Making the Headboard

• 1
  Measure all the necessary components to the bed.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Measure the bed with the frame. Take into consideration that the box spring, mattress and any decorative pillows add height. Decide how tall you want the headboard and add 12 inches to the length and width. This will tell you how much fabric, batting and egg crate mattress padding to purchase so that everything successfully wraps around the board.
  
  
• 2
  Make sure the egg crate is faced down.Dynamic Graphics Group/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images
  
  Place the egg crate mattress padding face down on the floor. Lay the plywood on top. Pull the egg crate taught over the top of the board and staple every two inches starting in the middle. Fold the bottom up and repeat. Continue with the sides and staple until the egg crate is completely attached to the plywood.
  
  
• 3). Lay the batting on the floor. Place the board on top of the batting with the egg crate side facing down. Fold the batting over the egg crate board and staple every 3 inches.
  
  
• 4
  A hot iron smooths out fabric wrinkles before it is attached to the board.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Iron the zebra-print fabric. Place the fabric on an ironing board and begin smoothing the wrinkles from the edges toward the center of the fabric.
  
  
• 5
  A staple gun makes adhering the fabric quick and easy.Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
  
  Lay the zebra-print fabric face down on the floor. Put the board face down on top of it. Check to see that the zebra print pattern is straight. Pull the fabric taught around the board, making sure it remains smooth without puckering. Staple the fabric every 2 inches at the top and bottom first. Fold the sides in and staple while checking to see that the corners are neat. Flip the headboard over.
  
  

Attaching the Headboard

• 1
  Mark where the flush mounts should go.Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  Hold the headboard up to the wall and mark the top, each corner and sides with a pencil. Use a level to make sure the headboard is even. Locate the studs in the wall by using a stud finder in the middle and near each side of the headboard. Use the level and a pencil to mark the stud locations with a vertical line. Draw a light horizontal line across the vertical lines, which will help align everything.
  
  
• 2
  An electric screwdriver is easier on the hands.Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
  
  Place the flush mount to the wall. Position it so that the bottom is on the horizontal line mark. Attach the flush mounts to the stud marks on the wall. Turn until the screw holes are facing down the wall and the lip hole is facing up. Use the electric screwdriver to secure.
  
  
• 3). Stand the headboard up to the flush mounts on the wall and mark using the pencil exactly where the mounts should line up on the headboard. Attach a flush mount to the back of the headboard using the electric screwdriver. Turn so that the screw holes are at the top and the lip is at the bottom.
  
  
• 4). Lift the headboard onto the wall mounts and slide into each bracket.