Craft your own bed of roses ... or silk, or velvet, or even faux fur

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so it's the perfect time to add a little romance to your bedroom. One project that will add ambiance, warmth and a bit of style is an easy-to-make upholstered headboard.

One of the reasons we love this project is that you get to choose the fabric, color and style that fits the room and the mood you want to create. Nearly all fabrics work — from cotton to linen to velvet, and even silk. You can even try something different like fake fur, leather, denim or vinyl. When choosing the fabric, make sure the patterns or colors don't clash with the wallpaper, bed linens and drapes.

This project is fun, simple and easy to complete in a day. You could have more romance in your bedroom by tonight, so let's get started.

Prep work

• Select a base for the project. You can use a headboard you already own, pick up one at a thrift store or build one from scratch with a bit of plywood and a jigsaw.

• Take measurements. The headboard should be slightly wider than the mattress, and it should be tall enough so that you can comfortably lean against it without your head hitting the wall.

Project steps

Project list

This project takes about four hours to complete. Here's what you'll need to get started:

Tools:

• Pencil

• Utility knife

• Scissors

• Staple gun (preferably an electric one) and ¼-inch staples

• Jigsaw or circular saw, if you're cutting the board yourself. (Some home-improvement centers will cut the board for you.)

Supplies:

• ¼-inch plywood

• 2-inch foam

• Batting ("fiberfill")

• Upholstery fabric (The thicker, the better.)

• Large pieces of paper for template, if you're cutting the board yourself

• Sandpaper

• Mounting brackets or flush mounts

Optional supplies:

• Fabric-covered buttons for tufting

• Upholstery thread

• Upholstery needle

• Brads (headless nails)

• Drill

Step 1: Gather your supplies. Use basic ¼ -inch plywood (not particle board) for the headboard's shape, and foam that is at least 2 inches thick.

When buying batting and fabric, be sure to add at least 12 inches to the length and width of your measurements so the materials can wrap around the foam and board.

Step 2: For a decorative or curved headboard, draw a template on craft paper, then trace the template onto the plywood. Cut the plywood using a circular saw or a handsaw for straight cuts and a jigsaw for curves.

Once the wood is cut, use sandpaper or a sanding sponge on the edges to remove all splinters and round the corners.

Step 3: Lay the foam on the ground, and place the cut plywood (or your "recycled" headboard) on top of it. Then trace the shape onto the foam with a marker. Cut out your shape.

Step 4: Iron the fabric, and place it on your work surface front side down.

Place the batting on top of the fabric. Lay the foam on top of the batting. Now place the plywood on top of all of it. Be sure to have plenty of fabric and fiberfill around the edges so you can pull the two materials up and around the back of the plywood.

Attach the fabric and batting to the back of the plywood using a staple gun with ¼-inch staples. Staple every 2 inches.

Step 5: Attach the headboard to your wall to keep it in place. Use mounting brackets or flush mounts. If you're not sure which brackets or flush mounts to use, ask for help at a hardware store or home-improvement center. Depending on how tall the headboard is, you may be able to attach it to the bed legs. (A tall headboard may wobble if attached only at the legs.)

Optional step: To create a tufted headboard, you'll need fabric-covered buttons made for tufting, upholstery thread, an upholstery needle and brads (headless nails).

After creating the plywood base for the headboard, drill small holes where you would like to have the buttons. Follow steps 3-5.

Thread the fabric-covered buttons onto the headboard through all the materials, leaving the ends of the threads loose on the back of the plywood. Pull the thread through at least three times.

To tuft, lay a brad or toothpicks across the hole and pull the thread taut, tying it in a knot over the brad. Before tying the knot, check the front of the headboard to see how tight the tuft is. (It's really a pain to have to untie the knot.) Repeat the process for each button.

Now you have a bed that says, "wow!" In fact, you may be surprised to find a newfound comfort, elegance and hopefully a sense of romance in your bedroom.

Note: More details on this project are available in the new book "Be Jane's Guide to Home Empowerment" and at www.BeJane.com.

Be Jane is an occasional home-improvement feature in digs. It's adapted from www.BeJane.com, the online community created by Heidi Baker and Eden Jarrin.