NotchLoading plan…
Loading plan…
Structurally, this is a plain 2x6 box on decorative feet — the platform itself is a weekend's work at most. What makes it a real project is the winged headboard: two tapered plywood side panels flanking a tall center panel, all wrapped in foam and batting, upholstered as separate pieces, then joined together. Building and upholstering each headboard panel on its own, before final assembly, means you're wrapping and stapling a flat or gently curved piece on a bench instead of fighting a huge finished headboard on the floor.
Spray adhesive tacks the foam to the plywood before the batting and fabric go over it — that's what keeps the foam from shifting or bunching while you staple. Pull fabric taut corner to corner as you staple, working from the center of each edge outward, the same technique used for stretching canvas or upholstering any panel — pulling one corner fully tight before its opposite is what causes the puckers you see on rushed upholstery jobs.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 3/4" plywood, 4x8 sheetHeadboard panels and platform side skirting. | 2 each |
| 2x6 board, 8 ft (or stud length) | 5 each |
| Decorative parson-style feet, 6" | 6 each |
| Corner brackets | 4 each |
| Standard mending brackets | 2 each |
| Foam or batting, 1/2" thickWraps the headboard panels — foam gives a firmer, more tailored edge than batting alone. | 6 yard |
| Spray adhesiveTacks foam to plywood so it doesn't shift while you staple the fabric. | 2 can |
| Decorator fabric, 54" widthAmount varies with a patterned or directional fabric — buy extra if matching a repeat across panels. | 9 yard |
| Staples, 1/2" | 300 each |
| Wood screws, 2-1/2" and 3" | 40 each |
| Pocket-hole screws, 1-1/4" | 30 each |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Platform side rails2x6 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 72" |
| Platform end rails2x6 | 3 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 81" |
| Platform side skirting3/4" plywood | 2 | 3/4" × 11 1/2" × 84" |
| Platform foot skirting3/4" plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 11 1/2" × 73 1/2" |
| Headboard center panel3/4" plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 48" × 75" |
| Headboard wing panels3/4" plywoodTaper from 17" down to 12" along the length for the wing shape. | 2 | 3/4" × 48" × 17" |
Buy 10 boards at 8 ft.
5 boards
2 boards
3 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 →
Screw the 2x6 side and end rails together into a simple rectangular box sized to your California king mattress footprint. Check it square with a diagonal measurement before moving on — everything about how the finished bed sits references off this box.
Attach the plywood skirting to the outside faces of the platform box with 2" screws or a nailer. You can upholster the skirting in place after it's on the frame, or upholster the panels separately first — either works, and there should be enough clearance to do it in place if you'd rather not pre-upholster.
Install the corner brackets at each foot location and thread on the decorative feet.
Cut the center panel and the two tapered wing panels from plywood. Taper each wing from 17" at the panel's outer edge down to 12" where it meets the center panel, using a straightedge or a batten to mark a smooth taper line before cutting.
Working one panel at a time, spray adhesive onto the plywood face and press foam onto it, trimming flush to the panel edges. Lay batting over the foam, then your fabric, and staple to the back of the panel — pull taut from the center of each edge outward, working opposite sides against each other, not corner to corner, to avoid puckers.
Join the two upholstered wing panels to the center panel using the standard mending brackets on the back, angling the wings forward slightly for the classic Morris-chair wing profile. Screw or bolt the brackets tight enough that the joint doesn't flex when you push on the wings.
Attach the assembled headboard to the platform box, then add slats across the platform (72" long, spaced per your mattress maker's recommendation) if you're not using a box spring.
No reviews yet
Sign in to review this plan or share your build.
No reviews yet. Be the first to build this.