STEP 3 | Assemble your headboard

This is the step where everything starts coming together. Connect each piece by adding a thin layer of wood glue and then screwing in your pocket hole screws. Be sure to hold your joint firmly together while screwing to ensure a tight seam. I started by connecting the 1x2 border pieces together. Then I took my 1x6 planks and joined them to the border, starting with the top plank first.

Tip: Use a chisel or putty knife to wipe away any excess glue from your seams as soon as possible. When wood glue dries it becomes hard to remove.

STEP 4 | Add the finishing touches

It’s time to finish this piece! Fill in all of the pocket holes with wood filler using your putty knife. I opted to only fill in the pocket holes on my border since the rest are on the back of the headboard. Generally I allow for the wood filler to dry for 24 hours before I continue working on a piece.

Grab three different grits of sandpaper: 80, 120, 220. Starting with the lowest grit, you will want to sand the entire headboard and remove any excess wood glue or putty. Go over the entire headboard with the 120 and 220 grits after.

Next up is to stain your headboard! You’ll need to follow the instructions on your specific stain. I typically like to use a cloth rag to stain projects. I also have found that one coat stains work best for me.

Complete!

That’s it! You’ve built your very own modern headboard. Comment below if you have any questions or need help with this project. Thanks!