How to make a headboard out of recycled leather belts

Introduction

Sam Zachrich

Collect belts from friends, your closet, the flea market, or buy them online. Look for the leather belts, they will stand up better to wear. Try to find straps that are the same width so you don't have gaps between rows. We use highly textured belts to add more interest to the headboard.

Step 1

Sam Zachrich

Source and frame of cut wood

Buy plywood and cut it to fit the width of your bed. For our bed the wood was cut to 62" x 32". We also bought 1x3 boards to trim around three sides of the headboard. The molding will make the final size of the headboard slightly larger than the size of the bed. You can also make a cut-to-length cut at the hardware store if you're not comfortable with a saw.

Step 2

Sam Zachrich

Stain the wood

We chose a warm stain color that matched most of the belts so it would disappear and blend in with the belts. Cover the front of the plywood and all sides of the trim with stain and let dry.

Step 3

Sam Zachrich

Design plane

When the plywood is completely dry, lay the belts on the wood to create an eye-catching pattern. We chose to place the lighter belts on top, working into the darker shades of leather at the bottom to create an ombre effect. As you trace the pattern, cut the straps as you go, trimming the buckles and rounded ends of each.

Stage 4

Sam Zachrich

Glue belts for plywood

Use a hot glue gun to secure the straps to the plywood. Starting at the top and working from a single line is the easiest way to ensure that the rows of the band remain level. Firmly press the straps to make sure they are glued flat. Leave a few ends of the straps unglued near the top. These spaces will then hide the screws to mount the headboard to the wall.

Step 5

Sam Zachrich

Attach trim to plywood

Use a nail gun to attach the trim to the plywood. This creates a nice frame around the header and will hide any raw edges. Just add trim to the top and sides so the bottom can sit flush with the mattress and bed.

Step 6

Sam Zachrich

Screw-to-wall header

When the molding is attached, place the headboard in the desired position on the bed. Fold back the unglued ends of the straps and drill a 3” deck screw through the header and straight into the wall. Be sure to drill into the studs and repeat this until the header is secure. Then glue the strap ends to the header for a finished look to hide the screw heads.

Sam Zachrich