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The plywood panel is the structural core here — pocket holes drilled around its back edges are what the legs and header both attach to — with panel trim nailed to the front face first, before any of the frame goes on. Clamp the trim in place and nail from the back rather than face-nailing, which hides every nail hole and avoids the pocket hole locations at the same time.
Attach the legs flush to the top of the panel trim, matching their thickness to the panel-plus-trim combined, then attach the header flush to the back with even overhangs on both ends. Once the frame is together, attach the panel to the legs and the base to the frame with pocket hole screws sized to the material thickness at each joint — 1-1/4" screws for the 3/4" panel, 2-1/2" for the thicker base.
The mitered moulding square is the finishing detail that makes this headboard, not an afterthought — cut and carefully position the four moulding pieces last, measuring and marking their placement rather than eyeballing it, since a slightly off-center inset square is the kind of flaw that draws the eye on an otherwise plain panel.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 3/4" plywood or MDF, 4x4 ft sheet | 1 each |
| 1x2, 4 ft | 1 each |
| 1x3, 8 ft | 1 each |
| 2x3, 8 ft | 1 each |
| 2x4, 4 ft | 1 each |
| Small moulding, 10 ft | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 1-1/4" and 2-1/2" | 40 each |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4" and 3/4" | 40 each |
| Wood glue | 4 oz |
| Primer and paint, or stain and poly | 1 set |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Panel3/4" plywood or MDF, 4x4 ft sheet | 1 | 3/4" × 39" × 32" |
| Panel trim, bottom1x2, 4 ft | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 39" |
| Panel trim, top1x3, 8 ft | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 39" |
| Legs2x3, 8 ft | 2 | 1 1/2" × 2 1/2" × 43 1/4" |
| Header1x3, 8 ft | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 45 1/2" |
| Base2x4, 4 ft | 1 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 39" |
| Moulding, shortSmall moulding, 10 ftLong point to long point, both ends mitered at 45°, ends not parallel. | 2 | 1/2" × 3/4" × 22" |
| Moulding, longSmall moulding, 10 ftLong point to long point, both ends mitered at 45°, ends not parallel. | 2 | 1/2" × 3/4" × 33" |
Buy 7 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
1 board
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Drill 3/4" pocket holes around the side and top edges of the panel's back side, for attaching the legs and header in later steps.
On the front side of the panel, attach the trim with 1-1/4" finish nails and glue, clamping in place and nailing from the back to hide nail holes.
Attach the legs with glue and 1-1/4" pocket hole screws, flush to the top of the panel trim.
Attach the header flush to the back with even overhangs on both ends, using 1-1/4" pocket holes and wood glue.
Attach the panel to the legs with 1-1/4" pocket hole screws. Attach the base with 2-1/2" pocket hole screws.
Cut the moulding pieces and carefully position and attach with glue and 3/4" finish nails.
Sand all surfaces and apply primer and paint, or stain and poly.
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