afternoon (bhg.com)