New to Simply Stated, I wanted to explain what I plan on writing about. Simply, I'm here to help take the daunting out of DIY, by sharing easy and creative ways to spice up your space -- all without breaking the bank. Here's one option...   

A few months before our wedding, my husband and I were in need of a new bed. With wedding expenses boiling well over our budget, my dream queen was needless to say, out of the question. So, we settled on an inexpensive piece from Ikea Hopen Bed Frame. The faux wood slats (reminiscent of a park bench) on the headboard definitely did not fit in with the cozy and modern bedroom that I had in mind, but it had just the right structure for my first project. It was an easy solution that took one lazy afternoon to complete. The most difficult part was deciding which fabric to use!

From park bench blah...to contemporary boudoir. Here's how to do it:

The Goods:

• Ply wood (cut to the desired size and shape or you can use your existing headboard if it's unpadded)
• Foam
• Fabric (go with a heavier material, it will hold up better when folding and stapling)
• Staple Gun
• Batting
• Glue Gun

The Steps:

• Prep all of the components before constructing, it will make the flow a lot more organized.
• Cut the fabric to double the size of the wood (so that there's enough to cover the front and back)
• Stencil and cut the foam to the desired shape (for non-traditional style). Use the outline of your existing headboard as a pattern for the stencil.

Useful tip: If the foam needs to be cut, it's best to use a box cutter or straight blade that is long enough to cut through several inches in one swipe. (I of course learned this the hard way. What was I thinking trying to use scissors?!)

• Glue the foam onto the wood using the glue gun.
• Add a layer of batting for extra cushion and staple it to the back of the wood.
• Fold the fabric around the wood as if you were wrapping a present, tucking the side edges in and stapling down onto the wood. For a neater look, avoid wrapping the material from the sides around the back.
• When finished you should have a linear fold across the back and a fold on each side of the board.

Good to Know:

• A great company that I stumbled across in my search for foam was www.rochfordsupply.com. It's literally foam heaven. I was able to find a huge assortment, at great prices. The selection is a bit overwhelming, but just consider the level of softness that you prefer in a chair back and use that as your guide.
• In addition to measuring the width and height of your wood, be sure to take into consideration the thickness. You don't want to end up with a piece of foam that is layered too thick, it may look unbalanced against the rest of the bed.

Play it Safe:
Keep the back neat, if you decide later to move the bed away from the wall, it will look finished no matter where it is positioned. You can also cut an extra piece of fabric and glue it over the back to hide any folds or staples.

The best thing about this project is that if for any reason you decide to switch the color scheme or decor of your room, a simple fabric change can transform the entire look of the bed.

Is this a project that you would try? Let me know what you think about it.

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